Jackman is the third studio album by American rapper Jack Harlow. It was a semi-surprise album released through Generation Now and Atlantic on April 28, 2023. Harlow handled production on the album, along with a variety of other producers including, FnZ, DJ Dahi and Boi-1da. It was supported by the lead single "They Don't Love It"[1] as well as additional music videos for "Gang, Gang, Gang"[2] and "Denver".[3] NBA star Jamal Murray makes an appearance in the "Denver" music video.[4]
| Jackman | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | April 28, 2023 | |||
| Genre | Hip hop | |||
| Length | 24:08 | |||
| Label |
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| Producer |
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| Jack Harlow chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Jackman | ||||
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The album was mixed by Nickie Jon Pabón and mastered by Chris Athens, while Urban Wyatt created the album cover.[5] Jackman reached No. 1 on Billboard's Top Rap Albums chart.[6] It received a nomination for Hip Hop Album of the Year at the 2023 BET Hip Hop Awards.[7]
Background
On April 26, 2023, without any previous implications, Harlow took to his social media accounts to announce the album, release date, and reveal its cover art.[8] The cover depicts Harlow shirtless, standing with his arms crossed in an alleyway beside trash cans in the Highlands neighborhood of Louisville, Kentucky with a slightly washed-out filter.[9][10][11] A noticeable hoop is attached to a garage behind him.[12] The album is titled after Harlow's given first name, Jackman.[13] It arrived just a month ahead of his acting debut in a 2023 adaption of White Men Can't Jump.[14]
Music and lyrics
Jackman was noted for featuring "soulful loops and boom bap production" similar to Kanye.[15] Lyrically, Harlow mostly reflects on "his own struggles with family, fame, and his place in the rap game" while "sometimes commenting on society at large".[16] On "Common Ground", Harlow "addresses the ways in which some white rap fans have become cultural tourists who embrace and appropriate the hip-hop lifestyle while cloaked in privilege."[17] On "They Don't Love It", he "boasts about his status as the best white rapper since Eminem".[18] "Gang Gang Gang" is "a tale of how the best people in your life can grow up to become the worst people possible".[19] On "It Can't Be", he quiets "doubters who think his skin tone is the only reason for his success" and attributes it to "his tireless hustle, attention to detail and simple good-dude energy".[20] On "Blame on Me", he raps about "the effects of toxic masculinity on the psyches of men and boys through multigenerational perspectives".[5] "Questions" is about "reflecting on his rise to stardom, and dealing with the responsibilities that come with fame".[21]
Critical reception
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 60/100[22] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [16] |
| Clash | 8/10[19] |
| HipHopDX | 2.3/5[15] |
| HotNewHipHop | 5/5[23] |
| Pitchfork | 6.4/10[5] |
| Slant Magazine | [24] |
Jackman received mixed reviews from critics. At Metacritic, it has an average score of 60 out of 100 based on 6 reviews.[22]
Some critics praised Harlow's lyricism and authenticity. Noah Grant of HotNewHipHop wrote that "anybody who wanted something that felt extremely authentic from the rapper will be very pleased with the new release."[23] Robin Murray of Clash claimed that Jackman is Harlow's "best, most in-depth" album yet.[19] Christopher Weingarten of Rolling Stone wrote that the album is "a step up in lyricism that shows that Harlow has much, much more to offer".[20] In a review for Pitchfork, Heven Haile wrote that Harlow was "aiming for clarity" with "soft, expensive beats and cloyingly intimate storytelling."[5]
On the other hand, some critics found the album superficial and incomplete. Paul Attard of Slant Magazine pointed out that Harlow "operates in two contradictory modes: pedaling surface-level platitudes or going for easy humble brags."[24] AllMusic wrote that the album feels "incomplete or partially thought out".[16] Nina Hernandez of HipHopDX wrote that the album sounds "disjointed and dull".[15]
Year-end lists
Awards and nominations
| Award | Year | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BET Hip Hop Awards | 2023 | Hip Hop Album of the Year | Nominated | [26] |
Commercial performance
Jackman. debuted at number eight on the US Billboard 200 chart, earning 33,500 album-equivalent units, including 1,500 pure sales.[27] The album also accumulated a total of 43.40 million on-demand streams of the album's songs.[27] The album is Harlow's third top-ten debut on the Billboard 200 and is his first number-one on the Top Rap Albums chart.[27]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Common Ground" |
|
| 1:40 |
| 2. | "They Don't Love It" |
| Hollywood Cole | 1:53 |
| 3. | "Ambitious" |
|
| 2:52 |
| 4. | "Is That Ight?" |
|
| 1:58 |
| 5. | "Gang Gang Gang" |
| Thomas | 2:49 |
| 6. | "Denver" |
|
| 2:38 |
| 7. | "No Enhancers" |
|
| 1:39 |
| 8. | "It Can't Be" |
| Thomas | 2:19 |
| 9. | "Blame on Me" |
|
| 4:01 |
| 10. | "Questions" |
| shy!!! | 2:14 |
| Total length: | 24:03 | |||
Notes
- "Is That Ight?" features uncredited background vocals by Lauren Santi.
- "No Enhancers" features background vocals from James Savage, who was mentioned in the song "They Don't Love It".
Sample credits
- "Common Ground" contains excerpts from "When Will I See You Again", written by Joi Marshall, Tonya Kelly and Diyelle Reed, as performed by Jade.
- "They Don't Love It" contains excerpts from "Can't Live Without You", written by Timothy Wright, as performed by Connie Laverne.
- "Ambitious" contains excerpts from "Living My Life Just for You", written by Alice Sanderson, Keith Echols and Tony Miller, as performed by 7th Wonder.
- "Gang Gang Gang" contains excerpts from "Baby Lulu", written by Timothy Gane and Lætitia Sadier, as performed by Stereolab.
- "Denver" contains excerpts from "Do You Know", written and performed by Douglas Penn.
- "It Can't Be" contains excerpts from "I Love You Dawn", written and performed by Bill Withers.
- "Blame on Me" contains excerpts from "Blame", written by Ryan Hawken, as performed by Gray Hawken.
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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References
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