Recommended tracks: “Trade Places,” “All Of My Friends,” and “Say Hello”
Similar artists: J.Cole, Kendrick Lamar, and Ty Dolla $ign
Rapper and singer Jack Harlow is back with his newest album Monica, which arrives three years after his last album, Jackman. Monica dropped on March 13, Harlow’s 28th birthday, and marks a new musical era for Jack as he dives head first into the realm of R&B. The fourth studio album contains 9 songs that each explore the themes of love and relationships.
The album starts off with “Trade Places,” a track that boasts the slow and mature sound that will become the anchor of the rest of the songs to follow. “Trade Places” is jazzy and is the first taste listeners get of Jack’s singing voice, which is smooth and pairs well with the genre. This song is about Jack wanting to spend alone time with his partner, with her ultimately taking the lead on what they get to do.
“Lonesome” and “Prague” follow strongly, with each of these songs showcasing Jack’s confidence in his singing abilities as he starts unveiling stylistic choices in his vocalizations.
“Lonesome” is brighter and exhibits more jazz and lo-fi elements, making it robust and more interesting to listen to. It seemingly follows the story of Jack acknowledging that the woman he’s interested in is focused on her own life and what she needs to take care of after multiple failed attempts to get a stable relationship going.
On the contrary, “Prague” is slower and more delicate with the addition of violin and female vocals. In “Prague,” Harlow appears to put the ball in his love interest’s court, singing the lyrics “If so, tell me I’m dismissed / If it’s gone you want, I’ll be gone.” There’s a pervasive push and pull in the track as Jack holds out hope for the connection while simultaneously contemplating whether he should give up and let it go.
As the album progresses, we’re met with “My Winter,” an expressive track in which Jack is candid about his juggling of two women. The woman he is singing to in this song is characterized by winter, while the other woman is compared to summer. “My Winter” is captures the painful reality of not knowing who to choose for a relationship, remaining laced with uncertainty until the very end of the track. Sonically, the track leans more into jazz, and features soft adlibs from Ravyn Lenae.
Monica also includes a short track titled “Move Along” sung by Cory Henry. “Move Along” does exactly what it is named to do, moving the album forward by injecting a deeper, soulful energy into it before continuing into Harlow’s musical exploration of R&B.
As we get into the middle of Monica, the reflective “All Of My Friends” explores Harlow’s conversations with his inner circle about his love life. He admits that “All of my friends say I keep fallin’ / Fallin’ in love, way too often.” This song suggests a pattern in his life where his relationships come quickly, possibly one after another, without much downtime. “All of My Friends” has a faster tempo than the others, yet it sounds a bit sadder. The song also includes more vocals from Ravyn Lenae, adding to its atmospheric feel.
The next two tracks, “Living Alone” and “Against the Grain,” appear to be straightforward conversations between Harlow and his other half. “Living Alone” embraces a lo-fi feel, while “Against the Grain” contains a contemporary sound with swirling vocal harmonies from James Savage. These songs are two sides of the same coin and complement each other well.
The last track of Monica, “Say Hello,” brightly wraps up the album with a bouncy and effortless cadence. In this song, Harlow sings soulfully as he fully steps into the role of an R&B artist, embodying the vibrato and rhythmic groove that makes the genre what it is. “Say Hello” fades out gracefully with the piano and saxophone at the helm of the last few seconds.
Ultimately, Monica is a true R&B album through and through. Jack Harlow’s decision to explore the genre has proven to be a fruitful one, as the album is a pleasantly mature listening experience that is sure to resonate with fans of R&B and soul. This departure from the rapper’s usual sound is a refreshing addition to Harlow’s discography and signifies growth in his artistry and a beautiful change of pace.
You can stream Monica below.
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