Jackman Thomas "Jack" Harlow (born March 13, 1998), is an American rapper a… Read Full Bio ↴Jackman Thomas "Jack" Harlow (born March 13, 1998), is an American rapper and songwriter. He is signed to Generation Now and Atlantic Records. He is also the co-founder of his own musical collective, Private Garden. He is best known for his single "What's Poppin", which peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Harlow was born and raised in Louisville. Harlow began rapping at age 12. He and a friend used a Guitar Hero microphone and a laptop to record rhymes and songs. They made a CD entitled Rippin' and Rappin' and sold copies at their school (Highland Middle School). When he was in seventh grade, Harlow acquired a professional microphone and made his first mixtape, Extra Credit, using the moniker "Mr. Harlow".

Harlow attended Atherton High School, graduating in 2016. During his freshman year, his YouTube videos drew the attention of major labels, but he chose not to pursue any of the deals offered to him at the time. In November 2014 during his junior year, he released another mixtape, Finally Handsome.

In November 2015, Harlow released his first commercial album, an EP entitled The Handsome Harlow. It was released through Gill Holland's sonaBLAST! record label. Throughout high school, he often played sold-out shows at Louisville venues like the Mercury Ballroom, Headliners, and the Haymarket Whiskey Bar. In early 2016, he released a single, "Never Woulda Known", which featured Johnny Spanish and was produced by Syk Sense. In March of that year, he opened for Vince Staples in Louisville.

In June 2016 less than a month after graduating high school, he released the mixtape, 18, which was the first album on his label and music collective, Private Garden. The collective also features Harlow's frequent collaborators, the Homies, composed of Louisville rappers and producers Ace Pro, 2forwOyNE, Shloob, Quiiso, and Ronnie Lucciano. Over the course of the next year, Harlow performed at South by Southwest, Bonnaroo, and the Forecastle Festival. He also spent time traveling back and forth between Louisville and Atlanta to work with engineer/mixer, KY Engineering. In March 2017, he released the song "Hitchcock", produced by 2forwOyNE and J-Reid.

In the summer of 2017, he released the single "Routine". In October of that year, he released another single, "Dark Knight", with an accompanying music video. He credits CyHi the Prynce with helping him work through his writer's block and finish the song. The song would become the lead single off Harlow's mixtape Gazebo, which was released in November 2017. He went on a 14-city Gazebo Tour in support of the album. The Homies opened for Harlow, and the tour ended in January 2018. In May 2018, Harlow opened for indie rock band, Portugal. The Man on select tour dates. The following month, he was featured alongside Lil James and Sixteen on the Skeme song "Get Sumn".

In August 2018, it was announced that Harlow had signed to DJ Drama and Don Cannon's Atlantic Records imprint, Generation Now. He also released a video for his single "SUNDOWN" on the day of the announcement. On August 17, Harlow released his major label debut mixtape, Loose. The album featured guest verses from CyHi the Prynce, K Camp, 2forwOyNE, and Taylor. In September 2018, he performed at the Genius IQ/BBQ event. In November 2018, Harlow embarked on a North American tour in support of Loose that is scheduled to end in late December. That month, he also released a music video for the song, "PICKYOURPHONEUP", featuring K Camp. On August 21, 2019, Harlow released the single "Thru the Night" featuring Bryson Tiller and launched his US tour, which started in October of the same year.

In January 2020, he released "WHATS POPPIN", with a music video from video director Cole Bennett, who had also directed videos for artists such as JUICE WRLD, Lil Tecca, Lil Skies, and Blueface. The music video has surpassed one-hundred-fifty-five million views as of May 2022.

In 2021, Harlow released a collaboration with Lil Nas X, "Industry Baby", which reached number one on the Hot 100, becoming Harlow's first chart-topper. Harlow released his second album Come Home the Kids Miss You in 2022, and its single, "First Class", became his second number-one on the Hot 100 and first to debut atop the chart.

On August 3, 2021, he released a collaboration with Pooh Shiesty, "SUVs (Black on Black)".

On February 18, 2022, Harlow released the single "Nail Tech", the lead single from his upcoming second studio album and his first release in six-and-a-half months. The song performed well on the Hot 100 with a number 18 debut and peak and also received praise from Kanye West, who previously was involved in the production of "Industry Baby". On February 24, Harlow was featured in West's song "Louie Bags" on his album, Donda 2.

On March 16, 2022, Harlow announced that his second studio album is titled Come Home the Kids Miss You. The album was released on May 6. It debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200, earning 113,000 album-equivalent units (including 8,000 in pure album sales) in its first week. It became Harlow's second US top-five debut on the chart. The album also accumulated a total of 137.05 million on-demand official streams for the album's songs. The album also peaked at number 4 on the UK Albums Chart, Harlow's highest debut, and first top ten entry. The second single, "First Class", became his second number-one on the Billboard Hot 100, and the year's first hip-hop song to reach that position.

Harlow's third studio album, Jackman., was released on April 28, 2023, by Generation Now and Atlantic. The album was announced two days prior to its release and was speculated by fans to be a more lyrical project that was a return to his older musical roots.

In March 2022, it was announced that Harlow will make his acting debut in a reboot of the 1992 film White Men Can't Jump directed by Calmatic. On September 3, 2022, Harlow was the College GameDay guest picker and performer for Ohio State's 2022 season opener, a 21–10 win over Notre Dame. In October 2022, Harlow appeared on Saturday Night Live as both host and musical guest for the Halloween episode. In April 2023, Harlow joined the cast of the Apple TV+ film The Instigators, co-starring alongside Matt Damon and Casey Affleck.

Harlow cites a range of influences across multiple genres, including Eminem, Drake, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Outkast, Paul Wall, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Hall & Oates, Fergie, and Jesse McCartney, among others. Harlow has also identified cinema as an influence, aiming for his songs to be "like short films". His favorite filmmakers are Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino, and Alfred Hitchcock.

Ice Cream
Jack Harlow Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Know she wanna fuck with a fella like me
They don't know for sure, but they can tell I might be
The mutherfuckin' man, when I pull up on the spot
Got the kids goin' wild like I'm sellin' ice cream
Like I'm, like I'm sellin' ice cream
I don't really know how I can tell 'em nicely
I'm the prince of my city, yeah they know about the kid
You a tourist in this bitch doin' hella sight seein'

We been on the move for a minute now
Movin' through the city with the windows down
Only got a couple months till we graduate so
Ain't nobody out here really tryna sit around
I just hit her phone with that "WYD"
She said, "Boy I'm down, if you wanna come find me"
I said, "Watchu wearing girl? There's something I'm tryna see"
Told me, "Come and get it", said she wanna surprise me
Bet, give me like an hour and a half
With the homies right now and we bout to get a snack
In the mean time, you can take a shower or a bath
And relax, wait for me, I'll be out there in a dash
Close knit, how we sharin' the wealth
I can that they don't like how we carry ourselves
You can tell by how we act, we don't care how they felt
I can see it your eyes that you're scared of yourself
Know she wanna fuck with a fella like me
They don't know for sure, but they can tell I might be
The mutherfuckin' man, when I pull up on the spot
Got the kids goin' wild like I'm sellin' ice cream
Like I'm, like I'm sellin' ice cream
I don't really know how I can tell 'em nicely
I'm the prince of my city, yeah they know about the kid
You a tourist in this bitch doin' hella sight seein'
We been laid back, lookin' for some things to do
Pull up at the party, now it's lookin' like a kangaroo
Remember when I used to never get the invite
Now I'm the motherfucker that these people wanna cater to
Smooth criminal, y'all are too cynical
Hottest in my city I ain't even hit my pinnacle
First round draft pick, you might get your ass kicked
Post up, step back, every move is pivotal
And I got the people sayin', "Why the boy is so lyrical?"
They hatin' on me, but they still enjoy what they hearin' tho
Honestly, I think you need that shit I pour in my cereal
She ain't tryna hook up with me cause I'm boyfriend material, cool
But now she pullin' on my cardigan
Dick went soft, but I think it's gettin' hard again
The people that I started with, the ones I'm bout to party with
And we gon' stay away from anyone who wasn't a part of it
Know she wanna fuck with a fella like me
They don't know for sure, but they can tell I might be
The mutherfuckin' man, when I pull up on the spot
Got the kids goin' wild like I'm sellin' ice cream
Like I'm, like I'm sellin' ice cream
I don't really know how I can tell 'em nicely

I'm the prince of my city, yeah they know about the kid
You a tourist in this bitch doin' hella sight seein'

Overall Meaning

In Jack Harlow's song "Ice Cream", he portrays himself as the man who everyone wants to be with. He mentions how people can tell that he might be the "motherfuckin' man" just by looking at him. This line suggests that he exudes confidence and power. He goes on to say that when he pulls up, kids go crazy for him like he's selling ice cream - this could be interpreted in two ways. Either he is the coolest person on the block, or he is like a dealer supplying something that everyone wants.

He also asserts that he is the prince of his city and that everyone knows about him. He implies that he has worked his way up to the top and that he is the ruler now. He mentions how he and his friends have been on the move for a minute and that they have only got a couple of months to graduate. The song ends with Jack revealing that the people he wants to be with are the ones he started with, and he plans to stay away from anyone who wasn't a part of it.

Overall, Jack Harlow's "Ice Cream" is about his confidence and power. He portrays himself as the man everyone wants to be with and how he intends to stick with the people he started with. He reiterates that he is the prince of his city and how he has worked his way up to the top.

Line by Line Meaning

Know she wanna fuck with a fella like me
She is interested in me, and wants to have sex with me.

They don't know for sure, but they can tell I might be
People can sense that there is something special about me, even if they can't quite pinpoint it.

The mutherfuckin' man, when I pull up on the spot
I am the man of the moment, and everyone knows it when I arrive.

Got the kids goin' wild like I'm sellin' ice cream
I have a strong influence over young people, and they get excited when they see me.

Like I'm, like I'm sellin' ice cream
I have a charisma and energy that attracts attention and admiration.

I don't really know how I can tell 'em nicely
I'm not sure how to handle people who don't understand my position or popularity in a polite way.

I'm the prince of my city, yeah they know about the kid
I am a leader and major figure in my hometown, and my reputation precedes me.

You a tourist in this bitch doin' hella sight seein'
You are an outsider who doesn't really know what's going on, just observing and experiencing things superficially.

We been on the move for a minute now
We have been actively pursuing our goals for a while now.

Movin' through the city with the windows down
We are driving around the city with the windows open, enjoying ourselves and the fresh air.

Only got a couple months till we graduate so
We are close to finishing school and moving on to the next phase of our lives.

Ain't nobody out here really tryna sit around
We are all motivated to stay active and productive, rather than wasting time.

I just hit her phone with that "WYD"
I just texted her asking what she is doing.

She said, "Boy I'm down, if you wanna come find me"
She was receptive to my advances and invited me to come see her.

I said, "Watchu wearing girl? There's something I'm tryna see"
I asked her what she was wearing, insinuating that I wanted to see her body.

Told me, "Come and get it", said she wanna surprise me
She gave me permission to come over and implied that she had something special planned.

Bet, give me like an hour and a half
Okay, it will take me about an hour and a half to get there.

With the homies right now and we bout to get a snack
I am currently with my friends, and we are about to eat something.

In the mean time, you can take a shower or a bath
While I am on my way, she can take a relaxing shower or bath.

And relax, wait for me, I'll be out there in a dash
She can take it easy and wait for me, I will hurry over as fast as I can.

Close knit, how we sharin' the wealth
We are a close group of friends, and we share our successes and good fortune with each other.

I can that they don't like how we carry ourselves
I can tell that some people disapprove of our confidence and self-assurance.

You can tell by how we act, we don't care how they felt
Our behavior shows that we are not concerned with others' opinions of us.

I can see it your eyes that you're scared of yourself
I can sense that you are insecure and lack confidence in yourself.

We been laid back, lookin' for some things to do
We have been taking it easy and trying to find ways to occupy our time.

Pull up at the party, now it's lookin' like a kangaroo
When we arrive at a party, it becomes crowded and chaotic, like a zoo exhibit.

Remember when I used to never get the invite
I recall a time when I was not included or invited to events.

Now I'm the motherfucker that these people wanna cater to
Now I am the one who is in demand and has become popular among my peers.

Smooth criminal, y'all are too cynical
I am cool, self-assured, and charming, while others are skeptical and critical of my success.

Hottest in my city I ain't even hit my pinnacle
I am already very popular and successful, and still have the potential for even greater success.

First round draft pick, you might get your ass kicked
I am like a top athlete, and other people are intimidated by my skill and talent.

Post up, step back, every move is pivotal
I am strategic and thoughtful in everything I do, and every decision I make is important.

And I got the people sayin', "Why the boy is so lyrical?"
My fans appreciate and admire my skills as a rapper and lyricist.

They hatin' on me, but they still enjoy what they hearin' tho
Some people envy or dislike me, but they still appreciate and enjoy my music.

Honestly, I think you need that shit I pour in my cereal
In all honesty, I think you would benefit from the hard work and grit that I put into everything I do.

She ain't tryna hook up with me cause I'm boyfriend material, cool
She is not interested in a serious relationship with me, and that's okay with me.

But now she pullin' on my cardigan
She is now showing interest in me physically and emotionally.

Dick went soft, but I think it's gettin' hard again
I lost my erection, but I am now becoming aroused again.

The people that I started with, the ones I'm bout to party with
I am going to hang out and celebrate with the same group of friends that I started with.

And we gon' stay away from anyone who wasn't a part of it
We will avoid anyone who was not a part of our journey or who does not support us.

Contributed by Bentley V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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