From Sacred Heart to stardom: Inside superstar The Kid Laroi’s Adelaide schooling
He’s famous the world over, with billions of streams and a collaboration with Justin Bieber. But these school snaps of The Kid Laroi paint a very different picture of the chart-smashing former Adelaide boy.
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When The Kid Laroi touched down in Adelaide on a private jet, waving at a horde of adoring fans from the airport tarmac, it was a far cry from his former life as Sacred Heart student Charlton Howard.
The 18-year-old global phenomenon’s numbers are staggering. His smash hit Stay with Justin Bieber has been streamed an unbelievable 2.07 billion times, with 29 million monthly Spotify listeners and 1.6 billion album streams.
He returned to Australia this week for his End Of The World arena tour, a victory lap for the proud Kamilaroi man who recently made history as the youngest APRA Song of the Year winner.
READ MORE: Review of The Kid Laroi’s Adelaide show
Born on August 17, 2003, Laroi was raised in the inner-west Sydney suburb of Redfern with his uncle and mother, often living meal-to-meal and drifting between houses after his parents’ separation.
Laroi has told how his mother, Sloane Marie Howard, would sometimes sell drugs just to get by. But, amid the turmoil, his passion for hip-hop blossomed as he recorded raps on his mum’s iPhone.
In 2015, Laroi’s uncle was murdered – but the 18-year-old ascibes his success to this tragedy, as he strove to make his uncle proud.
Laroi lived in Broken Hill from the age of seven with his mother, brother and grandparents before moving to Adelaide, where he spent a year in the Sacred Heart College boarding school.
Before my uncle was murdered, he would stress to me how important it was that I keep rapping and stay focused. When I was little I told him “but I want to be like youâ€, to which he replied “if you turn out like me, I’ll be disappointedâ€. Those words have stuck with me forever. â¤ï¸
— charlton (@thekidlaroi) June 19, 2020
Principal describes ‘extraordinary’ talent
Outgoing Sacred Heart Principal Steve Byrne said Laroi’s talent was evident from the moment he set foot on the Somerton Park campus.
“That was part of the discussion when he enrolled, that he did have this particular talent that had been identified,” Mr Byrne said.
“He was certainly very creative and talented in the music field when he was here.
“People better understand now, looking back, just how talented he was.”
While Laroi was only at the school for his year 8 studies, Mr Byrne said current and past students were excited by his return to Adelaide.
“The students are all really excited he’s here. He’s another great product out of Broken Hill,” Mr Byrne said.
“There’s a lot of support here for him … what a great talent.”
Laroi returned to Sydney in 2017 on a performing arts scholarship but dropped out halfway through year 9 to pursue his musical dreams.
“I can assure you that for a year 9 student to be so committed to their destiny is extraordinary,” Mr Byrne said.
That same year, Laroi was signed on a development deal with Sony Music Australia, which led to the release of his debut record, 14 with a Dream, which quickly found viral success.
He supported late rapper Juice WRLD on his 2019 Australian tour and quickly found international recognition after releasing his F*ck Love mixtape in 2020, collaborating with megastars Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus.
On Wednesday night, Laroi performed to thousands of adoring Adelaide fans in an electric set at the Entertainment Centre.
Laroi said it was “beautiful” to be back in Adelaide before making a beeline for Glenelg’s North Indian Cuisine, which he has previously described as his “favourite Indian restaurant in the world”.
“Maybe that was our contribution – the boarding house is close to his favourite Indian restaurant,” Mr Byrne joked.
But it wasn’t all good spirits from the teen sensation. Laroi made a few good-natured digs at his former Sacred Heart schoolmates.
“I left here on a weird note, I went to school here and I saw some of these kids when I was outside and they asked if I remembered them,” he told the crowd.
“Dawg I had no friends at that school, y’all weird as sh*t, but I still love you.”
The 18-year-old was also quick to call out a former teacher who he spotted in the audience.
“I do have a whole lot of love for you in my heart because I was 12 years-old but I do remember when you sat me down and told me I need to quit music because I wasn’t going to get anywhere,” he said.
“I can’t lie I used to hate you for it, I understand the music I was making back then was really trash, it might have been hard to see through it.
“I do remember … I have dreams about that sh*t.”
The multi-millionaire, who stayed at SkyCity’s luxurious five-star Eos Hotel in the CBD while in Adelaide, was also spotted on the gaming floor of the casino with his entourage on Tuesday night.
He later posted an Instagram story of himself and friends at a $10 blackjack table and posed for photos with several of his fans, including Jake Wagenfeller.
“He’s super lovely, such a nice guy and super down-to-earth also,” he said.
But while the teen rap sensation was in high spirits during his flying visit, Laroi is embroiled in a high-stakes lawsuit with his former manager.
Daniel “Zig” Annor, managing director of ART Management Group, on Friday filed a Supreme Court lawsuit against the singer claiming breach of contract and loss of income.
The Kid Laroi returns to Redfern’s The Fact Tree Youth Service to donate $100k
Mr Annor, who is being represented by Media Arts Lawyers, claims his management of the chart-topping music sensation was terminated just days before Laroi signed a deal with global music giant Sony.
He is also seeking damages from the singer’s mother, claiming she interfered in their manager-artist relationship.
Laroi’s next stop is Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena on 4 June, before his final sold-out Australian show on 7 June in Brisbane.
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