Kyle Meredith with... Jack Harlow

Jack Harlow on Mixtapes, Louisville, and Making Moves

Jack Harlow has been putting in the work since he was a kid. At least, that’s how he tells it. “I started when I was like 12 years old just because I always loved writing,” he says, looking completely unbothered by the fact that he’s now barely out of high school and already racking up serious momentum. “Then it became rap, and then I started recording in my bedroom and uploading stuff to YouTube, SoundCloud… before I even got to middle school, really.” Middle school. Let that sink in. While most kids were figuring out how to survive a cafeteria social hierarchy, Harlow was already on his way to making a name for himself.

By high school, it was clear what path he was taking. “That’s when it really became, like, this is what I want to do,” he says, throwing in that by his senior year, there wasn’t even a question. “I’d rather do this than college.”

So far, it seems like a solid plan. His latest release, 18, is out now, a collection of what he calls “stories of adolescence.” He says it with a slight smirk, maybe acknowledging that at 18, he’s barely out of adolescence himself. “It’s just where my life was when I made it. Stories of how I was spending my nights, relationships, all types of things. And,” he adds with a little extra emphasis, “there’s some good rapping on it. Like, people can be impressed with it.”

There’s already a video, shot in his hometown of Louisville, because of course. “Yeah, Got Me Thinking,” he says. “We shot it at Quills.” Not exactly a scene-stealing landmark, but that’s part of the charm. Another video, Ice Cream, is also out, though he doesn’t go into much detail on that one. Just another day in the life of a rapper on the rise.

His hometown is still a major part of the equation, and his upcoming show at Headliners is proof. “It’s the day before Thanksgiving, so it’s gonna be crazy,” he says. He expects a packed house, and considering the local buzz, he’s probably right. He’s even bringing along his crew. “Jack Harlow and the Homies,” he says, referring to the group of rappers and producers he works with. “They’re their own act, but they’re my collective. Sometimes I think they’re better than me. They’re really dope.”

The bill also includes Wells, coming in from North Carolina, and Braxton, another artist Harlow clearly has respect for. “It’s gonna be a cool lineup, man. I’m looking forward to it,” he says, which is about as hyped as he gets in conversation.

Harlow has that quiet confidence that makes it clear he knows he’s on to something. He’s been at this long enough to see the grind start to pay off, but not long enough to sound exhausted by it. “It’s working out,” he says casually, like he never really doubted that it would.

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