They Don't Love It
{{short description|2023 single by Jack Harlow}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox song
| name = They Don't Love It
| cover =
| type = single
| artist = Jack Harlow
| album = Jackman
| released = {{Start date|2023|04|28}}
| recorded =
| genre = Hip hop
| length = 1:53
| label =
- Generation Now
- Atlantic
| writer =
- Jackman Harlow
- Kameron Cole
- Timothy Wright
| producer = Hollywood Cole
| prev_title = Backstage Passes
| prev_year = 2022
| next_title = 3D
| next_year = 2023
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|EU04UEnhv_o|"They Don't Love It"}}}}
}}
"They Don't Love It" is a song by American rapper Jack Harlow. It was sent to Italian contemporary hit radio through Generation Now and Atlantic Records as the lead single from his self-titled third studio album, Jackman, on April 28, 2023, along with the album.{{cite web |last=Tenaglia |first=Raffaella |title=JACK HARLOW "They Don't Love It" {{!}} (Radio Date: 28/04/2023) |url=https://radiodate.it/radio-date/jack-harlow-they-don-t-love-it-235035-28-04-2023-radiodate/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230428205146/https://radiodate.it/radio-date/jack-harlow-they-don-t-love-it-235035-28-04-2023-radiodate/ |archive-date=April 28, 2023 |access-date=April 28, 2023 |website=radiodate.it |language=it}} Harlow wrote the song with producer Kameron Cole. The song prominently samples "Can't Live Without You" by Connie Laverne, and as a result, its songwriter, gospel singer Timothy Wright, is also credited.
Composition and lyrics
The song received attention for Harlow saying that he is the "hardest white boy" since previous collaborator, fellow American rapper Eminem.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.complex.com/music/jack-harlow-references-eminem-new-song-they-dont-love-it|title=Jack Harlow Says He's The 'Hardest White Boy' Since Eminem on New Album 'Jackman'|last=Callas|first=Brad|magazine=Complex|date=April 28, 2023|access-date=April 28, 2023}} He subtly compares himself to the rapper in the lines: "Ya boy's strivin' to be the most dominant ever / The hardest white boy since the one who rapped about vomit and sweaters",{{cite magazine|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/668346-jackman-jack-harlow-hardest-white-boy-eminem|title="Jackman": Jack Harlow Is The "Hardest White Boy" Since Eminem, He Says On New Album|last=Hynes|first=Hayley|magazine=HotNewHipHop|date=April 28, 2023|access-date=April 28, 2023}} a similar line used by the rapper G-Eazy on the 2015 song "Calm Down" by saying: "And fuck it I'm the coldest white rapper in the game since the one with the bleached hair". The lines refer to Eminem rapping about vomiting after eating spaghetti that his mother made due to nervousness before participating in a rap battle on stage.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.vibe.com/news/entertainment/jack-harlow-hardest-white-rapper-eminem-1234752603/|title=Jack Harlow Says He's The "Hardest" White Rapper Since Eminem|last=Brown|first=Preezy|magazine=Vibe|date=April 28, 2023|access-date=April 28, 2023}} The lyrics received generally negative reviews from fans on social media, who felt that the late Mac Miller was more deserving of the title that Harlow gave himself.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/668518-mac-miller-jack-harlow-eminem-jackman-twitter-reacts|title=Mac Miller Trends On Twitter After Jack Harlow Makes Eminem Comparison On "Jackman"|last=Hynes|first=Hayley|magazine=HotNewHipHop|date=April 28, 2023|access-date=April 28, 2023}} Aaron Williams of Uproxx defended Harlow by saying: "And while, truthfully, 'best white rapper' is very much subjective, you have to admire the moxy Jack shows in making such a claim — and the smarts. There's no better promotion than some good, old-fashioned water cooler talk".{{cite magazine|url=https://uproxx.com/music/jack-harlow-best-white-rapper-boast-sparks-debate/|title=Rap Fans Debate Jack Harlow's Place After He Declared Himself The Best White Rapper Since Eminem On 'Jackman'|last=Williams|first=Aaron|publisher=Uproxx|date=April 28, 2023|access-date=April 28, 2023}} Other than the incident, the song "bursts out of the traps, the high-pitched vocal distortions aligned to free-flowing rhymes from the Kentucky artist".{{cite web |last=Murray |first=Robin |date=April 28, 2023 |access-date=April 28, 2023|title=Jack Harlow – Jackman |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/jack-harlow-jackman |website=Clash}} Fellow white rapper Machine Gun Kelly responded to the Eminem lyrics a few days later, stating that Harlow "jacked man's whole swag" and "Give Drake his flow back".
Music video
The official music video for "They Don't Love It", directed by Eliel Ford, was released on May 1, 2023.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/jack-harlow-they-dont-love-it-video-1235318868/|title=Jack Harlow Gives a Tour of Louisville in 'They Don't Love It' Video|last=Lamarre|first=Carl|magazine=Billboard|date=May 1, 2023|access-date=May 1, 2023}} Harlow takes viewers through his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky as he visits his old schools (Bloom Elementary, Highland Middle School, and Atherton High School), plays soccer, and barbecues with his family and friends.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.revolt.tv/article/2023-05-01/298999/jack-harlow-they-dont-love-it-video/|title=Jack Harlow drops off new visual for "They Don't Love It"|last=Powell|first=Jon|website=Revolt|date=May 1, 2023|access-date=May 1, 2023}} He also visits a local bookstore and sets fireworks in the field that he is playing at with his friends, while others warmly welcome him to the city.{{cite magazine|url=https://uproxx.com/music/jack-harlow-they-dont-love-it-video/|title=Jack Harlow's Appreciative 'They Don't Love It' Video Gives Fans A Tour Of Louisville|last=Williams|first=Aaron|publisher=Uproxx|date=May 1, 2023|access-date=May 1, 2023}} Harlow also raps in a parking lot of a strip mall and hugs thrift store owners.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/jack-harlow-they-dont-love-it-video-watch-1234726929/|title=Jack Harlow Claims He's the Best White Rapper After Eminem, Tours Louisville in New Video|last=Mier|first=Tomás|magazine=Rolling Stone|url-access=subscription|date=May 1, 2023|access-date=May 1, 2023}} He sports a Kentucky Boy Tyler jacket as he rides in the back of a truck.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rap-up.com/2023/05/01/jack-harlow-they-dont-love-it-video/|title=Jack Harlow Heads Home In 'They Don't Love It' Video|author=Devin|website=Rap-Up|date=May 1, 2023|access-date=May 1, 2023}}
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Chart performance for "They Don't Love It" ! scope="col"| Chart (2023) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| scope="row"| Australia New Music Singles (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/new-music-singles-chart/2023-05-08|title=ARIA Top 20 New Music Singles Chart|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|date=May 8, 2023|access-date=May 5, 2023}}
| 20 |
|---|
| scope="row"| Australia Hip Hop/R&B (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/hip-hop-r-and-b-singles-chart/2023-05-08|title=ARIA Top 40 Hip Hop/R&B Singles|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|date=May 8, 2023|access-date=May 5, 2023}}
| 30 |
| {{single chart|Canada|40|artist=Jack Harlow|rowheader=true|access-date=February 12, 2024}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardglobal200|100|artist=Jack Harlow|rowheader=true|access-date=February 12, 2024}} |
| {{single chart|Ireland3|56|artist=Jack Harlow|rowheader=true|access-date=May 13, 2023}} |
| scope="row"| New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/hot-singles/2023-05-05|title=NZ Hot Singles Chart|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|date=May 8, 2023|access-date=May 6, 2023}}
| 2 |
| {{single chart|UK|76|date=20230505|rowheader=true|access-date=May 5, 2023}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|54|artist=Jack Harlow|rowheader=true|access-date=February 12, 2024}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|17|artist=Jack Harlow|rowheader=true|access-date=February 12, 2024}} |