Jack Harlow's "Earliest Memory": Mom Playing "Late Registration" & Telling Him He Can't Say N-Word

BY Erika Marie 6.2K Views
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Jack Harlow
He recalls his mother giving him a pep talk before letting him listen to Kanye West's classic record.

His star continues to rise in the industry and as a white rapper, Jack Harlow has been questioned about his views on saying the n-word. This topic has been widely debated and continues to be a point of conversation within Rap culture as many fans believe if a rapper says the n-word in a song, there shouldn't be a problem with them singing along. Non-Black artists have also adopted the term, arguing that they aren't using it as a racial slur therefore people shouldn't be offended. 

Jack Harlow, on the other hand, isn't playing games when it comes to avoiding the n-word altogether. While visiting the 85 South Comedy Show, Harlow shared that it was his mother who told him to not even utter the term as she introduced him to a Kanye West classic.

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"My earliest memory is my mom buying Late Registration and playing it in the car and telling me I can't say the n-word and just me getting introduced to Hip Hop," said Harlow. "That was it right there."

The hosts were surprised by the revelation. 

"She was just about to play—this was the first album I remember hearing with that word. [She said,] 'Hey, you're about to hear a word on here. You can never say it in your life.'" The hosts joked about what it was like for a young Harlow to ask his mother which word she was referring to. "She's like, 'You'll know it when you hear it.'"

"I don't even say in my room, under my breath, never," said Harlow. He was told, "Don't even think it."

"Never," the rapper answered. Check out the clip as well as his full answer below.


About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.

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