Jack Harlow Says Drake Became the Best Rapper Alive After If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late.
Many hip-hop fans call Drake the best rapper in the game right now, But the moment he earned that title is different for everyone. For Jack Harlow, that moment was when he heard “If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late.”
In a recent episode of Rolling Stone’s “My Life in 10 Songs,” Harlow talked about the exact time he started seeing Drizzy in a different light, as greatest in the game. It goes back to 2015, when Drake dropped If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late.
Harlow says he remembers that release vividly: “I remember this album coming out and thinking, ‘Oh, Drake’s the best rapper alive,’” he said. “Yeah, it was powerful.”
Jack Harlow on Drake for Rolling Stone:
“I remember vividly [IYRTITL] coming out and being like, ‘Oh, Drake’s the best rapper alive.'”
“It’s just cool to see a rapper really be a rapper and not be some packaged thing that a team is putting together.” pic.twitter.com/LZ9SkCrDUW
— Kurrco (@Kurrco) April 23, 2026
It’s no secret that Drake has been a big influence on Harlow. If you listen to Harlow’s music, you can hear that mix of rapping and melody that Drake made popular. Harlow has even taken inspiration directly, like referencing Drake’s style in his hit “Lovin On Me.”
What makes this story even more interesting is that Harlow later got the chance to work with Drake on “Churchill Downs.” For someone who looked up to Drake for years, that moment meant a lot.
Harlow talked about what it was like being in the studio with him. He was impressed by how natural Drake is when recording: “Watching him work. Not punching in. Delivering that whole way through. It’s just cool to see a rapper really be a rapper and not be some packaged thing that a team is putting together.”
He also shared something he learned from Drake on how to keep things simple. “[Drake] does a great job of recognizing what’s actually necessary. A lot of his greatest songs are so spacious, him and a couple of instruments.” “I think people forget, just either out of habit or a need to compensate, that you don’t need that much sometimes. It’s really in the essentials.”
Towards the end of the interview, Harlow was asked about Drake’s upcoming project, titled ICEMAN, to which he said: “I’m anticipating it with you.” That answer has fans wondering, could Harlow be on the album? We will find out on May 15.
