On Friday, March 13, American rapper Jack Harlow released his fourth studio album, Monica, on his 28th birthday. The project features nine tracks with a heavily R&B influence, straying away from his usual rap-focused albums. In Monica, Harlow developed a new, lighter, and experimental style; however, in doing so, he sacrifices his clever lyrics and smooth rhymes, disappointing rap fans. Harlow sings about not wanting to commit to relationships, his recent move to New York, and modern romance.
Harlow released his album Jackman in 2023, a rap album that felt true to his style. His lyrics dipped into vulnerability and detailed his life, his quest for fame, and his struggle with his rising popularity. Jackman had numerous hits and wasn’t overly produced nor boastful, besides a one-off lyric when Harlow tried to pass off casually that he is the best “white rapper” since Eminem. However, Monica is the antithesis of Jackman. Harlow swaps catchy beats for mellow guitar, shifting away from high-paced rap toward a more intimate R&B sound.
Ironically, Harlow seems to have given up on rap altogether in his new album. Harlow likely toned down his overconfident tone after the backlash he faced for the arrogant lyrics on his last album, Jackman, where he claimed he was “the best of the best.” Monica lacks confidence, as Harlow attempts to explore a new genre but fails miserably. His album falls into the trap of monotony.
Monica’s R&B tone lacks variety, making tracks blend with no standout moments. This disappointed fans who had been waiting for Harlow to end his three-year hiatus from releasing music since his hit single, “Lovin’ On Me,” which went viral on TikTok and was released Nov. 10, 2023. Harlow’s other known hit, “WHAT’S POPPIN,” was released Jan. 21, 2020, which entered him into the charts and springboarded his career. Without these hits, Harlow would never have been put on the map; however, his newest album, Monica, threatens his mainstream status.
“Trade Places,” the album’s opening track, starts with an R&B tone within the album’s first minute. His inclusion of phrases like “baby girl” shows that Monica doesn’t altogether lack Harlow’s sassy tone; the song is suggestive and smooth, with a jazzy undertone. This song solidifies Harlow’s New York influence on his music due to his recent move to New York. The song features a tone of sophistication that his music usually lacks; it’s not playful and all about rhythm and flow, leaving room for smooth production to take off, not overpowering Harlow’s vocals and rather showing his growth as an artist. While the song’s jazz influence was unexpected, it reflects Harlow’s experimentalism; however, it doesn’t have what it takes to be a hit, lacking the lyrical and production depth to earn the title of memorable.
“Lonesome,” the album’s second track, embraces a touch of vulnerability and tells a story through detailed, repetitive lyrics with a jazzy production similar to the album’s first track. Harlow sings about having to walk away from a person he is romantically interested in because it wasn’t the right time for him to get into a relationship. “Gotta walk away even though you’re lonesome/Givin’ my love up even though you want some,” Harlow sings repeatedly during the song’s chorus. If the song had less repetition and more rap and rhythm with a variety of production, this song could have been a Harlow classic.
“Prague,” track three, has a muted tone; the whole song sounds like a poorly executed fade-out outro. Its production sounds identical to the rest of the album, as he sings of being left out of the loop in a romantic relationship he can’t decide if he is still interested in: “The more that you resist/Then the more I miss you.” Harlow sings about his indecision in whether or not to pursue a relationship, and fails to establish a clear direction to take this song in, struggling to commit to one music genre over another. The song never picks up, is repetitive, and has sleepy production. It would be difficult to stay awake during this song if Harlow ever played it live.
Track six, “All of My Friends,” is an emotional ballad to the hardships of modern romance and is arguably the only good song on the album. Harlow remarks on his personal love affairs, saying, “All of my friends say I keep fallin’ / Fallin’ in love, way too often.” Harlow’s friends criticize him for bouncing between relationships with little downtime. The song features melodic alto vocals from R&B singer Ravyn Lenae, which harmonize with Harlow in a crescendo midway through the piece.
Monica fails to produce anything valuable, and though Harlow’s experimentalism is unique and a new path for the artist, his R&B attempt lacks rhythm and knowledge. This album is unseasoned R&B and Neo-Soul. It’s trying to embody a D’Angelo-esque style, yet his execution and lack of depth are naive.
We miss the old Harlow: the edgy, egotistical, yet lyrically poised rapper. We miss the Jack Harlow that made a song titled “Dua Lipa,” directly addressing his admiration for the singer as he states, “Dua Lipa, I’m tryna do more with her than do a feature.” Harlow lost his sense of voice and failed to establish himself in a new genre. Jack Harlow’s new album, Monica, earns two out of five feathers.
