THE MOMENT Lyrics – The Kid LAROI | from “BEFORE I FORGET”

The Kid LAROI’s sophomore era hits like a gut-punch you didn’t see coming with BEFORE I FORGET (Deluxe Version), out January 9 via Columbia Records, and “THE MOMENT” ft. Clara La San is that hushed exhale after the storm—tender, atmospheric, and laced with the kind of intimacy that lingers like smoke.

This track, tucked mid-album, is LAROI at his most unguarded: breathy pop-rap verses laced with Clara’s haunting, layered harmonies, all over a dreamy beat from producers Andrew Aged and Nightfeelings—think swelling synths that mimic a skyward pull, soft percussion that echoes late-night confessions. It’s got that signature LAROI polish, blending trap-tinged introspection with indie-R&B glow, but elevated by Clara’s ethereal vibe (fresh off her own quiet comeback whispers).

Thematically, it’s a love letter to what-ifs: waiting for a world where “no one is watching,” forgiving past scars, and chasing transcendence amid the mess of invested tears and tested bonds. It’s not rage-fueled revenge; it’s the quiet plea for “us for the moment,” raw with the ache of growth after a split that left him (and us) reeling.

The full deluxe? It’s an 18-track expansion on the standard 15-song core, a sonic scrapbook of heartbreak’s half-forgotten edges—pulling from that Akan-inspired sankofa vibe of looping back for what got buried. Staples like “A PERFECT WORLD” and “A COLD PLAY” anchor the regret reel, while gems like “RATHER BE” ft. Lithe, “5:21 AM” ft. Andrew Aged, and closers “HER INTERLUDE” and “WAY BEFORE” stretch the narrative into self-forgiveness territory. Clocking around 65 minutes, it’s less bombast than F*CK LOVE 3’s rage, more chamber-pop polish with live strings and trap whispers, recorded amid LAROI’s post-tour decompression. No overblown concept—just Howard owning the boy-to-man shift, proving he’s not chasing virality anymore; he’s carving confessions.

At 22, LAROI’s owning the long game, fresh off sold-out Aussie runs and that Bieber-fueled STAY shadow he’s outgrown. The Sydney kid who blew up off bedroom demos is now a genre-blender with Grammys in sight, trading teen angst for therapy-tinged truths—this deluxe feels like his exhale, tour dates looming in March from LA to London.

Dive into the THE MOMENT lyrics below and unpack its raw narrative. Don’t miss other BEFORE I FORGET tracks for more of The Kid LAROI’s heartfelt pop-rap confessions.