Khalid

Early Life

Khalid Donnel Robinson was born on February 11, 1998, at Fort Stewart, Georgia. Growing up in a military family, he moved frequently, living in various locations including Fort Campbell in Kentucky, Fort Drum in New York, and spending six years in Heidelberg, Germany. His father passed away during his childhood, and his mother, Linda Wolfe, worked as a supply technician and was a member of the Army chorus. Khalid developed an interest in music early on, studying singing and musical theater in high school. He attended Carthage Central High School in New York before moving to El Paso, Texas, where he graduated from Americas High School, earning the titles of Prom King and Most Likely to Go Platinum.

Career

Khalid began his music career in high school, posting his early works on SoundCloud. His breakthrough came with the release of his debut single "Location" in 2016, which peaked within the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100. This success was followed by his second single, "Young Dumb & Broke," which became a sleeper hit. His debut album, "American Teen," released in 2017, was both a critical and commercial success, earning quadruple platinum certification and a Grammy nomination for Best Urban Contemporary Album. Khalid's collaborations include the hit single "1-800-273-8255" with Logic and Alessia Cara, which peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100.

Personal Life

In November 2024, Khalid publicly came out as a gay man on social media after being outed. He revealed his sexuality in a comment on a post, marking a significant moment in his personal journey. Khalid's music is influenced by a variety of genres, including R&B, pop, and hip-hop, and he cites his mother as his primary musical inspiration, alongside artists like Kendrick Lamar and Frank Ocean.