5 Burning Questions: Jack Harlow’s ‘First Class’ Debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard Scorching 100

Whereas he already scored a No. 2 hit as a lead artist in 2020 with “Whats Poppin” — helped by a preferred remix additionally that includes Lil Wayne, DaBaby and Tory Lanez — and a No. 1 in 2021 alongside Lil Nas X on the latter’s Montero single “Trade Child,” it nonetheless could come as a shock to many to see Jack Harlow debut atop the Billboard Scorching 100 with the 12 months’s finest streaming complete, for his new single “First Class.”

The only, which samples Fergie’s 2007 Scorching 100-topper “Glamorous” and was teased extensively on TikTok pre-release, debuts with 54.6 million streams in its launch week — the largest single-week complete since Drake’s Future- and Younger Thug-featuring “Method 2 Horny” in Sept. 2021, and a bigger quantity than these posted by much-anticipated new releases from international superstars like Adele (“Straightforward on Me”) and Harry Types (“As It Was”).

Why is the music taking off this quick this rapidly? And the way massive a level-up is that this for Harlow? Billboard staffers talk about these questions and extra beneath.

1. “First Class” isn’t technically Jack Harlow’s first No. 1 hit, however it’s his first as an unaccompanied lead artist. Does this debut cement his celebrity standing to you? 

Katie Atkinson: It undoubtedly bumps him as much as a brand new tier, for positive, however I’m going to withhold that “celebrity” tag for now till he’s extra of a family title. I feel the pattern and the music’s TikTok virality did a number of the heavy lifting right here, simply as Lil Nas X did a lot of the heavy lifting on “Trade Child.” I undoubtedly assume this can be a big accomplishment, however perhaps not a career-cementing one simply but.

Carl Lamarre: Missionary Jack is correct on the cusp. His trajectory is spectacular: Not solely did he carve up the opposition with “Whats Poppin,” which soared to No. 2 on the Scorching 100 courtesy of the remix remedy with Lil Wayne, Tory Lanez, and DaBaby, however his scene-stealing verse on Lil Nas X’s chart-topper “Trade Child” had him nearing pole place. Couple these wins with “Nail Tech,” debuting high 20, and “First Class,” turning into his first solo lead No. 1, and he’s shut. Simply safe a No. 1 album, Jackie.

Jason Lipshutz: Yep. That is the kind of No. 1 Scorching 100 debut that shakes the business awake and calls for respect for a rising younger artist, just like Olivia Rodrigo with “Drivers License” final 12 months and BTS with “Dynamite” the 12 months earlier than that. Jack Harlow has been a recognized amount for hip-hop followers over the previous few years, because of hits like “Whats Poppin’” and his visitor verse on “Trade Child,” however “First Class” is his solo-track, no-asterisks breakthrough chart-topper, and locations him squarely on the A-list.

Neena Rouhani: “First Class” debuting at No. 1 undoubtedly boosts Jack’s standing — we all know he’s not a one-hit marvel or “only a good function”), however I feel what’s going to cement his “celebrity standing” is a studio album that rivals the success of this single. Celebrity implies longevity, and never everybody who scored a solo Scorching 100 No. 1 report went on to turn out to be a celebrity.

Andrew Unterberger: Numbers like this, coming off a Grammy efficiency only a couple weeks earlier, and seemingly being a high dialogue subject each day on social media in between — it’s fairly exhausting to disclaim him the “celebrity” tag at this level. However the stats he places up with new album Come Residence the Youngsters Miss You subsequent month will definitely be telling about simply how excessive within the stratosphere he’s already risen.

2. Harlow’s earlier single “Nail Tech” debuted at No. 18 on the Scorching 100 — a formidable displaying, however one nonetheless properly wanting what “First Class” achieved. Is the latter’s superior efficiency extra to you in regards to the music or the way it was promoted? 

Katie Atkinson: Each. I feel the familiarity of the pattern in addition to the best way he cleverly reinterpreted it led to its early success on TikTok – which was clearly invaluable promotion. And as Fergie herself is aware of all too properly, individuals love a pop-song spelling lesson.

Carl Lamarre: “Nail Tech” had flashes of lyrical brilliance, however the anticipation for the latter trumped its predecessor. Teasing the report from the studio and deliberately taking part in Fergie’s “Glamourous” pattern within the clip had everybody speaking and curious as to what Jack had up his sleeve. It was then merely a matter of delivering, which he did.

Jason Lipshutz: The promotion actually helped “First Class” hit No. 1, because of a TikTok blitz and a few strategic advertising of the Fergie “Glamorous” pattern, however “First Class” can also be extra fast and memorable than “Nail Tech,” and completely performs into the kind of tossed-up attraction and simile-heavy wordplay that Harlow has become his model. Proper music, proper artist, proper time — the whole lot comes collectively for Harlow on “First Class,” and even when the advertising had been extra muted, Harlow’s newest single would have been greater than his earlier one.

Neena Rouhani: To be sincere, I didn’t take heed to “Nail Tech” past a primary pay attention, till “First Class” got here out. The songs would loop again to again once I’d play “First Class,” and that’s actually the one cause I’m acquainted with the previous single. That’s to not say it’s a foul music — the extra I involuntarily sat with it, the extra I preferred it — however “First Class” is certainly a extra memorable report. However, what I feel mattered extra is the promotion, particularly a mixture of two issues: Jack’s TikTok presence (he’s been posting an knowledgeable combo of thirst lure movies and teasing the Fergie-sampled monitor, and we can’t deny the ability of that) and the truth that “First Class” is for the women, in a means harking back to early Drake.

Andrew Unterberger: Truthfully, “Nail Tech” has extra of what I like about Harlow — his informal self-gassing and winking sense of musical and lyrical playfulness — than the comparatively serious-sounding “First Class.” However the latter is actually dressed for crossover success, and the thrill he created for it on TikTok resulted in it detonating on impression. I don’t assume it will’ve completed fast numbers like this with out that well constructed pre-release anticipation, nevertheless it may’ve turn out to be large quickly sufficient simply the identical.

3. “First Class” clearly makes use of a really outstanding pattern of Fergie’s “Glamorous,” a Scorching 100-topper in its personal proper — is the pattern logical and earned to you, or does it really feel extra like a pop shortcut? 

Katie Atkinson: Each. I like that Harlow used the letter-by-letter spelling of “Glamourous” – and added his personal twist to the G-L-A-M – in addition to used the title “First Class” line. However although Jack undoubtedly made it his personal, the music continues to be buying and selling on that familiarity to turn out to be an prompt earworm, so it’s inarguably a shortcut. There’s a cause this one popped so rapidly.

Carl Lamarre: I feel calling it a pop shortcut downplays Jack’s skills as an artist. If the beat belonged to anybody else, I can’t say the report can be delivered the identical nor be a Scorching 100 chart-topper its debut week. Jack’s swaggering demeanor and supply are rapidly turning into a favourite in not solely the hip-hop area but in addition in pop.

Jason Lipshutz: Why not each? After all using “Glamorous” is a pop shortcut, a means for Harlow to recycle an older smash for his personal functions, however the best way he slows down the hook and emphasizes the “firstclass” line makes for a savvy little bit of re-positioning. Leaning too exhausting on a outstanding pattern can put an artist in re-tread territory, however Harlow does sufficient to honor the unique No. 1 hit whereas re-contextualizing it to attain his personal.

Neena Rouhani: Each! Completely a pop shortcut, as a result of he barely needed to provide you with a hook. However, it really works extraordinarily properly – the kick-heavy manufacturing, further pianos, Jack’s suave circulation and songwriting, all of it.

Andrew Unterberger: It’s a shortcut, although I recognize that he at the least tries to be in dialogue with the hook all through the refrain, if not all the time that easily. Nonetheless, it gave us a cause to all concurrently acknowledge what an ’00s pop traditional “Glamorous” is, and you’ll’t actually hate on that.

4. Between “First Class” and Harry Types’ “As It Was,” we’ve now had No. 1 debuts in back-to-back weeks, after simply two high 10 debuts complete (and no No. 1 debuts) within the 12 months’s first three-plus months. After a traditionally gradual begin, do you are feeling just like the 2022 pop 12 months is now formally underway? 

Katie Atkinson: I hope so! However it’s simply as doable that Harry may bounce proper again to No. 1 subsequent week and have just a few extra weeks up high, or for Jack to have the highest spot on lock for just a few weeks longer too. However with new music from Kendrick Lamar and much more new Harry Types music looming, right here’s hoping we get a revolving door at No. 1 for the subsequent few months after a stagnant Scorching 100 high 10.

Carl Lamarre: I’d like to see if different pop stars which have simply dropped new singles — like Lizzo and her newest single “About Rattling Time” — debut excessive, and if there’s stamina behind a few of these data. Can these pop songs turn out to be upper-echelon hits and endure a number of weeks inside the highest 10, is the larger query at hand. I’m very skeptical of that, after we simply got here off a 12 months headlined by Justin Bieber, Billie Eilish, Doja Cat, Ed Sheeran, and Adele.

Jason Lipshutz: Sure, and simply in time for the summer time! Say what you’ll about “As It Was” and “First Class,” however thank goodness we now have some new entries on the high of the Scorching 100 after a extremely stagnant few months. Don’t get me incorrect, I’ve loved speaking about “We Don’t Discuss About Bruno” and Glass Animals’ slow-and-steady climb to the penthouse, however the high of the chart has some new juice, and I’m grateful for a few contemporary smashes.

Neena Rouhani: I don’t know if I’m able to declare that, however with the summer time across the nook, I’m hopeful.

Andrew Unterberger: It does really feel that the seasons are altering on the Scorching 100 lastly — although hopefully that finally implies that, along with the thrilling new arrivals, we lastly see a number of the older hits which have arguably begun to outstay their welcome begin to shuffle off as properly. However one factor at a time.

5. Fergie, will.i.am and the Black Eyed Peas had the charts in a chokehold within the mid-to-late ’00s and early ’10s. What different music from the BEPs prolonged household (both them as a bunch or any of their solo members) would you like to see resurrected, and who may you wish to see resurrect it? 

Katie Atkinson: I really like that BEP nostalgia is in full swing (see: SNL this previous weekend or the Latin charts for the previous two years). I’m going to vote for “Shut Up” and its soap-opera prepared lyrics. Although it’s just like the fourth-most-popular music from 2003’s Elephunk and didn’t even crack the Scorching 100, it’s tailored for a TikTok pattern and perhaps it would lastly get the Scorching 100 adore it deserves, virtually 20 years later.

Carl Lamarre: Mockingly, I considered BEP’s 2003 “The place Is The Love,” which served as a response monitor to the 9/11 assaults. Then, in 2016 after a number of terrorist assaults and the killings of Philando Castile and Alton Sterling, BEP returned with a brand new model sans Fergie, graced with an look from the unique co-writer Justin Timberlake, Mary J Blige, Usher, A$AP Rocky, and extra. Sadly, the world stays in shambles, particularly with what’s happening in Ukraine. Hitting refresh on the monitor and grabbing a few of Pop’s greatest hitters in Justin, Ariana, Olivia, and Billie to assist may very well be impactful.

Jason Lipshutz: The manufacturing on Fergie’s “Clumsy” — blinking synths, drum thwacks, “I can’t assist it!” call-and-response chants — is simply sitting there for a brand new artist to scoop up and re-animate. “Clumsy” guidelines, similar to all 5 of Fergie’s high 5 hits from The Dutchess, and has the DNA of a new-school hit every time one other artist realizes it.

Neena Rouhani: Humorous you ask this! Final evening I used to be listening again to my favourite BEP hits because of “First Class,” and my reply is unequivocally, “My Humps.” I may see somebody like Saweetie do it, and there are countless sample-worthy bits.

Andrew Unterberger: At all times thought we deserved a model of “Meet Me Midway” with solely the Fergie elements, which might’ve sounded one thing like a fantastic misplaced ’80s Madonna hit. Possibly Doja Cat may give it to us as a substitute.