Jack Harlow

Harlow was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky,[2] where he began his rap career.[2][3][4] He is the son of Maggie (Payette) Harlow, a businesswoman, and Brian Harlow, and was raised on a horse farm.[5][6] Harlow began rapping at age 12 when he and his family moved from Shelbyville, Kentucky. He and his friend Sharath used a Guitar Hero microphone and a laptop to record rhymes and songs. They made a CD entitled Rippin' and Rappin' and sold copies at their school (Highland Middle School). When he was in seventh grade, Harlow acquired a professional microphone and made his first mixtape, Extra Credit, using the moniker "Mr. Harlow."[2] He formed a collective called "Moose Gang" with various friends; during this time, he worked on two mixtapes that were ultimately never released: "Moose Gang" and "Music for the Deaf."

In November 2015, Jack Harlow released his first commercial album, an EP entitled The Handsome Harlow. It was released through Gill Holland's sonaBLAST! record label.[2][7] Throughout high school, he often played sold out shows at Louisville venues like Mercury Ballroom, Headliners, and the Haymarket Whiskey Bar.[2][3] In March of that year, he opened for Vince Staples in Louisville.[8]

In June 2016, less than a month after graduating high school (Atherton High School), he released the mixtape, 18, which was the first album on his label and music collective, Private Garden.[9][10] The collective also features Harlow's frequent collaborators, the Homies, composed of Louisville rappers and producers Ace Pro, 2forwOyNE, Shloob, Quiiso, and Ronnie Lucciano.[2] Over the course of the next year, Harlow performed at South by Southwest, Bonnaroo, and the Forecastle Festival.

In the summer of 2017, Harlow released the single "Routine".[2] In October of that year, he released another single, "Dark Knight", with an accompanying music video. He credits Cyhi the Prynce with helping him work through his writer's block and finish the song.[11][12] "Dark Knight" would become the lead single from Harlow's mixtape Gazebo, which was released in November 2017.[3] Harlow went on a 14-city Gazebo Tour in support of the album. The Homies opened for Harlow, and the tour ended in January 2018.[13][14] In May 2018, Harlow opened for indie rock band, Portugal. The Man on select tour dates.[15][16] The following month, he was featured alongside Lil James and Sixteen on the Skeme song "Get Sumn".[17]

After moving to Atlanta, Harlow worked at the Georgia State Cafeteria to supplement his income. A month after working at the cafeteria he was introduced to DJ Drama at Mean Street Studio.[18]

In August 2018, it was announced that Harlow had signed to DJ Drama and Don Cannon's Generation Now record label, in conjunction with Atlantic Records. He also released a video for his single "Sundown" on the day of the announcement.[19][20] On August 17, Harlow released his major label debut mixtape, Loose.[21] The album featured guest verses from CyHi the Prynce, K Camp, 2forwOyNE, and Taylor.[22] In November 2018, Harlow embarked on a North American tour in support of Loose which ended in December.[23][24][25] That month, he also released a music video for the song, "PickYourPhoneUp", featuring K Camp.[26] Loose was nominated for Best Mixtape at the 2019 BET Hip Hop Awards.[27] On August 21, 2019, Harlow released the single "Thru the Night" featuring fellow Louisville native Bryson Tiller. He then released a 12-track mixtape named Confetti, with features from the previously mentioned Bryson Tiller, as well as 2forwOyNE and EST Gee.

In January 2020, he released the single "Whats Poppin".[28] The song was widely shared on the TikTok social media platform,[29] and the Cole Bennett-produced music video has surpassed 100 million views as of October 2020.[30][31][32] On Harlow's most recent birthday, March 13, 2020, he released a seven-track project called Sweet Action.[33]

In May, Harlow released the single "Moana" with G-Eazy. The song became his second entry on the Canadian Hot 100, peaking at number 72. On June 24, 2020, Harlow released an official remix of "Whats Poppin" featuring DaBaby, Tory Lanez, and Lil Wayne, peaking at No. 2 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 list.[34] On August 11, Harlow was included in XXL's 2020 Freshman Class.[35]

On October 22, 2020, Harlow released the single "Tyler Herro", produced by Boi-1da and Scott Storch,[36] with a music video featuring the NBA player of the same name. The song was praised for the "easy, weightless charisma" of Harlow's lyrics and delivery.[37] On December 2, 2020, Harlow announced his debut album, That's What They All Say. The album consists of 15 tracks, including "Tyler Herro", "Whats Poppin", and the latter's remix.[38] The single "Way Out" featuring Big Sean was released on December 9, 2020, while the album was released on December 11.[39]

Harlow cites a range of influences across multiple genres, including Eminem, Drake, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Outkast, Paul Wall, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Hall and Oates, and Jesse McCartney, among others.[51][52][53] Harlow has also identified cinema as an influence, aiming for his songs to be "like short films." His favorite filmmakers are Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino, and Alfred Hitchcock.[54]