The Kid Laroi
An Australian hip-hop phenom who rode a viral, genre-blending hit to global fame while still in his teens.
Born 2003 (age 23)·Australian singer·Birthday: August 17·Generation Z
Biography
Charlton Howard, known as the Kid Laroi, crafted a modern pop-rap fairytale from his hometown of Waterloo, Australia. Of Aboriginal descent, he began releasing music as a young teenager, his raw talent catching the ear of the late Juice WRLD. That mentorship and a subsequent deal set the stage for a meteoric rise. In 2021, his collaboration with Justin Bieber, 'Stay,' became an inescapable global anthem, topping charts from Sydney to New York and transforming the teenager into a superstar. The song's success was no fluke; it capped a series of increasingly popular mixtapes where Laroi honed a melodic, emotionally candid style that resonated with a generation. Navigating massive fame before turning 20, his story represents the new model of viral, borderless success in the streaming era.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
The was born in 2003, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When The Was Born
The biggest hits of 2003
#1 Movie
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Best Picture
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
#1 TV Show
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
The's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
2003Born
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2008Started school
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2016Became a teenager
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2019Could drive
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2021Could vote
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2024Turned 21
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 23 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- His 2021 single 'Stay' with Justin Bieber reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and in over a dozen other countries.
- His mixtape 'F*CK LOVE 3: OVER YOU' debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 album chart in 2021.
- Became the youngest solo Australian artist to top the ARIA Albums Chart with his project 'F*CK LOVE' in 2020.
Did You Know?
His stage name 'Laroi' is a tribute to his Kamilaroi Aboriginal heritage.
He was the first Australian artist to have a song ('Stay') reach one billion streams on Spotify.
He lived with and was mentored by American rapper Juice WRLD shortly before the latter's death in 2019.
“I'm just trying to make music that makes people feel something.”
