Jack Harlow says he’s the “Hardest White Rapper” since Eminem

Jack Harlow says he’s the “Hardest White Rapper” since Eminem.

“Ya boy’s strivin’ to be the most dominant ever/ The hardest white boy since the one who rapped about vomit and sweaters,” Harlow raps on the Hollywood Cole-produced track’s first verse. “And hold the comments ’cause I promise you I’m honestly better than whoever came to your head right then/ They ain’t cut from the same thread like him/ They don’t study, doin’ work to get ahead like him/ They don’t toss and turn in the f**kin’ bed like him.”

That’s a tall order, considering not only Eminem’s stature in hip-hop but also the sheer number of rappers Harlow believes he’s leapfrogged to land in such a position. The list includes predecessors like El-P and Mac Miller, peers like G-Eazy and Lil Dicky, and left-field picks like Rittz, Wynne, Yelawolf, and more.

Naturally, Jack’s line is going over as controversially as he undoubtedly intended it to with fans putting in their own arguments agreeing or disagreeing with his claim.

The song, which was released as the lead-single from the 8 Mile soundtrack, was a massive hit, peaking at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning the rapper his first chart-topping single. “Lose Yourself” also received widespread critical acclaim. It was the first rap song to win the Academy Award for Best Original Song and Grammy Awards for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Solo Performance.

Jack Harlow’s Jackman mixtape is his first release since 2022’s Come Home the Kids Miss You. The project, which debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, produced the smash singles “First Class” and “Nail Tech” and included appearances from Drake, Pharrell Williams, Justin Timberlake, and Lil Wayne.

And while, truthfully, “best white rapper” is very much subjective, you have to admire the moxy Jack shows in making such a claim — and the smarts. There’s no better promotion than some good, old-fashioned water cooler talk. Don’t be surprised to see Jackman do numbers.