I really hope Jack Harlow drops a hip-hop album this time…

Jack Harlow might be at an impasse in his career, but he’s preparing another move. He has announced Sweet Action II, a new EP arriving Friday. The question is which version of Jack will show up.

His R&B pivot on Monica surprised plenty of listeners, leaning into subdued singing and neo-soul production. The response was rough enough to inspire an SNL spoof, while his comments about becoming “blacker” added another layer of ridiculousness to the conversation.

Before that, Jackman. took him in another direction, favoring introspective rap over the blockbuster sound that helped make him popular. Whatever you think of the results, he hasn’t seemed especially interested in repeating himself.

We don’t yet know whether Sweet Action II will lean toward hip-hop, singing, or some combination. One clue is Babyface’s involvement, which could point toward another soulful turn.

Given Jack’s willingness to become a white Musiq Soulchild at any moment, that feature makes me slightly nervous. Still, Babyface’s name alone doesn’t tell us how the record will sound.

I’m looking forward to hearing the EP. Jack has taken enough unexpected turns that guessing feels risky. Hopefully, this one gives his experimentation a direction that really connects.

Quincy

Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.