Indigenous rapper The Kid Laroi – whose real name is Charlton Howard – has become the youngest solo artist to top the Australian album charts.
On Sunday, after 28 weeks in the ARIA top 50 album charts, the 17-year-old’s 2020 release F*CK LOVE (SAVAGE) finally reached #1 status.
The teen from Sydney’s Waterloo was overjoyed by his historical win, taking to Twitter to celebrate the incredible milestone.
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Kicking goals! Rapper The Kid Laroi, 17, has made history as the youngest artist to top the Australian album charts with his single F*ck Love (Savage)
‘#1 in my own country. Words cannot describe this feeling’: Indigenous rapper The Kid Laroi – whose real name is Charlton Howard – celebrated the milestone win on Twitter
F*CK LOVE (SAVAGE) has already earned ARIA’s gold album accreditation for selling more than 35,000 units, and this week knocked Harrison Craig’s 2013 debut, More Than A Dream, off his post as the youngest chart-topper, as Harrison was 18 at the time of his win.
The Kid Laroi’s debut album is also performing well in Britain and the U.S., charting at #11 and #13 respectively as of last week.
‘#1 in my own country. Words cannot describe this feeling. Anybody who knows me, knows that where I’m from means everything to me. I’m more than blessed to have my country behind me, and I promise that I won’t let them down,’ he began a series of Tweets.
‘One of my biggest goals in this whole music s**t from the beginning has always been to show the rest of the world what Australia has to offer, and how much raw and unseen talent that we have. It’s not an overnight process, but I can feel it slowly happening,’ the teen rapper continues.
The Kid Laroi signed off with: ‘& I’m taking this s**t all the way too. I love you so so so so much family. I cannot thank you enough. Australia to the world.’
‘I cannot thank you enough!’ The Australian rapper thanks all of his fans in his home country for the incredible support that has also seen the album F*CK LOVE (SAVAGE) earn ARIA’s gold album accreditation for selling more than 35,000 units
He did it! On Sunday, after 28 weeks in the ARIA top 50 album charts, the 17-year-old’s 2020 release F*CK LOVE (SAVAGE) finally reached #1 status
So close: F*ck Love only narrowly missed out on the top spot in the ARIA album charts last week, falling behind a debut release by the children’s TV show Bluey
F*ck Love only narrowly missed out on the top spot in the ARIA album charts last week, falling behind a debut release by the children’s TV show Bluey.
The rising hip-hop star has already collaborated with major artists, including OneFour, Machine Gun Kelly, Marshmello, and his late mentor Juice WRLD, who died in 2019.
The Kid Laroi was nominated for Breakthrough Artist, Best Male Artist and Best Hip Hop release for F*ck Love (Savage) at last year’s ARIA Awards.
Success: The Kid Laroi was nominated for Breakthrough Artist, Best Male Artist and Best Hip Hop release for F*ck Love at last year’s ARIA Awards
He also secured two spots in Triple J’s Hottest 100 for 2021 with So Done (#37) and Go feat. Juice WRLD (#60).
In January, he trended on Twitter after fans realised he had overtaken Kendrick Lamar’s monthly listeners on music streaming platform Spotify.
The Kid Laroi is currently the 77th most popular artist in the world on Spotify, with 27 million listeners, and has had his songs become viral on TikTok trends.
Impressive: In January, he trended on Twitter after fans realised he had overtaken Kendrick Lamar’s monthly listeners on music streaming platform Spotify
Following his dream: He rose to fame in 2018 at the age of 15 as a finalist in the Unearthed High competition for high school musicians by Australian radio station Triple J
Mentor: In 2019, he opened shows in Sydney and Melbourne for late rapper Juice WRLD (pictured in August 2018), and was later signed by Juice’s managers, Grade A Productions
He rose to fame in 2018 at the age of 15 as a finalist in the Unearthed High competition for high school musicians by Australian radio station Triple J.
In 2019, he opened shows in Sydney and Melbourne for late rapper Juice WRLD, and was later signed by Juice’s managers, Grade A Productions.
After Juice WRLD’S death, The Kid Laroi secured a record deal through Grade A with Sony Music, and relocated from Sydney to Los Angeles with his family.
Moving up: After Juice WRLD’S death in late 2019, The Kid Laroi secured a record deal through Grade A with Sony Music, and relocated from Sydney to Los Angeles with his family
Praise: In January, Elton John (pictured) told The Kid Laroi he was ‘going to be one of the biggest artists in the whole world’ on an episode of his Apple Music radio show, Rocket Hour
In January, Elton John told The Kid Laroi he was ‘going to be one of the biggest artists in the whole world’ on an episode of his Apple Music radio show, Rocket Hour.
‘You’re already huge, but I hope you realise what’s going to happen to you in 2021,’ the legendary singer-songwriter, 73, said.
The Kid Laroi is part of the Gomeroi/Kamilaroi/Gamilaroi community of northern inland New South Wales, and his rapper name ‘Laroi’ is in reference to his roots.
Aboriginal: The Kid Laroi is part of the Gomeroi/Kamilaroi/Gamilaroi community of northern inland New South Wales, and his rapper name ‘Laroi’ is in reference to his roots