Khalid Donnel Robinson, born on February 11, 1998 in El Paso, Texas, is an American singer and songwriter. He first gained recognition after signing with Courtney Stewart’s Right Hand Music Group, a division of RCA Records. His debut single, “Location”, and its follow-up, “Young Dumb & Broke”, both reached the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100 and received diamond certifications from the RIAA. Khalid’s debut album, American Teen, was released in 2017 to critical acclaim and commercial success, earning quadruple platinum certification and a Grammy nomination for Best Urban Contemporary Album at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards.
Profile Summary
| Full Name: | Khalid Donnel Robinson |
| Date Of Birth: | February 11, 1998 |
| Place Of Birth: | Fort Stewart, Georgia, U.S |
| Nationality: | American |
| Occupations: | Singer, Songwriter |
| Labels: | Right Hand,RCA |
| Net Worth: | $10 million |
Early Life And Education
Born in Fort Stewart, Georgia, Robinson had a nomadic childhood due to his parents’ military careers. His mother, Linda Wolfe, worked as a supply technician in the Army and they lived in various places including Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Fort Drum in Watertown, New York, and Heidelberg, Germany for six years.
Robinson attended Carthage Central High School in Carthage, New York for the first three years before moving to El Paso, Texas with his mother. In Texas, he attended Americas High School where he was elected Prom King and voted Most Likely to Go Platinum. Throughout high school, he studied singing and musical theater.
Career
In high school, Khalid began making music and sharing his work on SoundCloud. Shortly after graduating from Americas High School, he gained recognition with his single “Location,” reaching number two on the Billboard Twitter Emerging Artists chart in July 2016.
The song received praise from various media outlets and led to his feature on Alina Baraz’s “Electric” and Logic’s “1-800-273-8255.” Khalid’s debut album, American Teen, released in March 2017, was well-received and earned him Grammy nominations. He also won a VMA Award for Best New Artist in 2017.
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In 2018, he received the key to the City of El Paso. Khalid continued to achieve success with his collaboration with Marshmello on the hit song “Silence,” which topped charts worldwide and was certified multiplatinum in numerous countries.
Khalid’s music gained widespread attention when his song “The Ways” with Swae Lee was featured in the film Black Panther, reaching number 63 on the Billboard Hot 100.
He collaborated with various artists like Lorde, SZA, and Post Malone, achieving success with tracks such as “Love Lies” with Normani, and “Youth” with Shawn Mendes.
Khalid also worked on songs like “Ocean” with Martin Garrix and “Lovely” with Billie Eilish. In 2018, he released the EP Suncity and his album Free Spirit, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.
Khalid embarked on the Free Spirit World Tour and became Spotify’s top global artist. He continued to release hits like “Trigger” with Major Lazer and maintained a strong presence on the charts.
Khalid showcased his versatility as a songwriter by collaborating with Zayn on the track “Outside” from Zayn’s album “Nobody Is Listening,” released in January 2021.
In a unique move, Khalid premiered his song “New Normal” during Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic Unity 22 spaceflight in July 2021. He continued to captivate audiences with the release of his first mixtape, Scenic Drive, in December 2021.
Khalid teased new music with a sneak peek of the track “Backseat,” which appeared on the mixtape. Additionally, his song “Silver Platter” was included on the soundtrack for the upcoming film, Barbie.
Looking ahead, Khalid released the single “Please Don’t Fall in Love with Me” on April 5, 2024, as part of his third studio album, Sincere, which was officially released on August 2, 2024.
Musical Style And Influences
Known for his blend of R&B, pop, hip hop, and pop-soul, Khalid’s musical style showcases his versatility. With a vocal range spanning two and a half octaves, he effortlessly sings in both baritone and tenor ranges, earning him the title of a baritenor.
Khalid credits his mother as a significant musical influence, while drawing inspiration from artists like Zayn Malik, Kendrick Lamar, A$AP Rocky, and others such as Father John Misty, Frank Ocean, and Lorde.
Personal Life
On November 22, 2024, Robinson publicly shared that he is gay on Twitter. He made this revelation in response to a fan’s comment on one of his posts on the platform.
Khalid Net Worth
As of 2024, Khalid’s net worth is estimated to be around $10 million. His wealth stems from a lucrative music career, particularly propelled by the success of his debut album “American Teen” and subsequent releases.
In addition to album sales, Khalid earns from streaming royalties, tour income, and partnerships with brands such as Forever 21 and Hollister.
Awards And Nominations
Khalid has received numerous awards and nominations throughout his career, showcasing his impact in the music industry. Here’s a summary:
Awards
- MTV Video Music Awards: Best New Artist (2017)
- American Music Awards:
- Favorite Male Artist – Soul/R&B (2019)
- Favorite Male Artist – Pop/Rock (2019)
- Favorite Album – Soul/R&B for Free Spirit (2019)
- Favorite Song – Soul/R&B for “Talk” (2019)
- Soul Train Awards: Best R&B/Soul Male Artist (2019)
Nominations
- Grammy Awards:
- Best New Artist (2018)
- Record of the Year for “1-800-273-8255” (2018)
- Album of the Year for American Teen (2020)
- Song of the Year for “Talk” (2020)
- Billboard Music Awards: Various nominations including Top R&B Artist and Top New Artist.
- Teen Choice Awards: Multiple nominations and wins in 2018.
Overall, Khalid has won 12 awards and received 47 nominations across various prestigious platforms
Discography
Albums
- American Teen (2017)
- Suncity (2018)
- Free Spirit (2019)
- Scenic Drive (2021, mixtape)
- Sincere (2024)
Notable Singles
- Location (2016)
- Young Dumb & Broke (2017)
- Love Lies (with Normani) (2018)
- Better (2018)
- Talk (2019)
- New Normal (2021)
- Please Don’t Fall in Love with Me (2024)
