For the most part, I always feel pretty in tune with Pop music and understand why an artist gets so big. I have always said and believe that there is always a reason an artist becomes so popular; there have to be redeeming qualities there. Admittedly, I have never really gotten that with The Kid Laroi. I am not trying to be harsh, but it never really clicked with me as to why he got so huge. I know that partly it is because of his association with Juice Wrld. I have also heard some people compare him to Justin Bieber. I guess I can see the comparison to Bieber; almost like a Diet version(it has certainly helped his career that he has collaborated with both of these artists more than once). Since debuting in 2019, The Kid Laroi has released quite a bit of music. He has put out a ton of singles, and he has been featured on quite a bit of music as well. He also dropped an album called F*CK LOVE=: OVER YOU in 2021 and THE FIRST TIME in 2023. The Kid Laroi has now dropped his third album, titled BEFORE I FORGET. Now, I honestly did not want to go into this record with any semblance of negativity and tried to be as open-minded as possible. I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. Below, I wanted to talk about a few of my favorite songs from this record, then go over some overall thoughts on it to close things out. Please let me know in the comments below what your favorite tracks are from BEFORE I FORGET, as well as how you feel about it as a whole. 

ME + YOU

I have to say, The Kid Laroi did draw me in a bit with the opener to this record. ‘Me + You’ is definitely a solid way to get things going. When I first heard this one, I did immediately think of The Weeknd. Specifically, songs from early in his career, like ‘Tell Your Friends’ or ‘Reminder.’ This sentiment not only comes from the instrumental, but also from The Kid Laroi’s delivery. Instrumentally, this one has an inviting R&B sound. The synths that drive this track are warm and massive, giving the song an all-encompassing feeling. The synths are complemented by some pitched-up vocals, giving the song a Chipmunk Soul element. As mentioned, he does use a flow that sounds like The Weeknd on this one. Although this flow is recognizable, The Kid Laroi’s tone does make the song seem individual to him. On ‘Me + You,’ The Kid Laroi details a relationship with his ex, wanting her to remember the good times and come back to him. 

COME DOWN

‘Come Down’ is a song that feels very adjacent to what The Kid Laroi has become known for to this point. This song has a light R&B Trap sound that is very palatable and easy-going. The melody for this one is pretty feathery and bright. It is driven by a groovy bass line complemented by some synths. This melody feels very 1990s to me. Towards the end of the track, the melody does switch up and get a bit darker, which adds a deeper element to the track. The beat for this one has a pretty typical Pop-Trap tempo that does not stand out but works well with the melody. The Kid Laroi’s flow and tone on this one are not the most riveting, but they just fit the instrumental well. I especially dig the chorus, because it really is an earworm. On ‘Come Down,’ The Kid Laroi sings about getting lit and wanting to hang out with his girl when the high and drunk wear off. 

RATHER BE (FEAT. LITHE)

‘Rather Be’ is the song from this record that is taking off right now, and it is easy to say why. In my opinion, this one is probably the highlight of the project. Honestly, this is mainly because of the performance we get from The Kid Laroi and Lithe(although the instrumental is cool as well). ‘Rather Be’ has an R&B Trap sound, but it differs from the ones we got before it on the project. This track feels very psychedelic and kind of futuristic. The synths that drive this one have a very floaty feeling that makes me feel like I am in the clouds. The beat does have a Trap tempo, but has some glitchy elements that make it stand out. The Kid Laroi demonstrates a pretty great range on this track, showing off some high notes that add emotion to the track. The crisp flow that we get from Lithe adds texture to the track as well. On ‘Rather Be,’ The Kid Laroi and Lithe regret their decisions and want to go back to their ex after screwing up their relationships. 

5:21AM (feat. Andrew Aged)

‘5:21AM’ is the shortest and most low-key song on this project, but it may be the most impactful. Even though there is not a lot of actual substance to this one, it still hits really hard. The instrumental for this track is very simple. It literally just consists of a slow and somber guitar riff. The way the song is mixed makes it feel like the song is being played in the corner of a room or on the street as you are walking by. Even though the song sounds so faint, it still leaves a very emotional feeling with the listener. The Kid Laroi’s vocals are high-pitched and strained. His tone on this one is almost guttural. It really adds to that emotional element the song has. ‘5:21AM’ feels like a call for help. When The Kid Laroi is in his most vulnerable state, he is just seeking comfort and solace. 

A COLD PLAY

‘A Cold Play’ was one of the lead singles from this record, and it was a song that made me think this album had some potential. Sonically, it is not super riveting or even super different from what he has been known for. This is a cute Pop-Trap song with a welcoming tone and sound. The melody for this song is pretty soft and dainty. It is provided by some airy synths with a bright tone. The beat is as soft as the melody, and its intricacy adds to the emotional element of the track. As nice as the instrumental is, the vocals are what make this track. I really like the range he sings with on this one. The high notes he hits add to that sweet and emotional feeling of the song, and make it hit pretty hard(even if the sound of the song is light). On ‘A Cold Play,’ The Kid Laroi sings about missing his ex and not being able to accept that they are gone. 

I’M SO IN LOVE WITH YOU

Similar to ‘5:21AM,’ ‘I’m So In Love With You’ is a song that sonically really stands out on this project. When I was first listening to the album, I actually had to make sure the album hadn’t switched to something else because it almost caught me off guard. This song has a very old-school feeling. Its sound really reminds me of the early 2000s. There is definitely a Y2K R&B theme that is reminiscent of artists like Justin Timberlake. The melody for ‘I’m So In Love With You’ is very groovy. It is driven by a funky bassline, and is complemented by some atmospheric synths. The beat also has a funky element to it that is pretty different from anything else on the album. Vocally, this is not the strongest song here, but The Kid Laroi’s nice tone works well on this instrumental and fits the feeling of the track well. On ‘I’m So In Love With You,’ The Kid Laroi expresses his feelings for his significant other and hopes they feel the same way. 

MAYBE I’M WRONG 

Besides ‘5:21AM,’ ‘Maybe I’m Wrong’ is definitely the most subdued and delicate song on this record. Like that track, it is pretty much completely acoustic. The instrumental for this one is solely driven by a single guitar riff. Unlike that track, however, ‘Maybe I’m Wrong’ has a very clean and sweet sound to it. The instrumental carries no distortion, with the focus of the song only being put on that guitar riff and the vocals. The guitar riff that drives this one is pretty inviting and delicate. It reminds me of the early 2000s Surf Pop music that was very popular. Particularly, I think of artists like Jason Mraz or Jack Johnson when I hear this one. Even though it is not the most rangey or emphatic, this song has one of the nicest vocal performances of the record. The Kid Laroi’s tone and delivery fit so well here, and it is pleasant to listen to. On ‘Maybe I’m Wrong,’ The Kid Laroi admits fault in his relationship, realizing there are a lot of things he could have changed to make things right. 

As I stated in the introduction, leading into this record, I did not have a ton of expectations. I wanted to know why The Kid Laroi’s music clicked for so many people, though. I have always believed there is a reason why an artist is so popular; there had to be something here that I was not grasping. Even though I said I wanted to have an open mind, the Diet Justin Bieber thoughts I had(and for what it is worth, I am not even a big Bieber fan) were of course lingering as I dove into the album. I am glad to admit I was very pleasantly surprised by BEFORE I FORGET. For me, it was easy to see why people enjoy him so much, because there is a lot to dig here. Based on what I have heard, this was definitely The Kid Laroi’s most mature and complete project to date. I think that is true both sonically and lyrically. For a lot of the album, The Kid Laroi does wear his influences on his sleeve. There are so many similarities to the older music of The Weeknd, Justin Bieber, and even Bruno Mars. This is all good when it’s done well, but it does get monotonous at times. There are a couple of songs on BEFORE I FORGET that threw me for a loop. I did not know that he had all of this kind of music in his bag. Songs like ‘521AM’ ‘I’m So In Love With You,’ and ‘Maybe I’m Wrong’ show a different side to his artistry. The Kid Laroi has always been a very good singer, and throughout this project, he proves that time and time again. Lyrically, this is not the deepest or most thought-provoking album, but I do appreciate The Kid Laroi’s honesty and vulnerability throughout the record. Overall, I wouldn’t say BEFORE I FORGET is a life-changing Pop record, but it is a step in the right direction for The Kid Laroi. I am glad I gave it a chance, because The Kid Laroi showed he is totally improving quite a bit.