Biography
The Kid LAROI (Charlton Howard) is an Australian singer-songwriter and rapper from Waterloo, New South Wales, in Sydney.[2] He has described a childhood marked by family tragedy and frequent moves, with music becoming both an escape and, later, a way to support his family.[4] He credits a gift from God for his career and says his main goal has long been to inspire people and help them through their day.[4]
He emerged as a protege of Juice WRLD and signed with Columbia Records, which released his debut album, The 1st Time.[2] His second album, BEFORE I FORGET, arrived in January 2026 roughly two years later.[2] It was written after a high-profile breakup with the pop singer Tate McRae led him to scrap a nearly finished record, and it moves from rap-leaning hooks toward R&B and alt-pop.[1][3]
References
- Album Review: The Kid LAROI, Before I Forget (Riff Magazine) — Review that places "Thank God" mid-album as an introspective track and covers the breakup context.
- The Kid Laroi, "Before I Forget" review (Legends Will Never Die) — Review describing the track as alt-pop and the album as a post-breakup record.
- Album Review: The Kid LAROI, Before I Forget (Beats Per Minute) — Background on the scrapped earlier record, the writing sessions, and the album's sound.
- The Kid LAROI on overcoming family tragedy (Audacy) — Interview in which LAROI discusses faith, family hardship, and his sense of purpose.