Jack Harlow an American rapper and singer born on March 13, 1998, kicked off his music career in 2015. He gained recognition after signing with Generation Now a label under Atlantic Records in 2018.
Harlow made a big splash in 2020 with his hit single “What’s Poppin” which went viral on TikTok. A remix featuring DaBaby, Tory Lanez, and Lil Wayne helped propel it to number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned him a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Performance. That year he also joined XXL magazine’s 2020 Freshman Class and dropped his debut album “That’s What They All Say” which went platinum according to the RIAA.
In 2021, Harlow hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 with his feature on Lil Nas X’s track “Industry Baby.” His second album “Come Home the Kids Miss You” included his second number-one single “First Class.” The following year he featured on Jungkook’s “3D” reaching number five on the charts and his song “Lovin on Me” became his third number-one single.
Harlow’s accomplishments include winning Top New Artist at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards and being named Variety’s “Hitmaker of the Year.” He also made his acting debut in 2023 appearing in the remake of “White Men Can’t Jump.”
| Full Name | Jack Harlow |
| Date of Birth | March 13, 1998 |
| Place of Birth | Louisville, Kentucky, USA |
| Occupation | Rapper, songwriter |
| Height | 6ft 2in (185 cm) |
| Net Worth | $15 million |
Jack Harlow’s Early Life and Education
Jackman Thomas Harlow was born on March 13, 1998, in Louisville Kentucky. His parents are Maggie and Brian Harlow and he grew up on a horse farm near Shelbyville with his younger brother Clayborn. His ancestry includes French and Irish roots.
As a child, Harlow moved with his family to Louisville and started rapping at age 12. He and his friend Copelan Garvey began recording rhymes and songs using a Guitar Hero microphone and a laptop. They even made a CD called Rippin’ and Rappin’ which they sold at Highland Middle School.
By seventh grade, Harlow got a professional microphone and created his first mixtape Extra Credit using the name Mr. Harlow. He also formed a group called Moose Gang with friends and worked on two mixtapes Moose Gang and Music for the Deaf although they were never officially released. Harlow later attended Atherton High School where he played on the boys’ varsity soccer team.
Career
In November 2015, Jack Harlow put out his first official music release an EP called “The Handsome Harlow” on the sonaBLAST! record label owned by Gill Holland. During high school, he regularly performed to packed crowds at venues in Louisville like Mercury Ballroom Headliners and Haymarket Whiskey Bar. In March 2016, he opened for Vince Staples in Louisville.
Just a month after graduating from Atherton High School in June 2016, Harlow released his first mixtape “18” under his own label and music group Private Garden. This collective includes his frequent collaborators known as the Homies, local rappers, and producers from Louisville. Over the following year, Harlow performed at major music festivals like South by Southwest Bonnaroo and the Forecastle Festival.
In the summer of 2017, Jack Harlow dropped the single “Routine”. By October he released another single “Dark Knight” along with a music video. He credits Cyhi the Prynce for helping him overcome writer’s block and finish the song. “Dark Knight” became the lead single for his mixtape Gazebo released in November 2017. Harlow then went on a 14-city tour in support of the album with the Homies joining him as openers.
Moving to Atlanta, Harlow worked at Chick-fil-A in the Georgia State University cafeteria to make ends meet. A month into this job he met DJ Drama at Mean Street Studio.
In August 2018, it was announced that Harlow signed with DJ Drama and Don Cannon’s Generation Now label in partnership with Atlantic Records. He also released a video for his single “Sundown” on the same day. On August 17, he released his major label debut mixtape Lose featuring collaborations with artists like CyHi, the Prynce, K Camp, and others. Harlow toured North America to support Loose from November to December 2018.
Throughout 2019, Jack Harlow continued his momentum with singles like “Thru the Night” featuring Bryson Tiller and the mixtape Confetti which included collaborations with Tiller, 2forWoyne, and EST Gee. He also released the single “Heavy Hitter” in September 2019 dedicated to Louisville figure Darryl Isaacs.
In January 2020, Jack Harlow released “Whats Poppin” the lead single from his EP Sweet Action. The song gained popularity on TikTok with its video reaching over 135 million views by May 2021. On his 22nd birthday in March 2020, he released the EP itself. Later that year he collaborated with G-Eazy on “Moana” and dropped a remix of “Whats Poppin” featuring DaBaby, Tory Lanez, and Lil Wayne propelling it to number two on the Hot 100.
In 2020, Harlow was featured in XXL’s Freshman Class and released “Tyler Herro” the lead single from his debut album “That’s What They All Say”. The song’s video starring Harlow and NBA player Tyler Herro was praised for its effortless charm. The album which included hits like “Way Out” featuring Big Sean dropped in December 2020 and also featured “Whats Poppin” and its remix.
In 2021, Harlow performed on “Saturday Night Live” and released “Already Best Friends” featuring Chris Brown. He collaborated with Eminem and Cordae on a remix of Eminem’s “Killer” and with Lil Nas X on “Industry Baby” which became his first number-one single. He also released “SUVs (Black on Black)” with Pooh Shiesty.
Moving into 2022 Harlow released “Nail Tech” the lead single from his upcoming second studio album. The song debuted at number 18 on the Hot 100 and received praise from Kanye West. He was featured on West’s album “Donda 2” and announced his second studio album “Come Home the Kids Miss You” which debuted at number three on the Billboard 200. The album included the number-one hit “First Class”.
In September 2022, Jack Harlow was a guest picker and performer on College GameDay. He announced his third album “Jackman” in April 2023 which debuted in the top ten on the Billboard 200 and included the UK number-one hit “Lovin on Me”. In 2024 He also announced the Gazebo Festival a music festival in his hometown of Louisville.
In March 2022, Jack Harlow’s acting debut was announced in the remake of “White Men Can’t Jump”. He later appeared on Saturday Night Live and joined the cast of the Apple TV+ film “The Instigators”.
Net Worth
Jack Harlow has an estimated net worth of $15 Million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. The main source of Jack Harlow’s net worth primarily comes from his successful career in music, including earnings from album sales, concerts, and streaming royalties.
Additionally, he earns money through endorsements and sponsorships with brands that want to reach his fan base. Harlow’s popularity and growing influence in the music industry contribute significantly to his financial success, making him a sought-after artist in the entertainment world.
Philanthropy
Jack Harlow a white rapper has shown support for the Black Lives Matter movement. He attended a rally to protest the tragic killing of Breonna Taylor in his hometown. Harlow acknowledges that as a white person, he can’t fully understand the experience of racism. He believes it’s his responsibility to approach his work with this awareness.
In October 2021, Harlow made donations to five Louisville-based organizations: AMPED the Center for Women and Families the Grace M. James Academy of Excellence, Louisville Urban League, and Metro United Way. He expressed his love for his hometown and emphasized the importance of spreading hope and love through his contributions. KFC and Instagram also pledged to match up to $50000 of what Harlow raised through social media.
In December 2021, Jack Harlow collaborated with KFC and Yum! Brands to donate $250000 to the American Red Cross for tornado relief efforts in western Kentucky.
In 2023, he established the Jack Harlow Foundation to support initiatives that aim to improve his hometown. That year he also headlined a rally with Kentucky’s Democratic governor Andy Beshear ahead of the general election.
Style
Jack Harlow’s music is known for mixing confidence with genuine emotions. Critics often praise his songs for exploring themes like sexuality partying and drug use. His style falls broadly under hip hop blending trap beats with instruments like pianos and uilleann pipes.
In 2020, Kate Hutchinson from The Guardian highlighted Harlow’s more introspective songs where he talks about feeling uncomfortable with fame and acknowledges his white privilege. Another Guardian writer Thomas Hobbs noted Harlow’s embrace of being an outsider and his charisma in using language that might seem awkward from a suburban white perspective.
Jack Harlow describes his music as rhythmic and his lyrics as personal yet enjoyable aiming to connect with listeners. As his popularity grew in 2022 Terry Nguyen of Vox likened his music to Drake’s breezy style praising Harlow’s clever wordplay and introspective themes.
In terms of influences, Harlow draws inspiration from a diverse range of artists spanning genres including Eminem, Drake, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Outkast, and others. He also finds inspiration in cinema aiming to make his songs like short films citing filmmakers like Martin Scorsese Quentin Tarantino and Alfred Hitchcock as his favorites.
