Few figures have shaped Jack Harlow as steadily as Drake. Drake’s approach to melody and rhythm has long echoed through Harlow’s catalog. Listeners often point to the way Harlow moves between rapping and singing as part of that lineage. This stylistic overlap has become central to his sound. The connection is not only implied in interviews but also embedded in the music itself. For example, he included his interpolation and partial sampling of Drake on “Lovin On Me.” That choice helped sharpen comparisons between the two artists.
Harlow has been explicit about the admiration. In Rolling Stone’s “My Life in 10 Songs,” he revisited Drake’s “10 Bands” from If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late. He identified it as a turning point in how he viewed his peer. “I remember vividly this album coming out and being like, ‘Oh, Drake’s the best rapper alive…’ Yeah, it was powerful,” he recalled. The remark framed Drake not just as an influence, but as a benchmark.
That perspective carried into their collaboration on “Churchill Downs,” where Harlow described observing Drake’s studio process firsthand. “Watching him work. Not punching in. Delivering that whole way through. It’s just cool to see a rapper really be a rapper and not be some packaged thing that a team is putting together.” He also highlighted Drake’s economy in production. He noted, “[Drake] does a great job of recognizing what’s actually necessary. A lot of his greatest songs are so spacious, him and a couple of instruments.”
Harlow Praises Drake’s Growth as ‘ICEMAN’ Rumors Swirl Ahead of Release
Harlow expanded on that idea more generally, saying, “I think people forget, just either out of habit or a need to compensate, that you don’t need that much sometimes. It’s really in the essentials…” He added that Drake’s evolution in flow and writing has continued steadily over time.
Attention has now turned to ICEMAN, where anticipation is building around potential collaborations. When asked directly, Harlow said, “I’m anticipating it with you.” Drake has not confirmed any guest appearances ahead of the May 15 release. However, Central Cee, Yeat, and Julia Wolf have been mentioned in connection with earlier tracks. Whether those records remain on the final version is still unclear. As a result, speculation remains unresolved as the project approaches.
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