Louisville rapper Jack Harlow announced Tuesday he will release his fourth studio album, Monica, on March 13, coinciding with his 28th birthday.
Harlow revealed the album’s title and release date via an Instagram post, accompanied by the cover art: a motion-blurred image of the artist wearing sunglasses and a brown cap. The announcement drew enthusiastic responses from fans, some of whom speculated about the identity of “Monica,” as well as comments from NFL star Victor Cruz and NBA player Karl-Anthony Towns.
Monica marks Harlow’s first full-length project in nearly three years, following the release of Jackman in April 2023, which peaked at number eight on the Billboard 200 chart. Prior to that, he released Come Home The Kids Miss You in 2022 and Thats What They All Say in 2020. Vinyl pre-orders for Monica are currently available on Harlow’s website.
The album was recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York City, following Harlow’s recent move to the city. The studio has a storied history, having hosted numerous music legends including Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, and Stevie Wonder. During a 2023 interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music, singer Lorde recalled sharing her then-new album with Harlow while both were recording at Electric Lady. “He was like, ‘Your bars are… These are bars!’” Lorde recounted, adding that Harlow’s praise was a “very funny, cool link.”
Harlow’s most recent single, “Just Us,” featuring Doja Cat, was released in March 2023. The sonic direction of Monica remains undisclosed.
