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Switched on Pop

Where have all the white rappers gone?

Switched on Pop

Vox Media Podcast Network

Music, Music Interviews, Music History, Music Commentary

4.62.9K Ratings

🗓️ 24 March 2026

⏱️ 52 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

On a recent podcast interview, Kentucky rapper Jack Harlow said that, to craft his new album Monica, he “got blacker.” The problem is… Jack Harlow is white. The statement, while extremely tone-deaf, speaks to his intentions with this musical pivot: musically, Monica turns to the historically Black genres of R&B and neo-soul to craft a new image designed to shed the stigma of being a “white rapper.” The pivot is more costume than culture, but in doing so, Harlow seems to be following in the footsteps of several white rappers over the past decade. Artists like Post Malone, MGK, and Jelly Roll have all had radical shifts in sound and image over their career, separating themselves from their roots in hip-hop. So, in response to Monica, Reanna and Charlie ask: where have all the white rappers gone?  Links: ⁠Newsletter⁠, ⁠YouTube Songs discussed: Jack Harlow – First Class Jack Harlow – Lovin On Me Jack Harlow – Trade Places Post Malone, Hank Williams Jr. – Finer Things Jack Harlow – Tyler Herro Jack Harlow, Doja Cat – Just Us Jack Harlow – Lonesome J Dilla, Common, D’Angelo – So Far to Go D’Angelo – Spanish Joint D’Angelo – Feel Like Makin’ Love Jack Harlow – All Of My Friends Led Zeppelin - Babe I’m Gonna Leave You Paul Wall, Big Pokey – Sittin’ Sidewayz Beastie Boys – Fight For Your Right Post Malone – White Iverson Post Malone – Leave Post Malone, Morgan Wallen – I Had Some Help James Taylor – Machine Gun Kelly MGK – LOCO MGK, blackbear – my ex’s best friend 5 Seconds of Summer – She Looks So Perfect MGK – cliche Jelly Roll – F*ck What They Talkin Bout (ft. O.N.E.)  Jelly Roll – Need A Favor Bubba Sparxxx – Deliverance Eminem – Cleanin’ Out My Closet Eminem – Without Me Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

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0:03.5

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0:08.5

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0:14.8

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0:18.3

With long-lasting battery life and built-in intelligence, you can stay focused on what matters most. Dell Technologies, built for you. Dell.com slash Dell PCs.

0:31.2

Welcome to Switched on Pop. I'm songwriter Charlie Harding.

0:39.8

And I'm producer Rihanna Cruz.

0:41.3

What have you brought me today?

0:42.5

All right, Charlie, you remember Jack Harlow, right?

0:45.4

He's the Kentucky rapper behind such hits as First Class.

0:51.5

Yeah.

0:51.7

I've been a throw up the sex in a... first class. It was the fergy

1:03.8

It was the pergy interpolation that I never needed.

1:05.6

Sorry.

1:06.2

More recently, he had the track Lovin' On Me.

1:08.6

I'm vanilla, baby.

1:09.9

I'll choke you, but I ain't no killer, baby. She's 28 telling me I'm still a baby. I get love. he had the track loving on me.

1:25.6

I like that one more. It's got the sample of a Cadillac Dales, whatever, base soliloquy. Yeah, both of those were commercially successful singles and jack garla

1:31.5

has been a pretty notable figure in the world of pop rap over the past few years and today i bring

1:38.2

him up because he is back with a new record it's called monica came out this past week, and it is striking up conversation

1:47.2

because of the way that it sounds. Here's the song, Trade Places.

1:51.8

All I want to do is get some time alone with you the way you want to, baby girl, minds and where we can walk around together, together See because I don't want you by yourself

...

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