The Kid LAROI released his third studio album Before I Forget on Friday, Jan. 9, marking his most personal work to date.
The 22-year-old Australian rapper opens up about a breakup throughout the 13-track album. He was last linked to Canadian pop star Tate McRae before their split in July.
The album chronicles the emotional journey from heartbreak to acceptance. The Kid LAROI scrapped a completed album to create this new project in just four months.
“I made this album in the last 4 months. I had a whole other album that was completed but I scrapped it. started again from scratch with the exception of 1 song. it’s my favorite thing I’ve ever made,” he wrote on Instagram in November.
The opening track “Me + You” sets the tone as The Kid LAROI reflects on giving everything to someone who chose something else.
“Gave you every part of me, and, girl, I know you knew that / I gave you f—in’ everything, and you still chose to choose them / It’s crazy ’cause if it was up to me, I wouldn’t choose it,” he sings.
On “July,” he recounts what appears to be the night of the breakup.
The song references the month when The Kid LAROI seemingly confirmed his split from McRae in a series of X posts. “You were the one that chose to walk out the door / I chose not to be sure,” he sings about that July night.
The pressures of public relationships become a theme on “Private.” He questions whether fame affected their connection.
“Girl did we move way too fast? / Or Is it because we let everyone in on what we had?” he wonders.
Despite the pain, The Kid LAROI shows understanding for his ex’s decision to leave.
“You know that if nobody else gets it, I understand / The pressure you face isn’t fair, no,” he sings. “I wish I could take it all away from you, but I can’t.”
The album explores different stages of grief. “Come Down” deals with substance use and missing his former partner. “Rather Be” gets vulnerable about missing the friendship aspect of their relationship.
“The sex was cool and all, but honestly, I miss my bestie,” he admits on the track.
“Never Came Back” marks a turning point toward acceptance. “What’s done is done, will never be reversed,” he sings, later adding that he feels “more at peace” week after week.
But healing isn’t linear. On “Thank God,” anger surfaces as he blames his ex for making it hard to move on.
“If you ever question or happen to wonder / If I found another, I could never love her / The way I loved you,” he sings, frustrated that she “broke it off but don’t want to see me with nobody else.”
The album’s emotional climax comes with “Maybe I’m Wrong.” The Kid LAROI puts his pride aside and considers that he might have been at fault.
“I’m never scared to admit when I’m wrong,” he sings. “I took down the pictures I kept on my walls / I got so mad I wrote three songs / But I scrapped them all because it’s not what I want.”
The final emotional statement appears on “Her Interlude.” He mourns the relationship one last time while acknowledging it’s over.
“I don’t wanna hear anything that you say / I just wanna know who’s taking my place,” he sings. “You’re gone. but the shape of you is still carved in my heart.”
The Kid LAROI and McRae first sparked dating rumors in early 2024. They made public appearances together, including at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party, before their relationship ended.
Before I Forget is available now on all streaming platforms through his official website.
