Khalid Donnel Robinson, known mononymously as Khalid, is an American singer and songwriter. Khalid was born on February 11, 1998, in Fort Stewart, Georgia, into a military household that shaped almost every part of his upbringing, as his mother, Linda Wolfe, served in the U.S. Army as a supply technician and also sang in the Army chorus, while his father was also in the military before passing away when Khalid was young. Because of his mother’s active-duty life, his childhood was extremely nomadic — he lived in Georgia, Kentucky, and New York, and even spent six years in Heidelberg, Germany, where he absorbed different cultures and developed the introspective, observant personality people now associate with him. Khalid has often said that moving from place to place made him feel disconnected at times, but it also made him adaptable, creative, and deeply emotional, qualities that shaped how he expresses himself today. When he returned to the U.S., he attended Carthage Central High School in upstate New York before relocating again to El Paso, Texas, for his final year of high school — a place he considers his true home because it was where he finally felt rooted. In high school, Robinson studied singing and musical theater. He originally considered becoming a music teacher, showing how gentle and thoughtful his personality has always been, before life pulled him fully into songwriting. Khalid has described himself as introverted, sensitive, and deeply emotional — the kind of person who feels things intensely and processes life through writing. He has been open about dealing with anxiety and depression, especially in his late teens, emphasizing how growing up without a stable “home” environment and losing close friendships due to constant relocation affected his mental health. He is extremely close to his mother, considers her his biggest supporter, and has credited her military discipline and musical background for grounding him. Though raised Christian, he has said he is not particularly religious as an adult, leaning more toward spirituality and self-discovery.
Four: Location
“Location”—Khalid’s debut single—was originally uploaded to SoundCloud on April 30, 2016 and officially released commercially in May 2016. Recorded at Beacon Hill Recording Studios in El Paso, the song was written with a team of producers and songwriters like Syk Sense, Tunji Ige, Smash David, Joshua Scruggs, and others. Lyrically, “Location” is a plea for deeper, more honest communication — Khalid sings about wanting someone to share their “location” so they can truly connect, rather than flirting behind screens or through superficial channels. It has garnered over 1.5B streams on spotify and over 613M views on it’s Official Music Video on YouTube. The music video for “Location,” which was released on September 26, 2016, was directed by Alex Di Marco, and it features visuals of Khalid driving through the desert, receiving a message about a “location,” and eventually arriving at a pool — all while navigating themes of desire, distance, and connection. Critically, “Location” was very well received: Khalid’s voice was praised for its honey-like smooth tone, and many noted how the song captured the emotional honesty of young, digitally-mediated romance. Commercially, the song did very well — it peaked at #16 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It was also a major factor in his signing with RCA Records. “Location” earned Khalid a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Song at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards, which helped validate him as a serious artist early on. Over time, the song’s popularity grew even more — it’s now RIAA Diamond–certified in the U.S. for massive sales and streams.
FYI
- In November 2024, Khalid publicly came out as gay after an ex-partner outed him, and though the experience was initially painful, he described it as freeing because it pushed him into a more honest, fully expressed version of himself. After coming out, he spoke openly about embracing both masculine and feminine sides of his identity, redefining self-love, and learning to set boundaries — all while keeping his dating life extremely private because he has always valued emotional safety.
Three: Skyline
“Skyline” was released on April 29, 2022 by Right Hand Music Group / RCA Records as the lead single for Khalid’s then‑upcoming third studio album. The dreamy, retro‑pop track was written by Khalid and produced by Chrome Sparks, and Khalid described it as “a recharge… full of summer vibes,” hoping it would bring his fans joy and help them through dark times. It has garnered over 121M streams on spotify and over 18M views on it’s Official Music Video on YouTube. Its music video, directed by Levi Turner and Cody LaPlant, features pastel-colored landscapes, summery dance scenes, and a floating version of a 1999 color-shifting GT‑R Skyline car. Critically, the song was well received: NME praised its “breezy” feel and summery aesthetic, calling it magical and nostalgic. Music Daily referred to it as a “summer anthem” that captures the blissful, complicated feelings of love under glowing city lights. On the charts, “Skyline” did not crack the Billboard Hot 100 but was listed on the “Real American Top 40” with a peak of 115 according to a fan‑wiki source. According to Mediabase chart data, it peaked at #36 on Hot AC radio and #29 on Top 40 radio. In short, “Skyline” is a carefully produced, emotive, retro-pop single that highlights Khalid’s melodic sensibilities and introspective style, serving more as a mood-setting fan favorite than a commercial smash.
Two: Nah
Serving as Khalid’s most recent single release, “Nah” dropped on October 10, 2025 as the third track from his fourth studio album, After the Sun Goes Down, which was released the same day. The song was co-written by Khalid, Ilya Salmanzadeh, Oscar Görres, Pablo Bowman, and Rami Yacoub, and produced by Ilya and Oscar Görres. Musically, “Nah” leans into dance-pop with a smooth, airy feel, combining atmospheric synths and a subtle R&B influence that underscores Khalid’s signature laid-back vocals. Garnering over 9M streams on spotify and over 3.2M views on it’s Official Music Video on YouTube, This track reflects on setting boundaries and refusing to be caught in a repetitive emotional cycle—he sings about realizing when someone is “clinging” too much and deciding it’s time to step back, saying “nah” to toxic behavior. In interviews, Khalid has said the album After the Sun Goes Down is about freedom, self‑acceptance, and embracing the night as a place of emotional release, and he described the song “Nah” as part of that journey toward protecting his peace. The music video for “Nah” was also released on October 10, 2025, and is fan‑interactive, incorporating virtual reality elements, which highlights his new creative era. While “Nah” hasn’t yet accumulated major award nominations (at least publicly) at this point, critics and fans have praised it for its emotional honesty and the way it balances vulnerability with strength, noting that it signals a bold, mature phase in Khalid’s career.
Awards/Nominations
- In 2017, Khalid received a nomination at the American Music Awards for Favorite Soul/R&B Song for “Location.”
- In 2018, he was nominated for multiple Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist, Best R&B Song (“Location”), and Best Urban Contemporary Album (“American Teen”), and also earned Billboard Music Award nominations that year, while winning Top New Artist.
- And in 2019, Khalid had a huge year at the American Music Awards, winning Favorite Male Artist – Pop/Rock, Favorite Album – Soul/R&B (“Free Spirit”), and Favorite Song – Soul/R&B (“Talk”), and he also earned more Billboard nominations.
- Then in 2020, he swept several Billboard Music Awards, winning Top R&B Artist, Top R&B Male Artist, Top R&B Album (“Free Spirit”), Top R&B Song (“Talk”), and Top R&B Tour, while also being nominated for a Grammy for Record of the Year (“Talk”) and nominated in various iHeartRadio Music Awards categories.
- Most recently, in 2023, he was honored with the BMI Champion Award, recognizing both his songwriting achievements and his commitment to social causes and supporting the next generation of music makers.
Discography
- American Teen (2017)
- Free Spirit (2019)
- Sincere (2024)
- After the Sun Goes Down (2025)
One: Young Dumb & Broke
“Young Dumb & Broke” serves as Khalid’s biggest hit so far and it dropped on June 13, 2017 as the second single from his debut album American Teen. The laid‑back R&B track, written by Khalid, Joel Little, and Talay Riley, was praised for encapsulating youthful freedom and vulnerability—as The Guardian noted, its bittersweet organ lines evoke a sense of “golden years turning to ash,” capturing the naïveté and longing of being young and financially limited. It has garnered over 1.8B streams on spotify and over 1B views on it’s Official Music Video on YouTube. In terms of chart performance, “Young Dumb & Broke” peaked at #18 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It also hit #1 in the Philippines and New Zealand, reached the top 10 in Australia, and peaked at #17 on the UK Official Singles Chart. On the US R&B Songs chart, it dominated, reportedly holding number one for 11 weeks. Commercially, the song was a massive success: by August 2018, the RIAA certified it 4× Platinum, meaning at least 4 million units in equivalent sales. Over time, it has continued to rack up streams and is widely regarded as one of Khalid’s signature tracks. While “Young Dumb & Broke” itself wasn’t singled out with major Grammy wins, the success of the song helped cement Khalid’s breakout status; by that time, he was already earning Grammy nominations (he has been nominated for 7 Grammys in his career). Altogether, “Young Dumb & Broke” became the anthem of youth — combining honest reflections on love, freedom, and financial struggle with a sound that feels timeless — and it remains the track that most defines Khalid’s rise.