Jack Harlow

Biography

Jackman Thomas Harlow (born March 13, 1998) is an American rapper and singer. He began his recording career in 2015, and released several EPs and mixtapes until signing with Don Cannon and DJ Drama's record label Generation Now, an imprint of Atlantic Records, in 2018.
Harlow's mainstream breakthrough came with the release of his 2020 single "Whats Poppin×WHATS POPPIN21 January 2020 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1WHATS POPPIN2:20". Aided by its popularity on TikTok and subsequent remix featuring rappers DaBaby, Tory Lanez, and Lil Wayne, it peaked at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100, received diamond certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and was nominated for Best Rap Performance at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards. The song preceded his debut studio album, Thats What They All Say (2020), which received double platinum certification by the RIAA and foresaw his inclusion on that year's 2020 Freshman Class list for XXL magazine. In 2021, Harlow guest appeared on Lil Nas X's single "Industry Baby", which peaked atop the Billboard Hot 100. His second and third albums, Come Home the Kids Miss You×Come Home the Kids Miss You5 May 2022 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Talk of the Town1:232Young Harleezy3:453I’d Do Anything to Make You Smile3:144First Class2:545Dua Lipa2:156Side Piece3:547Movie Star2:238Lil Secret2:109I Got a Shot2:1910Churchill Downs5:0911Like a Blade of Grass2:0612Parent Trap3:1013Poison3:4314Nail Tech3:2615State Fair3:15 (2022) and Jackman (2023), both debuted within the Billboard 200's top ten. The former was supported by his second Billboard Hot 100-number one single, "First Class×First Class8 April 2022 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1First Class2:54". In 2023, he guest performed on Jungkook's single "3D", which peaked at number five, while his own single, "Lovin on Me×Lovin on Me9 November 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Lovin on Me (instrumental)2:18", became his third number-one song on the chart.
Harlow has received numerous accolades, including Top New Artist at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards. That same year, he was named Variety's "Hitmaker of the Year" and was included in Forbes 30 Under 30. He made his acting debut as Jeremy in the 2023 remake of the 1992 film White Men Can't Jump, directed by Calmatic.

Early life

Jackman Thomas Harlow was born on March 13, 1998, in Louisville, Kentucky. His parents are Maggie (née Payette), a businesswoman, and Brian Harlow. He was raised on a horse farm near Shelbyville. Harlow has one younger brother, and is of French and Irish descent.
He moved from Shelbyville to Louisville with his family as a child and began rapping at age 12. Harlow and his friend Copelan Garvey used a Guitar Hero microphone and a laptop to record rhymes and songs. They made a CD, Rippin' and Rappin', and sold copies at their school, Highland Middle School. When in seventh grade, he acquired a professional microphone and made his first mixtape, Extra Credit, using the moniker Mr. Harlow. He formed a collective, Moose Gang, with various friends. During this time, Harlow worked on two mixtapes that were ultimately never released, Moose Gang and Music for the Deaf. He attended Atherton High School, and played on the boys' varsity soccer team there.

2015–2018: Early mixtapes and Private Garden

In November 2015, Harlow released his first commercial record, the EP The Handsome Harlow×The Handsome Harlow13 November 2015 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Every Night2:442Ridin Round Town3:4235-03:244Power Tools3:02. It was released on Gill Holland's sonaBLAST! record label. Throughout high school, he often played sold-out shows at Louisville venues like Mercury Ballroom, Headliners, and the Haymarket Whiskey Bar. In March 2016, he opened for Vince Staples in Louisville.
In June 2016, less than a month after graduating from Atherton High School, he released the mixtape 18, which was the first album on his label and music collective, Private Garden. The collective also features Harlow's frequent collaborators, the Homies, composed of Louisville rappers and producers Ace Pro, 2forwOyNE, Shloob, Quiiso, and Ronnie Lucciano. Over the course of the next year, Harlow performed at South by Southwest, Bonnaroo Music Festival, and the Forecastle Festival.
In the summer of 2017, Harlow released the single "Routine×Routine30 May 2017 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Routine3:31". In October of that year, he released another single, "Dark Knight×Dark Knight27 October 2017 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Dark Knight2:16", with an accompanying music video. He credits Cyhi the Prynce with helping him work through his writer's block and finish the song. "Dark Knight" became the lead single on Harlow's mixtape Gazebo×Gazebo17 November 2017 · Studio album · Mixtape/StreetSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Eastern Parkway3:072Routine3:313OnnaWay3:374Wasted Youth2:465Detox3:196Tightrope4:007Used to Be4:208Dark Knight2:169Maybe3:4110Woyne’s Outro3:55, which was released in November 2017. Harlow went on a 14-city Gazebo Tour in support of the album. The Homies opened for Harlow, and the tour ended in January 2018. In May 2018, Harlow opened for indie rock band Portugal. The Man on select tour dates. The next month, he was featured alongside Lil James and Sixteen on the Skeme song "Get Sumn".

2018–2020: Generation Now Records, Loose, and Confetti

After moving to Atlanta, Harlow worked at the Chick-fil-A in the Georgia State University cafeteria to supplement his income. Around this time, he began recording at Means Street Studio and later signed with DJ Drama and Don Cannon's Generation Now label.
In August 2018, it was announced that Harlow had signed to DJ Drama and Don Cannon's Generation Now record label, in conjunction with Atlantic Records. He also released a video for his single "Sundown×SUNDOWN3 August 2018 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1SUNDOWN2:05" on the day of the announcement. On August 17, Harlow released his major label debut mixtape, Loose×Loose17 August 2018 · Studio album · Mixtape/StreetSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1SUNDOWN2:052NUN FREE3:283PICKYOURPHONEUP3:214SLIDE FOR ME3:045CODY BANKS2:326SYLVIA3:467LIKE THIS3:4489TH GRADE3:379CAN’T CALL IT2:3010DRIP DROP3:2411KNACK FOR IT2:2912VACATE3:0613TOO MUCH3:35. The album featured guest verses from CyHi the Prynce, K Camp, 2forwOyNE, and Taylor. In November 2018, Harlow embarked on a North American tour in support of Loose which ended in December. That month, he also released a video for the song "PickYourPhoneUp", featuring K Camp. Loose was nominated for Best Mixtape at the 2019 BET Hip Hop Awards. On August 21, 2019, Harlow released the single "Thru the Night" featuring fellow Louisville native Bryson Tiller. He then released the 12-track mixtape Confetti×Confetti20 September 2019 · Studio album · Mixtape/StreetSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1GHOST2:212ROTTEN3:113DENTYNE2:274SUNDAY NIGHT3:125WARSAW3:076BIG CHILLIN2:387GOIN BACK DOWN2:478THRU THE NIGHT2:089WALK IN THE PARK2:3310RAIN3:1711HEAVY HITTER2:2712RIVER ROAD4:15, which features Tiller, 2forwOyNE, and EST Gee. On September 19, 2019, Harlow released the single "Heavy Hitter", a tribute to Louisville attorney and internet personality Darryl Isaacs.

2020–2021: Thats What They All Say

On January 21, 2020, Harlow released the single "Whats Poppin×WHATS POPPIN21 January 2020 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1WHATS POPPIN2:20", as the lead single from his second extended play (EP), Sweet Action×Sweet Action12 March 2020 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracks1WHATS POPPIN2:2022STYLISH2:233I WANNA SEE SOME ASS2:054SMELLS LIKE INCENSE2:245OUT FRONT2:596HEY BIG HEAD2:027ONCE MAY COMES2:27. The song was widely shared on the TikTok social media platform, and the Cole Bennett-produced video has surpassed 135 million views as of May 2021. On Harlow's 22nd birthday, March 13, 2020, he released the EP. On April 29, 2020, Harlow released a collaboration with G-Eazy, "Moana". On June 24, 2020, Harlow released the remix of "Whats Poppin", which features DaBaby, Tory Lanez, and Lil Wayne. The remix propelled the song to reach number two on the Hot 100. On August 11, Harlow was included in XXL's 2020 Freshman Class. On October 22, 2020, Harlow released the single "Tyler Herro×Tyler Herro21 October 2020 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Tyler Herro2:36", the lead single from his debut studio album, That's What They All Say. The song received a music video that stars Harlow and the NBA player of the same name. The song was praised for the "easy, weightless charisma" of Harlow's lyrics and delivery. On December 2, 2020, Harlow announced the album. The second single, "Way Out", which features Big Sean, was released on December 9, 2020. The album was released on December 11, 2020. It also includes "Whats Poppin" and its remix. On March 27, 2021, Harlow appeared as the musical guest on the 46th season of Saturday Night Live. He performed a medley of "Tyler Herro" and "Whats Poppin" for his first set and performed "Same Guy" with Adam Levine for his second set. He also appeared and performed a verse in the pre-recorded NFT-themed parody of Eminem's 2002 single, "Without Me". On March 30, 2021, "Already Best Friends", which features Chris Brown, was sent to urban contemporary radio as the third and final single from That's What They All Say.
On May 28, 2021, Harlow released a collaboration with Eminem and Cordae for the remix of Eminem's 2020 single, "Killer". On July 23, 2021, he released a collaboration with Lil Nas X, "Industry Baby". The song reached number one on the Hot 100, giving Harlow his first number-one single on the chart. On August 3, 2021, he released a collaboration with Pooh Shiesty, "SUVs (Black on Black)×SUVs (Black on Black)3 August 2021 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1SUVs (Black on Black)2:37".

2022–present: Come Home the Kids Miss You and Jackman

On February 18, 2022, Harlow released the single "Nail Tech×Nail Tech17 February 2022 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Nail Tech3:26", the lead single from his upcoming second studio album and his first release in six-and-a-half months. The song performed well on the Hot 100 with a number 18 debut and peak and also received praise from Kanye West, who previously was involved in the production of "Industry Baby". On February 24, Harlow was featured in West's song "Louie Bags" on his album, Donda 2.
On March 16, 2022, Harlow announced that his second studio album is titled Come Home the Kids Miss You×Come Home the Kids Miss You5 May 2022 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Talk of the Town1:232Young Harleezy3:453I’d Do Anything to Make You Smile3:144First Class2:545Dua Lipa2:156Side Piece3:547Movie Star2:238Lil Secret2:109I Got a Shot2:1910Churchill Downs5:0911Like a Blade of Grass2:0612Parent Trap3:1013Poison3:4314Nail Tech3:2615State Fair3:15. The album was released on May 6. It debuted at number three on the U.S. Billboard 200, earning 113,000 album-equivalent units (including 8,000 in pure album sales) in its first week. It became Harlow's second U.S. top-five debut on the chart. The album also accumulated a total of 137.05 million on-demand official streams for the album's songs. The album also peaked at number 4 on the UK Albums Chart, Harlow's highest debut and first top ten entry. The second single, "First Class×First Class8 April 2022 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1First Class2:54", became his second number-one on the Billboard Hot 100, and the year's first hip-hop song to reach that position.
On September 3, 2022, Harlow was the College GameDay guest picker and performer for Ohio State's 2022 season opener, a 21–10 win over Notre Dame.
On April 26, 2023, Harlow took to his social media accounts to announce his third album, Jackman, along with its release date and reveal its cover art. The album was released on April 28. It debuted at number 8 on the U.S. Billboard 200, earning 35,500 album-equivalent units (including 1,500 pure sales) in its first week. It became Harlow's third top-ten debut on the chart. It also earned 43.40 million on-demand streams in the first week. Jackman also debuted at number 9 on the Canadian Album Chart, his third top-ten debut there. On November 10, he released the single "Lovin on Me×Lovin on Me9 November 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Lovin on Me (instrumental)2:18", which became his first number 1 song on the UK Singles Chart and third number 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100.
On February 28, 2024, Harlow announced the launch of a two-day music festival in his hometown of Louisville, to be called Gazebo Festival, which was to take over the Forecastle Festival's usual location and dates at Waterfront Park over Memorial Day weekend. SZA and Harlow co-headlined the festival, which was to "feature 26 acts on two stages and highlight some of Louisville's local food and culture". However, the second day of the festival on May 26 was canceled due to severe weather.

Acting career

Harlow made his acting debut in the 2023 remake of the 1992 film White Men Can't Jump directed by Calmatic. In October 2022, Harlow appeared on Saturday Night Live as both host and musical guest for the Halloween episode. In April 2023, Harlow joined the cast of the Apple TV+ film The Instigators, co-starring alongside Matt Damon and Casey Affleck.

Style

Harlow's craft has been characterized by critics as blending playful confidence with emotional sincerity in both his music and lyrics, which often explore themes such as sexuality, partying, and drug use. Harlow's music has been categorized broadly as hip-hop. Publications have further tagged his music as blending trap beats with instruments such as pianos and uilleann pipes.
In 2020, Kate Hutchinson of The Guardian opined that Harlow's most interesting songs are his more introspective ones, dealing with topics such as being uncomfortable with his acclaim, and his white privilege. Thomas Hobbs, another writer for The Guardian, wrote that Harlow embraces "being a dorky outsider", while additionally having "enough charisma" to pull off "using language that is usually cringeworthy coming from suburban white people". He has described his own music as emphasizing rhythm, and his lyricism as being "personal but fun", and geared toward "connect[ing] with people". In 2022, following Harlow's surge in popularity, Terry Nguyen of Vox also described his music as breezy, comparing it to Drake. Nguyen praised Harlow's lyricism for its wise wordplay and for its introspective content.

Influences

Harlow cites a range of influences across multiple genres, including Eminem, Drake, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Outkast, Paul Wall, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Hall & Oates, Fergie, and Jesse McCartney, among others. Harlow has also identified cinema as an influence, aiming for his songs to be "like short films". His favorite filmmakers are Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino, and Alfred Hitchcock.

Philanthropy and activism

Harlow supports the Black Lives Matter political movement. He attended a rally to protest the killing of Breonna Taylor in 2020, which occurred in his hometown. Harlow has stated that, being white, he "can never truly know what [the experience of racism] is like", and that it is his responsibility as a white rapper to approach his work with that knowledge in mind.
In October 2021, Harlow donated to five Louisville-based organizations: AMPED, the Center for Women and Families, the Grace M. James Academy of Excellence, Louisville Urban League and Metro United Way. Citing the spirit and pride he holds for his hometown, Harlow stated that "People need hope, they need love", when announcing his donation plans. KFC and Instagram pledged to match up to $50,000 of what Harlow raises through the social media platform's fundraising tool.
In December 2021, Harlow teamed up with KFC and its parent company Yum! Brands to donate a joint $250,000 to the American Red Cross to support those impacted by a deadly tornado in western Kentucky.
In 2023, he founded the Jack Harlow Foundation to "reinvest, uplift and support organizations aiming to make the city that raised him a better place." That same year, he headlined a rally alongside Kentucky's Democratic governor Andy Beshear ahead of the general election.
Harlow is a Kentucky Colonel.