The Kid LAROI makes his massive return with “THE FIRST TIME.”
5. KIDS ARE GROWING UP
The Kid LAROI puts up outstanding raps in “KIDS ARE GROWING UP.”
I know The Kid LAROI’s new pop fans probably won’t enjoy this track, but those of us who remember that he got it out of the mud as an artist will. In “KIDS ARE GROWING UP,” LAROI hits us with two vulnerable, reflective, genuine, powerful, and edgy rap verses. They are really the star of the show. I thought the hook LAROI delivered was a little meh, and the production was definitely an acquired taste. When it’s all said and done, this song highlights his underdog ways, which is something that I think he should never discard.
4. LOVE AGAIN
The Kid LAROI will learn that once a woman is done with you, she’s done with you (Ask Jada).
No, you probably won’t hear “LOVE AGAIN” at your nearest traphouse. The song boasts a guitar-driven, lonely-sounding instrumental, passionate, youthful-sounding vocals, and mushy lyrics that perfectly describe the feelings of being in a deteriorating relationship. If you are a fan of “WITHOUT YOU,” another LAROI track with an insane amount of streams, you will love “LOVE AGAIN.”
3. WHAT JUST HAPPENED
The bag The Kid LAROI showcases in this track has become his best bag.
In “WHAT JUST HAPPENED,” The Kid LAROI brings out his most emotional and passionate vocals to mention how anger, drugs, and alcohol can make people say some f**ked-up things to their partners. There are no hip-hop elements present in the track; instead, we get nothing but alternative pop vibes that people who don’t eat their vegetables will f**k with.
We’ve all been there before, right? Left a club with some friends, took too many shots, and on our way to a dusty fast food spot that stays open until 2 AM, we called our lovers and said some stupid s**t. I used to do that five times a week.
2. WHERE DOES YOUR SPIRIT GO?
This is a beautiful homage track.
Juice WRLD was The Kid LAROI’s mentor, friend, and biggest supporter. Matter of fact, LAROI said he was on the plane with Juice during his last minutes on Earth. Since the latter’s untimely death, the former has been on fire. In “WHERE DOES YOUR SPIRIT GO?,” LAROI pays homage to Juice.
I got chills listening to this track. In it, The Kid LAROI reminiscences on his short time with Juice WRLD, pointing out how his passing has caused a lot of pain for him. If you claim to have a soul, there’s no way in hell that you won’t be moved by LAROI’s emotional vocals and painfully honest lyrics. He truly pours his heart out in this song, and everything about it feels authentic as hell.
The Kid LAROI should be happy knowing that he’s making Juice WRLD proud with his success.
1. TOO MUCH (Ft. Central Cee & Jung Kook)
Music is in such a good place right now. If you look around the landscape, artists from all over the globe are shining. It’s great to see. With that being said, my favorite song from this album, “TOO MUCH,” features The Kid LAROI (who’s from Australia), Jungkook (who’s from South Korea), and Central Cee (who’s from the UK).
“TOO MUCH” boasts gentle, sly production that aligns perfectly with The Kid LAROI and Jungkook’s gorgeous melodies, vulnerable lyrics, and soft vocals. As for Central Cee, he provides the song with a great switch-up. His verse sounds gritty and aggressive, which aligns with the topic at hand, which is about getting on the same page with your partner. All in all, I think this song is perfectly put together and is something easy to consume.
1. SORRY (4/5)
2. BLEED (4/5)
3. I THOUGHT THAT I NEEDED YOU (4/5)
4. WHERE DO YOU SLEEP? (3.5/5)
5. TOO MUCH (Ft. Jung Kook & Central Cee) (5/5)
6. TEAR ME APART (4/5)
7. STRANGERS (Interlude) (N/A)
8. NIGHTS LIKE THIS (3.5/5)
9. WHAT’S THE MOVE? (4/5)
10. STRANGERS PT 2 (Interlude) (N/A)
11. CALL ME INSTEAD (Ft. YoungBoy Never Broke Again) (3/5)
12. DESERVE YOU (4/5)
13. WHAT WENT WRONG??? (3.5/5)
14. THE LINE (3.5/5)
15. WHAT JUST HAPPENED (5/5)
16. YOU (4.5/5)
17. LOVE AGAIN (4.5/5)
18. WHERE DOES YOUR SPIRIT GO? (5/5)
19. YOU NEVER FORGET THE FIRST TIME… (N/A)
20. KIDS ARE GROWING UP (5/5)
(C+)
What intrigues me about The Kid LAROI is his ability to strike a perfect balance between pop and hip-hop music. While some tracks on this album make me think he’s the next Justin Bieber, there are others where it seems he genuinely doesn’t care about anything. I love the diversity.
So, I don’t know who’s in The Kid LAROI’s ear, but if I were to guess, they told him that he still has a lot of s**t to prove as a musician. In the first 75% of THE FIRST TIME, I feel like he does a lot of experimenting, toying with bold sounds and all kinds of instrumentals. While he comes out winning because he got a chance to show the world his versatility, I do think the approach makes the album feel a little like a demo tape at times. However, once you get to “WHAT JUST HAPPENED,” he gets into a groove that is damn-there legendary. That’s when I started handing out 5s.
One of the reasons The Kid LAROI is one of my favorite artists right now is because I absolutely love how raw his emotions are from song to song, as he tries to put into words and vocals how he feels about love, heartbreak, and everything in-between. Overall, because of the topics that are covered and the passion that is shown, there isn’t a single track on this project that doesn’t sound meaningful or important.
Did you know The Kid LAROI had range like this as singer? In THE FIRST TIME, he puts up extremely impressive singing performances. I mean, he still sounds like a kid who doesn’t eat his vegetables on a few songs, but nonetheless, still impressive.
The Kid LAROI is demonstrating the greatness that comes when an artist is comfortable in their own skin. Throughout THE FIRST TIME, he fearlessly explores American hip-hop as a young white kid from Australia and shows no hesitation in sounding like someone navigating the thin line between love and heartbreak. Simultaneously, he maintains an interest in becoming a mega pop star. This album marks a significant accomplishment, and it’s thrilling to contemplate where he goes from here, considering he isn’t even 21 yet…
Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.
