The Kid Laroi reflects on his breakup with singer Tate McRae with lyrics that resonate on his album Before I Forget.
Although there are not particularly bold new choices for the artist, the new album highlights his growth and maturity as he delves deeper than ever before in his emotions, with each track an unguarded call back to his ex. McRae also has covered the breakup in her music.
The lead single, “A Cold Play,” was released in September, a few months after the couple’s breakup, and it set the tone for the whole album. Lyrics like “ ’Cause I still love you, that’s how I feel at my core” put his feelings in the public eye.
“Rather Be” further demonstrates how he is letting his guard down and putting his emotions on the line, as he lets go of his pride through the lyrics: “Rather be with you (Said I would) / Rather be with you (Okay).” The song is filled with these repeating lyrics, but his seamless vocals emphasize his strong emotions, elevating the song rather than making it boring.
Even for listeners who don’t enjoy the repetitive themes of breakup songs, this album’s variety of sounds range from R&B to pop filled with catchy beats. So every listener likely will be able to find at least one song they enjoy.
Overall, the album reflects the growing pains that The Kid Laroi has been experiencing over the past few months. Its features an amazing blend of heartbreak and catchy beats, with a lack of variety in topics but lots of variety in sound.
