Jack Harlow's new album 'Monica' has no rap. That's on purpose.

Kentucky-born rapper Jack Harlow dropped \

Jack is back.

To celebrate his 28th birthday, Kentucky-born rapper Jack Harlow dropped a surprise album, his fourth, in a clear departure from projects past. "Monica," a nine-track compilation streaming now, does not see Harlow in his usual role as raucous rapper. Instead, he's traded in his signature and sometimes sarcastic rhymes for a smooth foray into R&B and jazz. Gone is the grounding dirty south beat, replaced by a velvety undertone, layered with confessional lyrics.

"I think you get to a point where as much as you’re trying to find your voice, you’re also hoping to escape yourself," Harlow told The New York Times in a March 13 article coinciding with the album's release.

"Ideally you want a unique arc, an arc that is all your own," he told the outlet. "Monica" was recorded after a move to New York for the rapper, which spurred a new wave of inspiration. The result is a stripped-back version of Harlow, devoid of his usual bravado and sauce.

"Part of the reason I love rap music is the braggadocio of it. But I spent some time thinking, How can I lean away from that?" Harlow told the Times. "And then just sonically what I was listening to — I love softer, more melodic stuff. More than anything, I think I made this out of, 'What do I want to hear?'"