The First Time (The Kid Laroi album)

In January 2022, Laroi first revealed the then-potential title of the album before referring to it as Kids Are Growing Up in March.{{cite web|url=https://ourgenerationmusic.com/news/the-kid-laroi-kids-are-growing-up/|title=The Kid Laroi's debut album The First Time seems to be inching closer|last=Barlas|first=Jon|website=Our Generation Music|date=4 July 2022|access-date=4 November 2023}} On 12 January 2023, Laroi posted an album trailer on YouTube, first teasing the album title and announcing the lead single "Love Again".{{cite web|url=https://hypebeast.com/2023/1/the-kid-laroi-debut-album-the-first-time-trailer-info|title=The Kid LAROI Drops Trailer For Debut Album The First Time|last=Chow|first=Aaron|website=Hypebeast|date=12 January 2023|access-date=4 November 2023}} To release "the best music possible", he had "to take some time away from everything".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/the-kid-laroi-drops-the-first-time-trailer-1234660122/|title=The Kid Laroi Drops Trailer for Upcoming Album The First Time|last=Mier|first=Tomás|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=12 January 2023|access-date=4 November 2023}} The era officially kicked off on 19 January with a 95-second intro song "I Can't Go Back to the Way It Was (Intro)", which did not end up on the final tracklist.{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2023/01/kid-laroi-new-single-album/|title=The Kid LAROI Looks 'Back' on Lead Song From Debut LP, The First Time|last=Cohen|first=Jonathan|website=Spin|date=19 January 2023|access-date=4 November 2023}} In an interview with Billboard in February, he explained that his debut was born out of "little ideas" and distanced himself from his previous mixtape F*ck Love 3, calling it "immature" and "a heat of the moment statement".{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/the-kid-laroi-fck-love-3-immature-i-dont-agree-with-the-message-of-the-album-3402420|title=The Kid LAROI says F*ck Love 3 is "immature": "I don't agree with the message of the album"|last=Disalvo|first=Tom|website=NME|date=22 February 2023|access-date=4 November 2023}} On 2 August, after four months of silence on the project, he announced that the album was finished, except for mixing and mastering.{{cite web|url=https://uproxx.com/music/the-kid-laroi-the-first-time-album-release-info-2/|title=The Kid Laroi Shared New Details About The First Time, His Forthcoming Album That Will Include A Short Film|last=Armstrong|first=Megan|website=Uproxx|date=2 August 2023|access-date=4 November 2023}} He referred to the record as "the best music" he had ever made up to that point, and mentioned a short film accompanying the album release.{{cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/700364-the-kid-laroi-album-news|title=The Kid LAROI Delivers New Details On Upcoming Album|last=Horvath|first=Zachary|website=HotNewHipHop|date=3 August 2023|access-date=4 November 2023}} The rapper and singer reassured fans of The First Time being his best work in an official announcement post of the album on 25 October, following the release of the single "Too Much" with Jungkook and Central Cee.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/the-kid-laroi-jung-kook-collaboration-album-release-date-1235454638/|title=The Kid LAROI Says Jung Kook Collaboration Was 'So Fun & So Different', Reveals Album Release Date|last=Aniftos|first=Rania|magazine=Billboard|date=25 October 2023|access-date=4 November 2023}} Laroi shared the album tracklist on 1 November in an Instagram post.{{cite web|url=https://www.rap-up.com/2023/11/02/the-kid-laroi-reveals-the-first-time-tracklist/|title=The Kid LAROI Reveals The First Time Tracklist Featuring Future, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, And More|last=Trapp|first=Malcolm|website=Rap-Up|date=2 November 2023|access-date=4 November 2023}} The album's deluxe edition was released on 9 August 2024.{{Cite web |last=Pointer |first=Flisadam |date=9 August 2024 |title=The Kid Laroi Declares 'Baby I'm Back' On His Cocky New Single |url=https://uproxx.com/music/the-kid-laroi-baby-im-back-single-the-first-time-deluxe/ |access-date=9 August 2024 |website=Uproxx}}

The lead single of the album, "Love Again", was released on 27 January 2023.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/the-kid-laroi-love-again-stream-1235206406/|title=The Kid LAROI Hopes to Find 'Love Again' on New Single: Stream It Now|last=Rowley|first=Glenn|date=27 January 2023|magazine=Billboard|access-date=11 November 2023}} The second single, "Kids Are Growing Up (Part 1)", was released on 10 February 2023.{{cite web|url=https://uproxx.com/pop/the-kid-laroi-kids-are-growing-up-part-1/|title=The Kid Laroi Comes To Terms With Adulthood On His New Single 'Kids Are Growing Up (Part 1)'|last=Gonzalez|first=Alex|date=10 February 2023|work=Uproxx|access-date=11 November 2023}} The third single, "Where Do Your Spirit Go?", was released on 21 April 2023.{{cite web|url=https://uproxx.com/pop/the-kid-laroi-where-does-your-spirit-go-single/|title=The Kid Laroi's Coachella Set Inspired Him To Announce His Next Single, 'Where Does Your Spirit Go?'|last=Armstrong|first=Megan|date=19 April 2023|work=Uproxx|access-date=11 November 2023}} The fourth single, "Too Much", a collaboration with South Korean singer Jungkook and British rapper Central Cee, was released on 20 October 2023.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/the-kid-laroi-jung-kook-central-cee-too-much-release-date-1235438609/|title=The Kid LAROI, Jung Kook & Central Cee Team Up for New Single 'Too Much': Here's When It Arrives|last=Denis|first=Kyle|date=10 October 2023|magazine=Billboard|access-date=11 November 2023}} The fifth single, "What Just Happened", was released exactly a week later.{{cite magazine|url=https://billboard.com/music/music-news/the-kid-laroi-jung-kook-collaboration-album-release-date-1235454638/|title=The Kid LAROI Says Jung Kook Collaboration Was 'So Fun & So Different,' Reveals Album Release Date|last=Aniftos|first=Rania|date=25 October 2023|magazine=Billboard|access-date=11 November 2023}} The sixth single, "Bleed", was released exactly a week after that.{{cite web|url=https://uproxx.com/pop/the-kid-laroi-bleed-video/|title=The Kid Laroi Has A Haunting Reunion With A Past Lover In His 'Bleed' Video|last=Gonzalez|first=Alex|date=3 November 2023|work=Uproxx|access-date=11 November 2023}} The seventh and final single, "What's the Move?", a collaboration with American rappers Future and BabyDrill, was released on 8 November 2023, two days before the album was released.{{cite web|url=https://uproxx.com/pop/the-kid-laroi-whats-the-move-future-baby-drill/|title=The Kid Laroi Asks 'What's The Move' On His Latest Single, 'The First Time' With Future And Baby Drill|last=Pointer|first=Flisadam|date=8 November 2023|work=Uproxx|access-date=11 November 2023}}

On 26 January 2024, "Heaven" was released as the first single for the album's deluxe edition.{{cite magazine |last=Brandle |first=Lars |date=24 January 2024 |title=The Kid LAROI Sets New Single 'Heaven': 'This One's Super Personal' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/the-kid-laroi-new-single-heaven-1235588210/ |access-date=9 August 2024 |magazine=Billboard}} On 28 June 2024, the deluxe edition's second single, "Girls", was released.{{cite web |last=Wells |first=Adam |title=LSU's Livvy Dunne, YouTuber Valkyrae Appear in The Kid Laroi's 'Girls' Music Video |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10126468-lsus-livvy-dunne-youtuber-valkyrae-appear-in-the-kid-larois-girls-music-video |access-date=9 August 2024 |website=Bleacher Report}} "Baby I'm Back" was sent to Italian radio stations as the deluxe edition's third single on 27 September 2024.{{cite web |last1=Micaletto |first1=Ylenia |title=The Kid LAROI - BABY I'M BACK (Radio Date: 27-09-2024) |url=https://earone.com/post/75ae7dff8b28 |website=EarOne |access-date=23 September 2024 |language=it |date=23 September 2024}} The single "Thousand Miles", released on 22 April 2022, is also included on the deluxe edition.

{{Expand section|date=August 2024}}{{Album ratings

| MC = 58/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/the-first-time/the-kid-laroi|title=The First Time by The Kid LAROI Reviews and Tracks|publisher=Metacritic|access-date=10 December 2023}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web |last1=Monger |first1=Timothy |title=The Kid LAROI – THE FIRST TIME Album Reviews, Songs & More |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-first-time-mw0004137864 |website=AllMusic |access-date=1 December 2023}}

| rev2 = The Guardian

| rev2score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/nov/10/the-kid-laroi-the-first-time-album-review-debut|title=The Kid Laroi: The First Time review – angsty debut has moments of thrilling intensity|last=D'Souza|first=Shaad|date=9 November 2023|work=The Guardian|access-date=11 November 2023}}

| rev3 = NME

| rev3score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/the-kid-laroi-the-first-time-review-lyrics-tracklist-3535049|title=The Kid Laroi – 'The First Time' review: rapper reflects on his rapid rise|last=Smith|first=Thomas|date=10 November 2023|work=NME|access-date=11 November 2023}}

| rev4 = Slant Magazine

| rev4score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/the-kid-laroi-the-first-time-album-review/|title=The Kid Laroi The First Time Review: Watered Down for Mass Consumption|last=Attard|first=Paul|date=13 November 2023|work=Slant Magazine|access-date=13 November 2023}}

}}

{{Metacritic album prose|The First Time|Mixed|58|4}}

According to Slant, "The First Time features some of his weakest hooks to date and a slew of songs that are so unsatisfyingly short so as to feel half-finished."

In Australia, The First Time debuted at number three on the ARIA Albums Chart, becoming Laroi's second top-three entry, following F*ck Love.{{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/news/larois-first-time-but-second-top-3|title=LAROI's First Time but second top 3|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|date=17 November 2023|access-date=17 November 2023}} It became his second top-40 album in the United Kingdom, entering the UK Albums Chart at number 29.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/taylor-swift-denies-the-beatles-a-16th-number-1-album-as-1989-taylors-version-smashes/|title=Taylor Swift denies The Beatles a 16th Number 1 album as 1989 (Taylor's Version) smashes third week at Number 1|last=Ainsley|first=Helen|publisher=Official Charts Company|date=17 November 2023|access-date=18 November 2023}}

{{Track listing

| headline = The First Time track listing

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = Sorry

| writer1 = {{hlist|Charlton Howard|Michael Mulé|Isaac De Boni|Jahmal Gwin|Edgar Ferrera|Antonio Zito|Giampaolo Parisi|Marco Parisi|Khadijah Anwar|Thomas McGee}}

| extra1 = {{hlist|FnZ|BoogzDaBeast|SkipOnDaBeat|Dopamine|Parisi}}

| length1 = 3:12

| title2 = Bleed

| writer2 = {{hlist|C. Howard|Omer Fedi|Blake Slatkin|Billy Walsh}}

| extra2 = {{hlist|Fedi|Slatkin}}

| length2 = 2:49

| title3 = I Thought That I Needed You

| writer3 = {{hlist|C. Howard|Benjamin Saint Fort|Jacco Troost|Richard Ortiz}}

| extra3 = {{hlist|Bnyx|Fallwood|F1lthy{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length3 = 2:51

| title4 = Where Do You Sleep?

| writer4 = {{hlist|C. Howard|Mulé|De Boni|Fedi|Slatkin|Dylan Cleary-Krell|Dylan Teixeira|Austin Howard|Anthony Hester}}

| extra4 = {{hlist|FnZ|Fedi|Slatkin|Dopamine|Dez Wright|Nami|Auz the Kid}}

| length4 = 3:12

| title5 = Too Much

| note5 = with Jungkook and Central Cee

| writer5 = {{hlist|C. Howard|Oakley Caesar-Su|Emile Haynie|Fedi|Slatkin|Jasper Harris|Justin Bieber|Walsh}}

| extra5 = {{hlist|Haynie|Fedi{{ref|p|[p]}}|Slatkin{{ref|p|[p]}}|Harris|Jenna Andrews{{ref|v|[v]}}|Stephen Kirk{{ref|v|[v]}}}}

| length5 = 3:23

| title6 = Tear Me Apart

| writer6 = {{hlist|C. Howard|John Cunningham}}

| extra6 = Cunningham

| length6 = 1:54

| title7 = Strangers (Interlude)

| writer7 = C. Howard

| extra7 =

| length7 = 0:25

| title8 = Nights Like This

| writer8 = {{hlist|C. Howard|Michael Volpe}}

| extra8 = Clams Casino

| length8 = 1:26

| title9 = What's the Move?

| note9 = with Future and BabyDrill

| writer9 = {{hlist|C. Howard|Nayvadius Wilburn|DelQuristo Wilson|Mulé|De Boni|Zito|G. Parisi|M. Parisi|Mickey de Grand IV|Gerard Ferrer}}

| extra9 = {{hlist|FnZ|Dopamine|Parisi|De Grand}}

| length9 = 3:19

| title10 = Strangers Pt. 2 (Interlude)

| writer10 = {{hlist|C. Howard|Bieber}}

| extra10 =

| length10 = 0:43

| title11 = Call Me Instead

| note11 = featuring YoungBoy Never Broke Again and Robert Glasper

| writer11 = {{hlist|C. Howard|Kentrell Gaulden|Robert Glasper|Michael Uzowuru|Fedi|Slatkin|Benny Bock|Douglas Ford|Ryley Ladd}}

| extra11 = {{hlist|Uzowuru|Fedi|Slatkin|Bock}}

| length11 = 3:17

| title12 = Deserve You

| writer12 = {{hlist|C. Howard|Sampha Sisay|Mulé|De Boni|Zito|Keanu Torres|Andrew Franklin}}

| extra12 = {{hlist|FnZ|Dopamine|Keanu Beats|Pro Logic}}

| length12 = 2:37

| title13 = What Went Wrong???

| writer13 = {{hlist|C. Howard|Saint Fort|Graham Jonson}}

| extra13 = {{hlist|Bnyx|Quickly, Quickly|Nicco Catalano{{ref|v|[v]}}}}

| length13 = 2:37

| title14 = The Line

| note14 = with D4vd

| writer14 = {{hlist|C. Howard|David Burke|Fedi|Dylan Wiggins}}

| extra14 = {{hlist|Fedi|Wiggins}}

| length14 = 2:32

| title15 = What Just Happened

| writer15 = {{hlist|C. Howard|Karl Schuster|Fedi|Slatkin|Walsh}}

| extra15 = {{hlist|Slatkin{{ref|p|[p]}}|Fedi{{ref|p|[p]}}|Shellback{{ref|p|[p]}}}}

| length15 = 2:42

| title16 = You

| writer16 = {{hlist|C. Howard|Fedi|Slatkin|James Stack|Micah Gordon|Richard Swift|Kacy Hill|Walsh}}

| extra16 = {{hlist|Fedi|Slatkin|Jim-E Stack}}

| length16 = 2:16

| title17 = Love Again

| writer17 = {{hlist|C. Howard|Henry Walter|Fedi|Walsh}}

| extra17 = {{hlist|Cirkut{{ref|p|[p]}}|Fedi{{ref|p|[p]}}}}

| length17 = 2:26

| title18 = Where Does Your Spirit Go?

| writer18 = {{hlist|C. Howard|Mulé|De Boni|Louis Bell|Walsh}}

| extra18 = {{hlist|FnZ|Bell{{ref|p|[p]}}}}

| length18 = 3:25

| title19 = You Never Forget Your First Time...

| writer19 = {{hlist|C. Howard|A. Howard|Walsh|TJ Mizell|Elisha Herbert}}

| extra19 =

| length19 = 2:04

| title20 = Kids Are Growing Up

| writer20 = {{hlist|C. Howard|Michael Gordon}}

| extra20 = {{hlist|Mk.gee|Catalano{{ref|v|[v]}}}}

| length20 = 4:20

| total_length = 51:30

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Deluxe version additional tracks

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = Baby I'm Back

| writer1 = {{hlist|C. Howard|Zito|J.C. Crowley|Peter Beckett}}

| extra1 = {{hlist|Dopamine|Rogét Chahayed}}

| length1 = 2:51

| title2 = Stick with Me

| writer2 = {{hlist|C. Howard|Zito|Attrell Cordes|Gary Kemp}}

| extra2 = {{hlist|Dopamine|Khaled Rohaim}}

| length2 = 2:32

| title3 = Pick Sides

| writer3 = {{hlist|C. Howard|Walsh|Haynie|Fedi}}

| extra3 = {{hlist|Omer Fedi|Emile Haynie}}

| length3 = 2:52

| title4 = Nights Like This Pt 2

| writer4 = {{hlist|C. Howard|Zito|Volpe}}

| extra4 = {{hlist|Clams Casino|Dopamine}}

| length4 = 2:46

| title5 = Hatred

| note5 = featuring Lil Yachty

| writer5 = {{hlist|C. Howard|Miles McCollum|Brandon Mitchell|Gentuar Memishi|George Hunter|Shakir Givens|Spencer Jewesson}}

| extra5 = {{hlist|Lil Yachty|GENT!|MitchGoneMad|Snubnose Frankenstein|WessGoneMad}}

| length5 = 2:52

| title6 = Girls

| writer6 = {{hlist|C. Howard|Alexander Izquierdo|Jason Cornet|Jon Bellion|Pete Nappi|Chahayed}}

| extra6 = {{hlist|Rogét Chahayed|Tenroc|Pete Nappi|Jon Bellion}}

| length6 = 2:32

| title7 = Thousand Miles

| writer7 = {{hlist|C. Howard|Andrew Wotman|Walsh|Bell}}

| extra7 = {{hlist|Andrew Watt|Louis Bell}}

| length7 = 2:44

| title8 = Heaven

| writer8 = {{hlist|C. Howard|Walsh|Slatkin|Bell|Fedi}}

| extra8 = {{hlist|Omer Fedi|Blake Slatkin}}

| length8 = 2:54

| total_length = 73:33

}}

Notes

• {{sup|{{note|p|[p]}}}} signifies a primary and vocal producer.
• {{sup|{{note|a|[a]}}}} signifies an additional producer.
• {{sup|{{note|v|[v]}}}} signifies a vocal producer.

Sample credits

• "Sorry" contains samples of "That's Love", written by Khadi Jon Anwar, and performed by Sugar Hill, and "Takes a Little Time", written and performed by Tommy McGee.
• "I Thought I Needed You" contains a sample of "Pictures", written and performed by Dave Dust.
• "Deserve You" contains a sample of "Can't Get Close", written and performed by Sampha.
• "You" contains a sample of "Can We", written by Jim-E Stack, Kacy Hill and Micah Gordon, and performed by Stack and Hill.

Musicians

• The Kid Laroi – lead vocals
• Marco Parisi – keyboards, programming (tracks 1, 9)
• Giampaolo Parisi – programming, synthesizer (tracks 1, 9)
• Victor DeWitt - additional vocals (track 1)
• Omer Fedi – guitar (tracks 2, 11, 14, 15, 17); keyboards (2, 5, 11); bass guitar, programming (tracks 2, 15, 17), drums (2), synthesizer (5, 15, 17), strings (5), piano (10)
• Blake Slatkin – programming (track 2, 15), keyboards (2), bass guitar (5); guitar, synthesizer (15)
• Jungkook - vocals (track 5)
• Central Cee - vocals (track 5)
• Jasper Harris – keyboards, strings (track 5)
• John Cunningham – guitar, piano (track 6)
• Future - vocals (track 9)
• BabyDrill - vocals (track 9)
• Justin Bieber – writer (5), vocals (track 10)
• Ely Rise – bass guitar, keyboards (track 11)
• Robert Glasper – writer, piano (track 11)
• Youngboy Never Broke Again - vocals (track 11)
• Ryley Ladd – vocals (track 11)
• D4vd - vocals (track 14)
• Shellback – bass guitar, drums, guitar, programming, synthesizer (track 15)
• Cirkut – programming, synthesizer (track 17)
• Austin Howard (Auz the Kid) – production (track 4), vocals (track 19)
• Billy Walsh – writer (tracks 2, 5, 15, 16-19), vocals (track 19)
• Elisha Herbert – vocals (track 19)
• TJ Mizell – vocals (track 19)

Technical

• Randy Merrill – mastering
• Manny Marroquin – mixing (tracks 1, 3, 4, 9, 12)
• Serban Ghenea – mixing (tracks 2, 5, 16–18, 20)
• Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing (tracks 6, 14)
• Antonio Zito – mixing (track 8), engineering (tracks 1, 3, 4, 8, 9, 12)
• Graham Cruser – mixing (track 13)
• Nicco Catalano – mixing (track 13)
• Blake Slatkin – engineering (tracks 4, 15)
• Eric Manco – engineering (track 9)
• Omer Fedi – engineering (track 15)
• Shellback – engineering (track 15)
• Jeremy Daniels – engineering assistance (track 13)
• Bryce Bordone – engineering assistance (tracks 15, 17)

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for The First Time}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=album|award=Gold|relyear=2023|certyear=2024|access-date=24 December 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=The Kid Laroi|title=The First Time|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=2023|certyear=2024|access-date=18 December 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|type=album|artist=The Kid Laroi|title=The First Time|award=Gold|relyear=2023|certyear=2025|id=15238|access-date=9 April 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=The Kid Laroi|title=The First Time: Deluxe Version|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2023|certyear=2024|source=radioscope|access-date=18 December 2024|note={{noitalic|for}} Deluxe Version}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Kid Laroi|title=The First Time|award=Silver|type=album|relyear=2023|certyear=2025|id=20901-5486-2|access-date=23 March 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=The Kid Laroi|title=The First Time|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2023|certyear=2024|access-date=12 September 2024}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}

{{reflist}}

{{The Kid Laroi}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:First Time}}

Category:2023 debut albums

Andrew Watt

Category:Albums produced by Blake Slatkin

Category:Albums produced by Bnyx

Category:Albums produced by Cirkut

Category:Albums produced by Clams Casino (musician)

Category:Albums produced by Emile Haynie

Category:Albums produced by F1lthy

Category:Albums produced by FnZ

Category:Albums produced by Jim-E Stack

Category:Albums produced by Jon Bellion

Category:Albums produced by Louis Bell

Category:Albums produced by Mk.gee

Category:Albums produced by Michael Uzowuru

Category:Albums produced by Omer Fedi

Category:Albums produced by Rogét Chahayed

Category:Albums produced by Shellback (record producer)

Category:Columbia Records albums

Category:The Kid Laroi albums