Jack Harlow found himself in the middle of online chatter after saying he “got Blacker” while discussing his new R&B-influenced album, Monica. The Louisville rapper’s comments on the New York Times’ “Popcast” have led to a wave of creative nicknames and discussions on social media. Many found his explanation for leaning into soul music rather than more traditional “white” genres to be misphrased.
“Got Blacker” Comment Sparks Backlash
During an interview on the New York Times’ “Popcast.” Jack Harlow explained his musical direction for his latest project, Monica. He stated he felt he “got Blacker” after dropping the album, as reported by HotNewHipHop. Harlow shared his preference for Black music and felt he chose a path that wasn’t expected, moving away from what he called “safer landing spots” some of his white contemporaries have taken. He mentioned artists like Machine Gun Kelly and Post Malone, who have explored punk rock and country music. Harlow intended to explain his genuine desire to embrace R&B and soul sounds, but the wording of his explanation quickly backfired.
Twitter Roasts Jack Harlow With New Nicknames
The internet wasted no time reacting to Jack Harlow’s “got Blacker” statement. Twitter users came up with a variety of humorous and often savage alternative names for the rapper, according to AllHipHop. These nicknames playfully twist popular Black artists and figures, highlighting the perceived disconnect in Harlow’s comment. Examples include “Talcum X.” a play on Malcolm X, and “Charlie Kirk Franklin.” blending a conservative commentator with a gospel singer. Other notable names that circulated were “Brian McWhite.”“Stevie Wonderbread.” and “Mos Definitely Not Yakub Kweli.”
The Album Monica and Internet Speculation
Harlow dropped his nine-track album Monica on March 13th, which also happened to be his birthday. The project features no guest appearances and dives deep into neo-soul and R&B sounds. Meanwhile, some online speculation suggests the album title itself, Monica, sounds like “my n” when said quickly. While the truth behind this theory remains unclear, it has only added fuel to the ongoing online discussion surrounding Jack Harlow’s recent comments. The creativity of the online renaming campaign shows just how much the internet is having fun with the situation.
Navigating the Social Media Storm
The reaction to Jack Harlow’s comments highlights the sensitive nature of discussions around race and music genres. While Harlow stated he loves Black music and genuinely wanted to explore those sounds, his phrasing led to unintended consequences. The rapper has not publicly addressed the specific nicknames created by users, though he is known to have a sense of humor. It remains to be seen how he will navigate this particular piece of online scrutiny
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