Jack Harlow, Thats What They All Say | Album Review 💿

After elevating his profile big time in 2020, Jack Harlow releases his debut album, Thats What They All Say, which has its notable moments.

Safe to say that 🎙 Jack Harlow definitely had a big year in 2020.  The Louisville, Kentucky-bred rapper saw his star rise exponentially. 🎵 “Whats Poppin”, a banger that is reprised on his full-length debut album, 💿 Thats What They All Say, propelled him to the next level.  With the fan base established, it’s not surprising that Harlow felt like it was the right time to drop the album following a number of tapes.  Now the question is, did Jack come through on Thats What They All Say?

“Rendezvous” 

Harlow commences Thats What They All Say with the brief, hook-less 🎵 “Rendezvous.”  This 🎙 Hit-Boy produced number is a fitting intro, finding Jack rapping about his come up.  With coming up being a prevalent, commonplace topic in hip-hop, Harlow doesn’t really say anything groundbreaking.  Still, it sets the tone.  He follows up with another shorter number, ✅ 🎵 “Face of My City.” “Face of My City” features one of the hottest rappers of 2020, 🎙 Lil Baby, who absolutely eats up the track.  Where Jack is a bit more nonchalant, Lil Baby contrasts with more bite.  As for the production (🎙 Cubeatz and 🎙 Sonny Digital), it’s respectable, but could’ve used more development – maybe some malicious brass or another instrumental line to fill it out. “Face of My City” is inoffensive, though not particularly profound.    

✅ 🎵 “21C/Delta” brings a two-part track to Thats What They All Say.  21C refers to a chain of upscale museum hotels, one of which is located in Harlow’s hometown, Louisville, Kentucky.  In the context of the song, Jack asserts, “Girl, I’m at the 21C, come find me / I want you to be the one I keep beside me.” I don’t think Harlow cares as much about the hotel as he does the opposite sex. On the second part of the song, which has my favorite instrumental of the two, his focus remains on women, as he asserts, “She ain’t flyin’ in Spirit / She’s a Delta bitch, not the kind with the pyramids.” “21C/Delta” is the type of record you listen to a couple of times and like it more and more each time.

“Funny Seeing You Here” 

🎵 “Funny Seeing You Here” fits the form of much of contemporary rap. It features a chorus at the beginning, one verse, and a closing chorus.  The production (🎙 DJ Dahi) is a selling point here, giving Harlow a soulful background to spit over.  His flow is pretty sweet, as he dabbles in matters of the heart: “A man’s greed can’t see the things that he’s already got / Fucked it up between us ‘cause I wanted you and every thot.”

“Shit is a jam, shit is a jam,” Harlow confidently states on the intro of 🎵 “Way Out” before dropping the equally chorus, followed by a swagger-filled verse.  Basically, he’s living life to the fullest and he’s carefree to the nth degree.  He’s joined by 🎙 Big Sean, who delivers the second verse and manages to make a reference to “pre-cum” – like Woah!  From there, on 🎵 “Already Best Friends,” Harlow taps 🎙 Chris Brown for the assist.  Expectedly, Brown, excels at such sensual, unapologetic numbers (“Two at a time, laying in my bed / One at the top and the other give me head”).  As we’ve already seen, Jack’s not that innocent either when it comes to sex, asserting on the first verse, “Girl, you look good I would risk everything / Make me forget what safe sex is.” Oh boy! The notion of doubling up is nothing new of course, yet it’s still a thing in hip-hop.

“Keep it Light”

Following two superstar collaborations, Jack goes solo for a pair of cuts.  The first of which is ✅ 🎵 “Keep it Light.” Here, he spits with incredible ease over a soulful backdrop fueled by sample (🎵 “Dirt and Grime” by 🎙 Father’s Children).  Producer 🎙 Harry Fraud definitely sets Harlow up for success. His flow coupled with the supporting instrumental creates quite the vibe. On 🎵 “Crème,” Harlow keeps it chill and smooth, yet also brings a heaping dose of swagger.  There’s nothing profound mind you, but he has no shortage of confidence as he asserts, “I’m the crème de l crème and it’s filled to the brim.”

Perhaps the most surprising collaboration on Thats What They All Say occurs on ✅ 🎵 “Same Guy.”  You could definitely argue that the Chris Brown collaboration was unexpected, but, it’s a bit less far-fetched in my eyes than the 🎙 Adam Levine assist. “Same Guy” is an interesting record by all means, and 🎙 jetsonmade definitely delivers some cool production touches.  Perhaps it’s not a tour de force, but I enjoy the riffing falsetto by Levine and the gospel vibes, elevated by an appearance by 🎙 Jason Clayborn & The Atmosphere Changers.

“Route 66”

“Bitch, I’m from Kentucky but this ain’t no fuckin’ Dixie Chicks / This is not Route 66.” Hmm, well the song is titled 🎵 “Route 66” regardless.  The line appears on the best part of the song, the chorus.  That said, Harlow drops some bars on the first verse, namely “From the city like Rondo, Rajon / But I’m from the white side like Hassan.” 🎙 EST Gee, who drops the second verse on the banger, making it clear he “Love my thots with mouths like mops.”

“I brought a gang to the party with me / Five white boys, but they not NSYNC.” Jack Harlow delivers ‘instant offense’ on ✅ 🎵 “Tyler Herro”, named after Kentucky Wildcat standout and NBA baller, 🏀 Tyler Herro. “Tyler Herro” may be short (not the player, who is 6’5”), but it’s definitely a sweet banger, even earning a spot on my 🎧 100 BEST SONGS OF 2020.  “My homeboy Tyler, he play in South Beach,” Harlow asserts on the verse, continuing, “He told me this summer he gon’ fix my jumper.” Herro would definitely be the one to do so given his skills from beyond the arc.  Additionally, Harlow shouts out producer 🎙 Boi-1da, who, alongside a list of producers, stitches up the track nicely.

🎵 “Luv is Dro” brings the Louisville, Kentucky connection front and center.  How so? Well, Harlow taps the late 🎙 Static Major as well as 🎙 Bryson Tiller, who, like Harlow, were from the largest city in the Bluegrass state.  Static Major’s appearance is made possible via sampling, as his song, “Love is Dro” constructs the chorus. There is only one verse on this smooth joint, that’s dominated by Tiller overall.  Harlow appears on the intro and select moments on the verse but allows Static and Bryson to ‘do the heavy lifting’ you might say.  If nothing else, the song is a vibe.

“Whats Poppin”

✅ 🎵 “Whats Poppin” is a surefire banger – a flex-fest.  Like the aforementioned “Tyler Herro,” it earned a spot on my 🎧 100 BEST SONGS OF 2020.  Harlow serves up ample drip on this short, entertaining record. He has superb production supporting him, courtesy of jetsonmade and 🎙 Pooh Bear.  “WHATS POPPIN” commences with the drippy chorus, where the flex begins. Afterwards, Harlow drops one verse that certainly doesn’t lack in confidence.  Notably, he references his hometown a couple of times, including the restaurant, Vincenzo’s, as well as the Louisville Cardinals basketball team.  Beyond those shout outs, there’s reference to sex and money.  Sure, we’ve ‘been there, done that’ obviously, but he possesses confidence, personality, and plenty of swagger.  He concludes Thats What They All Say with the 🎵 “Whats Poppin [Remix]”, which adds 🎙 DaBaby, 🎙 Tory Lanez, and 🎙 Lil Wayne.  “Whats Poppin” was definitely the breakthrough single for Harlow.

Sandwiched between the original “Whats Poppin” and the remix is 🎵 “Baxter Avenue.”  This is an example of Harlow reflecting on life prior to becoming a rap star.  Baxter Avenue references Louisville once more, a place that its clear he has fond memories of.  Again, I must compliment Jacks’ flow, as well as the soulful, smooth backdrop he has to paint over, produced by 🎙 Ayo and 🎙 Keyz.

Final Thoughts

So, did Jack Harlow come through on Thats What They All Say? Thats What They All Say is enjoyable, but don’t call it a masterpiece.  The album has its notable moments, with hit singles “Tyler Herro” and “Whats Poppin” leading the charge.  There are other nice records too but nothing particularly game changing that distinguishes the ascending rapper just yet.  He’s still young, and if nothing else, his debut shows his potential.  

✅ Gems 💎: “21C/Delta,” “Keep it Light,” “Same Guy,” “Tyler Herro” & “What’s Poppin”

🎙 Jack Harlow • 💿 Thats What They All Say • 🏷 Generation Now / Atlantic • 🗓 11.11.20

[📷: Generation Now / Atlantic]