Louisville-native Jack Harlow has been making quite a name for himself recently. From his flamboyant personality to his smooth and silky basketball skills, Harlow has established himself as an up-and-coming celebrity. Released May 6, “Come Home The Kids Miss You” is Harlow’s second studio album.

The 15-track album has a star-studded roster of features, including the likes of Drake, Justin Timberlake, Pharrell Williams and Lil Wayne. This roster of artists will definitely aid in Harlow’s popularity as a rapper and will assist him in getting future collaborations with other artists.

Possibly the most popular track of “Come Home The Kids Miss You,” “First Class” has catchy lyrics that are wrapped around a sample of Fergie’s “Glamorous.” The piano riffs between each verse accentuate the chorus. The smooth instrumentals add to the depth of “First Class” and provide a good base for the track.

Harlow’s fresh face in the music industry and contemporary style, exhibited in “Dua Lipa” is one of many examples of his musical expertise. The upbeat tempo and lyrics in “Dua Lipa” displays his charismatic personality excellently. He expresses his emotions in the titular song and in “Dua Lipa,” allows his thoughts to shine through.

Named after the venue of the Kentucky Derby, “Churchill Downs” emphasizes unexpected themes in Harlow’s music – growth and maturity. Harlow dives into inner growth while keeping catchy lyrics to entertain listeners. Drake keeps his typical calm and collected vocals in “Churchill Downs,” and surprisingly, it fits well with the beat. I was expecting “Churchill Downs” to have an energetic beat, but the instrumentals alongside Drake’s vocals gave it a soft and peaceful vibe.

Despite the success all throughout the album, certain decisions could be deemed questionable. “Parent Trap” has Justin Timberlake featured, which doesn’t make much sense, given Timberlake is known for his mainstream pop hits rather than a pop/rap mix, and Timberlake’s vocals in “Parent Trap” don’t mesh well with Harlow’s quick, catchy rapping. 

Pharrell Williams is another unanticipated feature in “Come Home The Kids Miss You.” Williams has almost eerie vocals due to the heavy autotune in “Movie Star,” which overshadows Williams’ natural vocals. Williams was just an odd choice given the high-energy style Harlow has displayed throughout the album. 

Harlow’s music is mainly tailored towards a teenage and young adult audience, so “Come Home The Kids Miss You” may not be worthwhile for those not into the pop/rap genre. Although I enjoyed certain tracks, the album feels over-saturated in romance at times, and doesn’t have a specific identity from which it can be associated. 

Overall, Harlow definitely has some work to do as a rapper, but “Come Home The Kids Miss You” is a great stepping stone and learning experience for Harlow as he continues to carve out his identity within the music industry. 

“Come Home The Kids Miss You”: ★★★★☆