Jack Harlow returns with a brand new project which SHIFTER’s Kevin Bourne calls “real hip-hop” and “thoughtful”. Find out of why in his Jackman album review.
This week, Jack Harlow surprised fans announcing that he’d be releasing a brand new project. Well, the album, simply titled Jackman., is here.
A follow up to his 2022 release Come Home The Kids Miss You, his latest offering is a departure from its predecessor. Where Come Home marked his budding superstar status and arrival in the upper echelons of hip-hop, with the star-studded features and radio hits to prove it, Jackman. is a scaled down affair as he goes back to his roots. The album title is his given name “Jackman”, meanwhile the artwork depicts him with his shirt off in the hood. Both the album and artwork are reminiscent of J. Cole‘s classic 2014 Forest Hills Drive with no features or big radio singles, and no big rollout or press run (so far).
The album opens with the very soulful and bouncy “Common Ground” as Jack Harlow does a great job riding the beat and painting a bit of picture for listeners. Whether through samples, instrumentation or vocals, the soul vibes continue throughout the album on songs like “They Don’t Love It”, “Ambitious”, “Is That Ight?”, “Denver”, and “Questions”.
He also takes the time to get personal on songs like “Gang Gang Gang” where he talks about his neighbourhood friends who went on to allegedly rape and assault women and children, as well as drifting from his friends, “Denver” where he allows us into the mind state he was in when he made the song and makes local references about Shelby County, “Blame On Me” where he talks about his family and looking up to his older sibling, and “Questions” where he comes clean about how he treats the people in his life and shares his insecurities about his fanbase moving on from him as an artist.
The album does a good job of allowing the listener into his world; not his new entertainment industry world, but the world he came from. By the end of the album you feel as though you got to know him even more; not just as an artist, but as a person.
Overall, the album is simply refreshing. It’s real hip-hop without the glitz and glamour or industry influences, proving that less is, in fact, more. While the instrumentation is strong, it is minimalist at times which allows the lyrics to breathe and be the star of the show. It also feels like Harlow took time with the lyrics this time. Where the bars on Come Home The Kids Miss You appeared freestyled or punched in (and somewhat shallow and not really saying anything at times), the bars on Jackman. come across as thoughtful and well thought out. Having listened to this album, Come Home The Kids Miss You lacked soul which this album offers generously.
It’s clear this is a project that reflects who Jack Harlow really is; a project he is proud of as he should be. This album is not only for Jack Harlow fans, but true hip-hop heads who love good music and need to be reminded why they fell in love with hip-hop in the first place.
Jackman. is available on all digital streaming platforms.
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