American rapper Jack Harlow has become a well-known artist in the music industry after the widespread success of his past songs such as “What’s Poppin” and “First Class.” To the joy of his fans, Harlow recently made a surprise return with a tweet about his most recent album, “Jackman,” almost exactly a year after the release of “Come Home the Kids Miss You.” Despite having no features, this album has proved to be an authentic act of soul-sharing that includes ten brand-new songs to showcase Harlow’s talents to the fullest.

As a casual fan of rap music, I was introduced to Harlow by his most well-known song, “What’s Poppin,” which peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in the past. Since I’ve only heard a small amount of his music beyond the radio and my friend’s playlists, I was actually looking forward to this new album. While I can definitely understand the appeal of rap, I personally wouldn’t list it among my top five music genres. However, the more I listened to this album, the more I realized how much I enjoy rap.

The album’s opening track, “Common Ground,” addresses racial privilege and cultural tourism in hip-hop by examining the ways in which some privileged white rap fans inappropriately adopt and appropriate the hip-hop lifestyle. The opening track consists of a slowed-down, less notable sample from a 90s group called Jade, specifically their intro “When Will I See You Again,” which serves as excellent background vocals. Harlow emphasizes some self-aware hatred toward suburbanites, festival goers and rap journalists, who promote ideals of “authenticity” throughout the song, making the lyrical message so powerful that listeners can genuinely feel the weight of his words.

My personal favorite song on the album is the fifth track, “Gang Gang Gang,” which explores the darker aspects of Harlow’s upbringing and those he held dear, some of whom were supposedly involved in horrible crimes like sexual assault. Harlow approached the subject of this song in a genuine way and is able to highlight the dangers of having a “ride or die” mentality with his storytelling techniques. Despite the track’s excellent message, Harlow’s skill at portraying a sensitive issue shows his overall growth and versatility as a lyricist.

The album’s closing track, “Questions,” captures the inner distress that many artists experience but tend to conceal from public view. Even though the track isn’t my personal favorite on the album, I can see why it appealed to the majority of listeners because of the honesty and vulnerability it shows. By opening up about his own hardships, Harlow enables listeners to relate to him more deeply and comprehend the challenges of working in the music industry. He discusses his pressure to continue his success and his worries about losing his fan base. With its surprisingly genuine and honest portrayal of the difficulties associated with fame and success, it has easily become a no-skip single in my book.

I guarantee that the full 24-minute duration of this album’s ten tracks will be worth your time. Although they contain controversial opinions, it is refreshing to know that these tracks are a true representation of what is currently going on in Harlow’s head. I personally like the more serious tone he chose for this album. Though I enjoy his previous songs like “First Class,” it is obvious that he wanted to avoid using classic samples and instead prove his rapping ability. Overall, this album’s honesty and vulnerability make it a must-have for music lovers.