Louisville rapper Jack Harlow has finally returned with “Nail Tech,” his first release of the year. The song follows a career-defining 2021 for Harlow, who, despite releasing only one solo track that year, earned his first chart-topping hit with the Lil Nas X collaboration “INDUSTRY BABY.” In the week leading up to the release of “Nail Tech,” Harlow teased the track on Instagram with a clip of him having a “therapy session.” A few days later, he announced the song’s title and shared its cover art.
The beat on “Nail Tech” was cooked up by six producers: Angel “BabeTruth” Lopez, Boi 1da, Coleman, Fierce, Jahaan Sweet, and Rogét Chahayed. Over the horn-heavy instrumental, Harlow boasts about his career success, wealth, and material excesses.
He opens his first verse by shouting out his nail technician, whom he counts as a loyal confidant.
My nail tech knows how to keep a lil’ secret
I don’t wish for my success, I speak it
Later on in the verse, Harlow raps about the pitfalls of turning your passion into a job.
It’s hard for me to get excited, I love music, and stress ‘bout it
He doesn’t let that slow him down, though. He lives by two rules, which he shares on the pre-chorus. The first is to keep “ten toes down,” or stay committed. The second is to focus on what really matters.
Ten toes, that’s my MO
Fam over ‘Gram, that’s my MO (On my momma)
Harlow doesn’t hold back on the chorus, where he brags about setting off the TSA metal detectors with his expensive chains, being the king of his hometown, and re-enacting football snaps in the bedroom.
She down low, three point stance
I’m back there doin’ Jack dance like bow, bow, bow, bow
On the second verse, Harlow reveals that his pledge to quit drinking, which he announced in a 2021 Instagram post, is still going strong. That doesn’t mean he can’t enjoy other vices though.
And I’m not no fashionista, but I’m fly though (But I’m fly)
And I know I gave up drinkin’, but I’m high though (But I’m high)
Later on in the verse, Harlow admits he hasn’t conquered the rap game just yet.
I’m not on top of this shit yet, but I’m that guy though
But with the strides he’s made so far, he’ll make it to the top soon enough.
Eyes open, heart clean and my mind focused
This shit just keeps goin’ how I wrote it
How the hell could you doubt us?
“Nail Tech” arrived alongside a music video, which Harlow co-directed with Frank Borin. Yung Miami of City Girls makes a guest appearance in the clip, which shows the rapper getting a pedicure, playing football, and delivering a speech as a Steve Jobs-inspired entrepreneur.
You can read all the lyrics to “Nail Tech” on Genius now,
