Rather Be (The Kid Laroi song)

"Rather Be"
"Rather Be"
Single by the Kid Laroi featuring Lithe
from the album Before I Forget
Released	23 January 2026
Genre	R&B; trap;
Length	4:24
Label	Columbia
Songwriters	Charlton Howard; Michael Volpe; Isaac De Boni; Austin Howard; Michael Mulé; Khaled Rohaim; Antonio Zito;
Producers	AuzTheKid; Dopamine; FnZ; Khaled Rohaim;
The Kid Laroi singles chronology
Lithe singles chronology

"Rather Be" is a song by Australian rapper and singer the Kid Laroi featuring Australian rapper Lithe, released on 9 January 2026 as the "focus track" from his second studio album Before I Forget.^[1] It was added to BBC Radio 1 on 23 January 2026 as the albums fourth single.^[2]

Critical reception

In the week of 19 January 2026, The Music staff named it their "Power Pick" of the week, with Power Pick panelist Richard Kingsmill saying "This is a sure-fire hit from the Kid's second album, Before I Forget. It's an open book of a song about his (seemingly) heartfelt regret after the sudden relationship split with Tate McRae last year." Adding, "The r&b [sic] hook is killer, the trap beat adds a depth missing for me on "A Cold Play", and the clever tempo shift maintains the song's momentum into Lithe's impressive verse."^[3]

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Rather Be"
Chart (2026)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[4]	54
Canada Hot 100 (Billboard)^[5]	76
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)^[6]	4
UK Singles (OCC)^[7]	78
US Billboard Hot 100^[8]	77

References

↑ Smith, Carl (9 January 2026). "New Music Friday: the Cribs, Robyn, A$AP Rocky, Robyn, Bruno Mars, Eliza and more". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
↑ "Radio 1 Playlist 23rd–29th January 2026". BBC. 23 January 2026. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
↑ Kingsmill, Richard (20 January 2026). "Power Pick 19/01/26: The Kid Laroi Featuring Lithe – "Rather Be"". The Music. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
↑ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 19 January 2026". The ARIA Report. No. 1872. Australian Recording Industry Association. 19 January 2026. p. 4.
↑ "The Kid Laroi Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
↑ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 16 January 2026. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
↑ "Official Singles Chart on 22/1/2026 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
↑ "The Kid Laroi Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 26 January 2026.

[1] Smith, Carl (9 January 2026). "New Music Friday: the Cribs, Robyn, A$AP Rocky, Robyn, Bruno Mars, Eliza and more". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 February 2026.

[2] "Radio 1 Playlist 23rd–29th January 2026". BBC. 23 January 2026. Retrieved 26 January 2026.

[3] Kingsmill, Richard (20 January 2026). "Power Pick 19/01/26: The Kid Laroi Featuring Lithe – "Rather Be"". The Music. Retrieved 26 January 2026.

[4] "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 19 January 2026". The ARIA Report. No. 1872. Australian Recording Industry Association. 19 January 2026. p. 4.

[sc_Canada_The_Kid_Laroi-5] "The Kid Laroi Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 26 January 2026.

[6] "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 16 January 2026. Retrieved 16 January 2026.

[sc_UK_-7] "Official Singles Chart on 22/1/2026 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 January 2026.

[sc_Billboardhot100_The_Kid_Laroi-8] "The Kid Laroi Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 26 January 2026.

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