Beyond two standout singles, Jack Harlow's new album is devoid of any discernible character — a blank slate of mediocre raps over instrumentals that could've been found by searching 'Drake type beats' on YouTube, our reviewer writes.
Come Home The Kids Miss You
was poised to launch Jack Harlow's worldwide takeover, the rapper's sophomore album misses the mark. The record simultaneously underutilizes his strengths and emphasizes his weaknesses, resulting in a middle-of-the-road body of work despite endorsements for his success and its potential. Jack Harlow's story has been repeated ad nauseam in the wake of his celebrity: the 24-year-old suburban kid from Kentucky started rapping in middle school, with his first mixtape released when he was in seventh grade. Several makeshift music videos from the"Mr. Harlow" era of his career are still online and watching them feels oddly personal, invoking a"boy next door" kind of sensibility.
Harlow knows this. He's perfected the art of pandering, which has allowed him to cultivate a wide, diverse audience across demographics, as well as both gay fans and straight women through his casual,and assured comfort in his masculinity. Gen Z listeners love him because a song like"First Class," with its invocation of '00s nostalgia, is primed to start a million different TikTok trends.