Jack Harlow got all the smoke on social media after an interview with New York hip-hop radio station Hot 97 revealed that he wasn’t as abreast of Black culture as he should have been.
On May 11, the Louisville, Kentucky rapper revealed that he had no idea that 12-time Grammy nominee Brandy and Ray J were siblings. In a segment called #WhiteIshWednesday with Hot 97 hosts Peter Rosenberg, Ebro and Laura Stylez, Harlow exposed just how ignorant he was of Black cultural icons– given the fact he secures his bag from the culture.
Rosenberg, Stylez, and Ebro started the quiz with hits from white acts like The Judds, The White Stripes, Fergie, Chris Stapleton, Billy Idol and Dolly Parton, and the Kentucky boy guessed most of the artists with ease.
Things took a turn for the worse when they introduced– according to Ebro “essential cultural joints.” Harlow looked lost in the sauce as they played Maze featuring Frankie Beverly’s cultural staple “Before I Let Go.”
As a hip-hop artist, Harlow blew it when the hosts dropped Blackstar as well. And he was like a deer caught in headlights when Maxwell’s “Ascension” played.
Ebro, Stylez and Rosenberg thought they were giving the hillbilly emcee an easy win when they dropped Brandy’s 1998 bop “Angel In Disguise.”
“Aaliyah?” he guessed, still looking confused.
The hosts attempted to throw Harlow a line to help him realize that it was Brandy.
“She had a TV show,” Stylez stated, offering Harlow a well-played hint. Ebro and Rosenberg, recognizing that he was still clueless about Brandy, gave him the golden eggs of hints.
“Her brother is the reason why a lot of people are famous,” said Rosenberg, with Ebro adding, “Her brother had an amazing sex tape.”
“Who’s Ray J’s sister?” Harlow asked.
The hosts lost it– laughing at the 24-year-old rapper, with Ebro asking Harlow, “You didn’t know Brandy and Ray J are siblings?”
“Brandy and Ray J are siblings? Nobody has ever told me that in my life,” Harlow responded. “Y’all got a good clip out of that one.”
Although it was all jokes on Hot 97, Black Twitter didn’t appreciate Harlow’s blasphemous disregard for Brandy.
Jack Harlow not knowing who Brandy is or that her and Ray J are siblings is not bc he’s young or bc he’s “Gen Z”. It’s bc he’s a white man from Louisville Kentucky who panders to black culture
U cannot claim to be an RnB/Hip Hop fan & not know who Brandy is. UR DISMISSED
— RU? (@rvmbiie) May 12, 2022
Jack Harlow intentionally putting black women in his music videos, parading around loving black women, maintaining a large fan base of black women, but not knowing brandy and ray j are siblings speaks volumes to me.
— ?????? ???? ♡ (@KayanaRich) May 12, 2022
jack harlow just finding out that brandy & ray j are siblings is exactly why y’all need to stop letting #them people capitalize off of our shit.
— ☆ (@ALCHEMYSTlC) May 11, 2022
People are disrespecting thee fcking Brandy and her impact on music industry in defense of jack Harlow r@ggedy ass pic.twitter.com/WjjzrwPkxm
— Niggaola is at peace (@Niggaolas) May 12, 2022
This is an embarrassing tweet. Brandy was literally as popular as Britney Spears in the 90s. That doesn’t even count Moesha or Cinderella. Just admit Jack Harlow is out of touch with Black culture and keep it moving. https://t.co/9lROSxqBfP
— chris evans (@notcapnamerica) May 12, 2022
And just like that, Jack Harlow reminded the world that he is white white. Black folx gonna eat him alive for this one. You don’t know Brandy?! https://t.co/sk2qQ0y6kk
— Marquise. (@MarquiseDavon) May 11, 2022
This is why we can’t let everyone in the culture. Brandy has one of the easiest most recognizable voices in the game. Give Jack Harlow back to the others. Immediately. This is insulting. https://t.co/P08vim29Iy
— DuffJuice (@DuffJuice30) May 11, 2022
Singer India Arie had smoke for Harlow, too. In an Instagram story, the “Brown Skin” songstress expressed her disdain for the rapper.
“Just because you make black [music] doesnt mean you know black culture,” she wrote on her Instagram Story. “If U dont know Brandys voice when you hear it …. WHO EVEN ARE YOU?”
Arie continued, “When an ACTUAL MUSICIAN! WHO MAKES BLACK MUSIC! Deduces ones of the industries MOST IMPORTANT VOICES! @brandy To Ray Jays SISTER who is famous (mostly) for his Proximity to Kim Kardashians.”
“And WE HEAR @brandy Influence Eh-VER-REE-WHERE! PLENTY of Non Black signers. (Ask them) Even MALE singers. Gospel singers. AND PEOPLE KNOW RAY J BETTER? the sh*ts STUPID. STUPID. STUPID. STUPID!”
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We couldn’t have said it any better.
