Jack Harlow Says He 'Got Blacker' on New Album “Monica” and Is Making Different Music to 'Traditionally White-Sounding' Rappers

Daniela AvilaFri, March 13, 2026 at 7:56 PM UTC

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Jack Harlow opened up about his sonic approach to his new album on The New York Times' Popcast

The "SUVs" rapper said he "got Blacker" instead of retreating to a "whiter genre"

Monica is out now

Jack Harlow switched things up on his new album Monica.

On Friday, March 13, the "Lovin on Me" rapper appeared on the New York Times' Popcast and was asked about his decision to take the R&B route — as opposed to rap — for his fourth studio album.

The conversation started with co-host Joe Coscarelli asking Harlow, 28, if he thought white rappers were given more leeway to "change their genre at will."

Jack Harlow on 'Popcast' in March 2026Credit: Popcast/Youtube

Harlow said he would have to think about it — and asked the hosts to share their take first.

"Definitely. I think there is something about being a white rapper that first puts the chip on your shoulder,'" Coscarelli said. "And then you prove yourself... you become accepted... and then you have the privilege, the ability to say, 'I rapped my ass off. I’m not gonna do that anymore, at least for now.'"

Jack Harlow in London in February 2026Credit: Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty

He added, "People take you seriously if you do that. If a Black rapper wants to do something completely sonically adventurous, it can often be treated as a whim, or something to be ignored, or a joke."

Then, co-host Jon Caramanica noted that while many white rappers have chosen to go the country or rock music route — Harlow opted for a "radical twist."

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"Right, you didn’t retreat into a whiter genre, in fact, arguably you went deeper into Black music," Coscarelli said, later adding, "Was that a little twist on the typical move that white rappers make, which is to retreat back into traditionally white sounds?"

Harlow responded, "I got Blacker."

The "First Class" artist elaborated that he loves "Black music" and its sound — but he ultimately chose the route that felt best.

"I’m not gonna pretend, with what you’re talking about, that I was like, huh, I guess you’re right! I knew that there were multiple things appealing about this route, but I also came to the decision, I’m proud to say, off of what feels good in my ear," he said.

Jack Harlow in New York in December 2025Credit: Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty

Harlow also assured that he still considers himself a rapper, but the intent behind Monica was to challenge his vocal range and "make music that sounded really good to me"

"As I’ve gotten older, I’ve become more concerned with finding my voice. I’m much more averse to mimicry or anything that feels derivative than I was in the past," he said. "I think I was so determined to achieve a certain thing and land in a certain place, maybe the spot I wanted to land in my head wasn’t as nuanced as it is now. I’m looking to carve out my own island and I’m less concerned with how immediately big I can make that island."

Monica, which follows 2023's Jackman, is out now.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”