The Kid LAROI brought a new edge to Australia’s thriving rap scene before quickly graduating to the world stage for crossover pop stardom. Born Charlton Howard, the proud Kamilaroi singer/rapper (thus the stage name) experienced his first commercial breakthrough in his home country at age 16 with 2019’s “Let Her Go.” The following year brought consolidating collabs with Lil Tecca (“Diva”) and Lil Tjay (“Fade Away”) before his 2020 mixtape F*CK LOVE made him a household name in not just its initial incarnation, but two subsequent re-releases with added tracks. LAROI tapped Juice WRLD for 2020’s emotional yet laidback “GO,” before the singsong “SO DONE” went platinum in multiple countries. Yet, that was mere prelude to 2021’s massive one-two punch of “WITHOUT YOU” and “STAY,” which enlisted Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber, respectively, for ubiquitous presence both at home and abroad. All of which set expectations sky-high for his 2023 debut album, THE FIRST TIME. Luckily, lead single “LOVE AGAIN” was a major hit with just folky acoustic guitar, open-hearted lyrics, aching vocals, and not even a single bar of rapping. “BLEED” similarly stepped away from hip-hop touches, while 2024’s “GIRLS” went the other direction and reasserted his effortless cool over percolating beats. And guesting on his real-life partner Tate McRae’s 2025 single “I know love,” LAROI proved yet again that he can glide right across the pop and rap landscape while always sounding authentic.