Khalid

Khalid
3.8
Discuss
Name:
Khalid
Real name:
Khalid Donnel Robinson
Who is:
Birth date:
(27 y.o.)
Place of birth:
Fort Stewart, Georgia, U.S.
Height:
5'10 ft ()
Weight:
176 lb (80 kg)
Relationship:
single
Namesakes:
Birth Sign:
(characteristic)
Chinese zodiac:

Biography of rapper Khalid

Khalid burst onto the global music scene in 2017, and within just one year, he snagged music's most coveted prize - a Grammy. Sir Elton John poetically referred to him as a rising star and dedicated a song to him.
Khalid
Khalid

Childhood. Beginnings of Career

Khalid Donnel Robinson was born on February 11, 1998, at the Fort Stewart military base in Georgia, where his mother served. In the U.S. Army, Linda Wolf handled supply issues and sang in the army choir.
Khalid in childhood
Khalid in childhood
The future teen heartthrob never knew his father, but his mother made sure Khalid never felt like he was missing out. Because of Linda's military career, they moved around constantly. The boy lived on military bases in Kentucky, New York, and spent six years in Germany. When middle school rolled around, the family finally put down roots in El Paso, Texas.

Khalid attended a local school, where he started going to an acting studio and taking vocal lessons. The young artist got his musical talent from his mother. Linda wasn't just the lead singer of the army choir - she was also obsessed with R&B acts like TLC and Brandy Norwood. The musician credits his entire career to his mother, calling her both his toughest critic and closest friend.

Khalid began writing his first songs in high school. With his mother's encouragement, the teenager started uploading his tracks to SoundCloud. In 2016, his track "Location" - which would later land on his debut album - climbed the charts and caught the eye of writers at Rolling Stone and BuzzFeed.
Khalid - Location
Fame hit the former high schooler exactly how millions of teens dream it would - overnight. In January 2017, "Location" entered the top 20 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 and set a record by receiving platinum certification four times.

"American Teen"

The young artist released his first album shortly after graduating from school in March 2017. The lyrical and poignant "American Teen" was recorded with support from RCA Records and Right Hand Music labels. The album includes 14 tracks, among which are the hit songs "Saved", "Therapy", "Winter", and the famous "Angels", which was later featured in the series "Grey's Anatomy".
Khalid - Angels
The album shattered stereotypes about the "typical American teenager" - supposedly content with life and free from real problems.
Raised by a single mother, wandering through different cities all his childhood, always the new kid, Khalid had a lot to say about loneliness, loyal friendship, and a broken heart. All this was peppered with references to modern communication, mobile apps, and the drugs popular with young people.
No surprise then that the album was hailed as a musical sensation, with Khalid becoming the voice of young America.
Khalid released his first album shortly after graduating from school
Khalid released his first album shortly after graduating from school
Critics say Khalid's appeal lies in his sincerity and melody, his quiet, almost intimate two-octave range, and his lack of the aggression common among new artists. Others point to its universal appeal, noting how the album rewards repeated listening, revealing new depths in seemingly simple lyrics.

That fall, "American Teen" went platinum and won Best Urban Contemporary Album, earning Khalid his first Grammy.
Rapper Khalid burst into the global music scene like a comet
Rapper Khalid burst into the global music scene like a comet
From fall 2017 through mid-2018, Khalid toured American cities and hit major European venues in Paris, London, Berlin, and Amsterdam.

He teamed up with rapper Swae Lee on "The Ways" for the "Black Panther" soundtrack, and duetted with Normani on "Love Lies" for the teen romance "Love, Simon," starring Josh Duhamel, Tony Hale, Talitha Bateman, and Jennifer Garner.
Khalid & Normani - Love Lies
In 2018, Elton John said he heard something deeper in Khalid's music than typical teenage loneliness. The music legend praised Khalid's "hypnotic sensual depth" and called him a rising star. Sir Elton John even recorded his own version of Khalid's "Young Dumb & Broke" and dedicated "Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me" to him.
Sir Elton John poetically called Khalid a new rising star
Sir Elton John poetically called Khalid a new rising star
In April 2018, Khalid released the single "Lovely", recorded in collaboration with singer Billie Eilish. The song was included in the OST of the series "13 Reasons Why" with Katherine Langford.

"Free Spirit"

In April 2019, the artist presented his second album "Free Spirit" with an accompanying short film. The aesthetic album, characterized by its signature subdued sound, includes 17 tracks, among which are "Better" and "Talk", the most listened to tracks.
Khalid - Better
While critics found "Free Spirit" less groundbreaking than his debut, the album still claimed the top spot on the Billboard 200. At the end of April, Khalid set an unprecedented record, becoming the only artist whose songs occupied the top five in the Billboard R&B Songs chart.

Khalid's Personal Life

In 2023, Khalid—dubbed the voice of a generation and idol to millions of teens—turned 25. He's said he's still too young to settle down with serious relationships, choosing instead to focus on his music career. However, in the same year, he was caught in a romance with singer Alina Baraz, but the relationship did not last long.
Khalid and Alina Baraz
Khalid and Alina Baraz
The tall, bearded artist is known for his upbeat personality, deep bond with his mother, and massive popularity with female fans.

Khalid Now

Khalid released a new single in June 2021. The track 'New Normal' was set to lead his third album "Everything Is Changing." The song captures the emotions Khalid experienced during the coronavirus lockdown, which took an emotional toll on him and his family.
Khalid - New Normal (Official Video)
In December of the same year, the musician presented the mixtape "Scenic Drive", and shortly before that, he released another single - "Backseat". Furthermore, his song "Silver Platter" was included in the soundtrack for Greta Gerwig's "Barbie" movie.

In 2023, Khalid participated in Ed Sheeran's "+-=/x" concert tour to support the fifth and sixth albums of the musician. In June, Khalid was involved in a car accident and was unable to perform at Sheeran's concert. Fortunately, the singer was not seriously injured and soon returned to performances.