As laidback and fun-loving as Jack Harlow's flows can often be, there's no mistaking the drive he possesses as an artist. The strides he took over the course of his early releases are a testament to his eagerness to push himself, develop creatively, and just do better. His first mixtape since the Louisville rapper signed with Generation Now and Atlantic Records, Loose sees him raise his game again with deftly delivered rhymes and performances that impress with their ease and finesse. Always ready to demonstrate his keen intelligence, Harlow is not just aiming to outdo his peers but outdo himself. Part of the credit goes to producer 2forwOyNE, another rising talent who established his prowess with Harlow's irresistibly punchy "Dark Knight" in 2017. Here, he provides Harlow with a wide range of musical settings that include the eerie, synth-laden trap of "NUN FREE," the spacy electro/dancehall fusion of "CODY BANKS," and the dreamy, jazzy avant-R&B of "DRIP DROP." Whatever the vibe, Harlow finds ways to command the space with lyrics that typically portray him as the fast-talking kid that everyone else in town wants to take out or get with. At the same time, he's quick to puncture his persona of macho invulnerability with a self-deprecating quip. On "PICKYOURPHONEUP," he risks torpedoing his chances for the night when he tells his potential companion, "In the morning maybe we can do Denny's—I wanted Cracker Barrel, but you know it gets busy." The fact that he compares himself to a kid secret agent in "CODY BANKS" is another welcome sign that Harlow has a sense of humor about himself. Tracks like "SLIDE FOR ME" and the sultry "LIKE THIS" also demonstrate Harlow's increasing affinity for pop melodies as well as the more intimate sensibility that would later flourish in his 2022 crossover smash, "First Class." He may still call himself a "youngin" on "DRIP DROP" but his growing sophistication is undeniable.