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A little over a month after Jack Harlow released his first single for the year, Hello Miss Johnson, the rapper returned with a brand new record titled Tranquility.
Jack's latest single was exclusively uploaded to YouTube alongside a music video, directed by Owen Smith-Clark, which features the rapper walking through Louisville, Kentucky while rapping over the Hollywood Cole-produced track.
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The Louisville native's Tranquility finds him delivering what many consider his career's most introspective pieces of work, highlighting his intention to grow and connect more deeply with his artistry.
From label renegotiations to no longer looking for validation from the hip-hop community, multiple bars from Jack's latest record caught the attention of fans across social media platforms after the song was reposted by several news media outlets like NFR Podcast.
Popular hip-hop podcaster DJ Akademiks reposted clips from Tranquility's music video on his Instagram handle, resulting in a flurry of comments from individuals reacting to Jack Harlow's new song.
Several individuals were seen claiming similarities between Jack and Canadian Grammy-winning rapper Drake.
"They tryna replace Drake with Jack Harlow," a user stated.
"The real Drake," said another.
"If this was Drake, Cole, or Kendrick, yall would be on your knees glazing but since its Jack Harlow yall hating," an individual claimed.
More reactions followed with individuals citing Jack's flow on Tranquility reminded them of Drake's sophomore mixtape Comeback Season.
"I hear comeback season Drake on this whole track," said one user.
"The Drake flow is so cold. Underrated," another another.
"Its giving Drake comeback season vibes," claimed another user.
Bar-For-Bar: Breaking Down Jack Harlow's latest single 'Tranquility'
While fans continue to await Jack Harlow's highly anticipated fourth studio album, which will officially follow up to 2023's Jackman, which debuted at No.8 on Billboard 200, the Louisville native delivered his second single for the year titled Tranquility.
Fueled by enticing rhymes, nonchalant vocal inflections, and well-chopped sample production, Tranquility acts as a curious look into the sonic direction Jack intends to showcase in upcoming music releases. Notable themes discussed in his latest record include:
- Self-reflection
- Criticism
- Hate
- Growth
- Change
- Accessibility
- Peace
- Mental Health
- Vulnerability
Disclaimer: This review is rated explicit. Reader discretion is advised.
"Twenty-five hundred plus a couple utilities / Fu*k it, I'll pay it just to keep the tranquility / Fu*k it, I love ya, I'll do anything for you / 'Cept settle down with you"
The track opens with Jack citing that he regularly covers bills and monetary costs for those around him to keep his peace of mind and the tranquility of his lifestyle.
He explains his intent to do anything for the women in his life, except settle down with them, a stark difference from the emotions he highlighted in Hello Miss Johnson.
"I don't want nobody grillin' me / Y'all boys' lame sh*t killin' me / Need to be reintroduced to humility / I ain't lookin' for no hip-hop credibility / Give a fu*k who feelin' me, I'm feelin' me / I'm really him, I'm really that remedy"
Jack seems to be more humble in these bars, explaining how the rest of the hip-hop community should follow suit and be "reintroduced to humility". He also addresses some of the criticisms he's been dealing with, citing how he no longer cares for other people's opinions of him and his music.
"Himothée Chalamet, pretty girls salivate / On the low, off the grid, in the cut, out the way / My prime's in full swing like a Callaway / I need a dime every dollar New Balance makes / Ain't 'bout to let the world takе my smile away / People that bеtrayed me don't even fu*kin' know that I know / It's somethin' that I just file away"
After a play on the name of actor Timothée Chalamet, the rapper re-emphasizes his need to remain "off the grid" as he seemingly claims to have entered his prime.
The bar is notable for how Jack Harlow explains his disconnect with the world around him, especially with those who continue to criticize his music and "betray" him.
"Lost a few M's on the festival / Okay, and I can't wait to do the second one / All these little high heels sittin' in the vestibule / Woke up to her best friend sleeping on the sectional / Fans still say they miss Jack with the spectacles / Last project, I was givin' you conceptual / Next project, I'll be givin' you exceptional"
Jack then brings up the cancellation of his inaugural festival "Gazebo Fest," held in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, whose two shows were reportedly canceled over bad weather conditions.
He explains losing a few "millions" because of the canceled concert, in May but hints at a second Gazebo Fest event which will reportedly take place sometime next year. Jack continues by addressing his previous projects, building up anticipation for his fourth album by referring to it as "exceptional".
"Fu*k everybody, got me on some pans*xual / Julie Greenwald askin' if I'm on schedule / Label ready for the next record, I'll let you know / 'Bout to ask Ed Sheeran what they gave him / Last time that he went to renegotiate the decimals / Every day I grow a little less accessible / Less of a people pleaser, less flexible"
Jack Harlow then name-drops Atlantic Records CEO Julie Greenwald, alluding to his label seemingly giving him the green light to drop his next album.
He also name-drops another Atlantic Records signee, Ed Sheeran, citing that he wishes to have a conversation with the singer-songwriter about his re-negotiated deal with the label.
"More simplistic, soulful, less technical / The world's my oyster, I'm 'bout to get my dog a Perpetual / I don't know why some of y'all skeptical / Maybe 'cause we got the same passion, but you never went professional / I just know it's somethin' 'bout me that's detestable / New G-Wagon, that bit*h is electrical"
Jack continues by citing his affection for those around him who continue to support his decisions by buying them expensive luxury items like a Rolex Perpetual Watch.
He addresses critics and fans who remain skeptical of his music direction, explaining their detest for Jack Harlow comes from the fact that they have the same passion but never pursued it professionally.
"The hate got to me, but I had to act straight, like I'm tryna seem hetero / Used to kill locals, now the crime scene federal / I'm proud of what we done, but I'm tryna be better though / 'Cause I don't think I've really made nothin' incredible / Lot of hard verses and a couple regrettable"
Jack delivers bars that express his pride in what he's accomplished in his career while reflecting on how the online hate and criticism affected him.
He alludes to previous projects when highlighting the multiple one-liners that garnered attention online for being "cringe," calling them regrettable, as he explains his intention to create a project that stands out amongst his current discography.
"As far as big records go, yeah, I got a few of those / But I ain't done nothin' indisputable / Maybe I'm delusional / I just left the old me's funeral / I would turn the camera on and give you more of me like I used to do / But somethin' 'bout it don't seem suitable"
He does allude to some of his chart-topping hits like What's Poppin' and his more recent chart-topping single Lovin On Me, claiming them to be big records but nothing that can be considered as "indisputable".
"Somethin' 'bout selling myself feels so juvenile / Four hundred degrees out, my knees out walking 'round Louisville / Life's beautiful when every impulse you have is quite doable / I'ma keep tellin' the truth as per usual"
Jack Harlow ends Tranquility with a bar that references the direction of his music video, as he walks around Louisville pondering on how the next chapter of his successful rap career would unfold.
Jack Harlow's Tranquility is an interesting record of self-reflection and emotional vulnerability, introducing fans to a more somber version of the rapper, as he tackles personal demons stemming from hip-hop's criticism of his artistry.
