Happy birthday to Jack Harlow! Instead of receiving gifts himself, he is sharing one with his fans. For his 28th birthday the rapper releases his fourth studio album Monica. The album was recorded mostly in New York City, the city he now calls home. The body of work dives into his personal reset after moving to New York, which Harlow said changed how he sees himself creatively. The title Monica feels like a reference to a ’90s R&B aesthetic and the romantic themes running throughout the record.
With the release of this new project he dives into a different sound than we’re used to from the young hitmaker. First of all, he tones down the rapping and replaces many of his usual rapid-fire bars with more soulful singing layered over the production. Sonically the project pulls influences from jazz, blues and soul music. The overall vibe is slower, late-night and introspective. It somehow reminds us of our new favorite artist, Gabriel Jacoby.
The album opens with ‘Trade Places’. Right from the beginning it becomes clear we’re stepping into a more mature version of Jack Harlow when it comes to the sound. Lyrically, however, he remains as playful and cheeky as ever. The rapper becomes almost obsessive with his love interest. He would do anything to be close to her. If that means trading places with a lamppost for her to lean on, or a handrail for her to hold onto, he would happily do it. It’s a fun take on being so obsessively in love with someone that you want to be by their side every minute of the day.
On ‘Lonesome’ we come closest on the album to the old Jack. The track sits somewhere between his previous work and the sound he is presenting today. This crossover mainly appears in the perfect balance between singing and rapping. In the song he opens up about a relationship falling apart, admitting that his own behavior contributed to the breakup. He doesn’t shy away from sharing his mistakes: “I was tryna have my cake and still find out how it tastes.” It sounds like an instant classic Jack Harlow song.
Throughout the album the mood stays mellow and laid-back. As much as we enjoy this sound for Jack, we are happy when we arrive at ‘Say Hello’, where the production steps into a slightly more uptempo groove. Here the singer reflects on a relationship that has already ended and hopes to reconnect with his ex someday. He lets go of control and accepts that he cannot force things to work out. Instead of trying to win her back, he hopes they might casually cross paths again and let life bring them together. If not, he respects her path. One thing is clear: Jack leaves the door open for a future encounter.
The album is his shortest to date, counting only nine songs and running just 28 minutes long. But those 28 minutes are well spent. We are treated to a more mature-sounding Jack Harlow, reinventing himself and exploring a new musical direction without fully losing the version we all fell in love with. It’s the kind of album you can press play on wherever you are. It works perfectly in the background — and your parents, friends, or even strangers overhearing it will fall in love with it too.