Among the biggest pop culture headlines from September was the release of Tate McRae’s “TIT FOR TAT,” a breakup song seemingly targeted towards The Kid LAROI, an Australian singer and rapper.
The pair split in July 2025, prompting LAROI to scrap his newest work in progress, an album speculated to be titled “Watch This!”
Instead, after releasing singles “A COLD PLAY” and “A PERFECT WORLD,” LAROI dropped his album, “BEFORE I FORGET,” on Jan. 9.
Featuring 15 tracks, the album does not focus on diss tracks but instead highlights the melancholy and loneliness that LAROI is facing after losing a valuable relationship.
In the second track of the album, “JULY,” LAROI reminisces about the “night in July / when I held you for the last time,” belting his confusion about being told “your love wouldn’t die” but then being left.
The slow synth and smooth bass sonically match the rest of the album’s melancholy concept without losing the interest of the listener.
His lyrics and vocals are far more impressive than what he exhibited in his first album, “F*ck Love,” or even in his second, “THE FIRST TIME,” which was released in 2023.
LAROI partnered with Sean Phelan and Andrew Aged, who was officially featured on the track “5:21AM,” for the stellar production of the album.
The heavy synth and drum motifs in the tracks craft an emotional, vulnerable feeling to “BEFORE I FORGET.” Not only was the production top-notch, the lyrics were also well-written and somber.
For example, in “HER INTERLUDE,” LAROI sings “Your silhouette still hangs in my drapes / two skeletons / both filled with mistakes,” a heartbreaking line with rich imagery.
All in all, “BEFORE I FORGET” produces standout tracks such as “5:21AM,” “JULY,” and “ME + YOU” and wraps misery, loneliness, and, somehow, hope, into one dreamy package.
LAROI has outdone himself with this album, and it sends the intended message with a punch to the gut.
