Since rising to prominence in 2020 with “WHATS POPPIN,” Jack Harlow has been everywhere. He’s released three studio albums, graced magazine covers, starred in a Super Bowl ad, and even made his acting debut in the 2023 remake of White Men Can’t Jump. Harlow has established himself as one of the most popular voices in the music industry. With his most recent single, “Lovin On Me,” hitting number one on the Billboard charts, Harlow has now topped the charts in each of the past three years, a feat only matched by Taylor Swift and Drake.
It’s no surprise that “Lovin On Me” topped the charts; its mainstream appeal is obvious. The beat is infectious, Harlow’s delivery is smooth, and the song is danceable. The song’s sample, Cadillac Dale’s 1995 song “Whatever (Bass Solique),” is weaved into the beat during the chorus, and its repetition of “whip your lovin’ on me,” makes the track easy to sing along to.
The success of Harlow’s most recent track isn’t just a testament to his hit-making ability; it highlights his similarity to Drake. On this track, the instrumental sounds like a more soulful and dance-inspired version of the beat on Drake’s “The Motto.” As with Drake, Harlow frequently relies on corny one-liners. One cringe-inducing line from “Lovin On Me” is “She wearin’ cheetah print, that’s how bad she wanna be spotted ’round your boy,” a line that a middle-school boy who just discovered puns could have written. However, Harlow’s success, much like Drake’s, does not come from his lyrical ability but from his knack for creating cookie-cutter songs that appeal to a wide audience.
For someone who’s only been mainstream for three years, Harlow has enjoyed near-miraculous success. And despite the reliability of his tried and true formula, he tweeted that “Lovin On Me” marks the beginning of a new era for him. Personally, I won’t expect any thought-provoking songs from this new era, but I look forward to hearing what lies ahead.
