What's The Real Meaning Of Nail Tech By Jack Harlow? Here's What We Think
Jack Harlow is making some serious waves in the music scene right now. The star really started getting major attention after dropping "Industry Baby" with Lil Nas X in 2021 — and fans have been waiting with bated breath to see how he'd follow up such a major success.
Step forward "Nail Tech," which has "a little sonic icing" from none other than John Mayer, who revealed his involvement on Instagram. Harlow dropped the single on February 18 and it instantly garnered major attention from some of the music scene's biggest name. Case and point? None other than Ye himself, Kanye West.
"This n**** can raaaaaaap bro. And I'm saying n**** as a compliment Top 5 out right now," West wrote of the song on Instagram shortly after the song was released, via Variety, in a post that has since been deleted. Harlow (who's thought to be a millionaire, by the way) was clearly pretty thrilled with the praise. He shared a screenshot of West's message on Twitter and wrote, "This right here...is one of the greatest moments of my entire life...glad y'all all get front row seats to it...suddenly all the hate means nothing...imagine your hero saying this about you...I could cry."
So, now we know it has at least one famous fan, what is "Nail Tech" really all about?
Nail Tech is about living that high life
Jack Harlow tells us about that high life he's been living on "Nail Tech." The song appears to be all about just how much he's thriving in all aspects of life, from his career to his personal life, after suggesting he was doubted by his haters.
The title appears to come from the first line, in which Harlow raps (via Genius), "My nail tech knows how to keep a lil' secret/I don't wish for my success, I speak it." He then boats about cash and designer brands, rapping, "I look like I been gettin' money, how I reek it/You smell me, that's LV."
But despite all his money and fame, Harlow makes it clear he's still loyal to those who know him best. "Fam' over 'Gram, that's my MO," he raps.
The music video gives us a little more insight into the song's meaning, showing Harlow heading into a nail salon with City Girls star Yung Miami from City Girls. It also features some literal big baller moments matching the lyrics, including him hanging his sneakers out of a car window to show them off and being the only guy playing football against a team of women.
He also X-rays his body at the airport, seemingly a reference to the lyrics, "TSA just opened my book bag up/And my chain hittin' like," as he suggests his chains are so bulky and expensive they set off the metal detectors.
Nail Tech was a long time coming
Shortly before dropping "Nail Tech," Jack Harlow even poked a little fun at himself over how long it took him to release new solo music. The star dropped a slew of collaborations in 2021, including the massive "Industry Baby" with Lil Nas X, but hadn't released a solo track since October 2020's "Tyler Herro."
On February 10, he shared a clip to Instagram that showed him in a mock therapy session in which he was asked how his new solo music was coming along. "I take it you haven't picked a new single? I'm just saying this is our 28th session, it's a little overdue," the therapist asked. "Even my daughter is asking 'Mom, when is dropping his new song?'" He teased something big was coming in the caption, writing, "2/18," which we now know is the date he dropped "Nail Tech."
The rapped did quite a lot of teasing for this one too. He also hinted he had something big coming shortly before the song's release, tweeting, "No one in my generation can f*** with me. You will see tomorrow."
Harlow spoke about his new music with Zane Lowe on Apple Music on February 18, revealing he felt like he hadn't "had a chance to lay on the world just how passionate and how studious I am and just how capable I am" but noted his "new music will let people know just how locked in I am."