When it comes to modern R&B and pop, few artists have captured the hearts of a generation quite like Khalid. Born Khalid Donnel Robinson, the El Paso-raised singer-songwriter burst onto the music scene with an effortless blend of soul, alternative R&B, and indie pop that resonated with millions of listeners worldwide. The best Khalid songs carry an emotional honesty and youthful vulnerability that few artists manage to bottle so naturally. Whether you are revisiting his debut album or exploring his newest releases, this list of the 20 greatest Khalid songs has something for every fan. Fans of great music can also explore more top song recommendations on GlobalMusicVibe to keep their playlists fresh and inspired.
Young Dumb & Broke
Released as part of his debut album American Teen in 2017, “Young Dumb & Broke” became the breakout anthem that introduced Khalid to the mainstream global audience. The track’s breezy production, paired with Khalid’s warm, reflective vocals, perfectly encapsulated the aimless optimism of teenage life. It peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became one of the defining pop songs of its era, earning Khalid a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Solo Performance.
Location
“Location” was the song that first put Khalid on the map, released in 2016 when he was just 18 years old and still in high school. The track built around a simple, looping guitar sample and Khalid’s earnest storytelling about a budding romantic connection quickly went viral, amassing millions of streams before he had even graduated. It remains one of the most beloved tracks in his catalog and a reminder that authentic emotion never goes out of style.
lovely (with Billie Eilish)
Featured on the 13 Reasons Why Season 2 soundtrack in 2018, “lovely” is a haunting collaboration between Khalid and Billie Eilish that became far more than a soundtrack cut. The song’s sparse production and intertwining vocals create an atmosphere of melancholic beauty that resonated deeply with fans navigating themes of mental health and heartbreak. It remains one of the most emotionally striking songs in either artist’s discography and has accumulated billions of streams across platforms.
Better
Released from his 2018 Suncity EP, “Better” is a sun-soaked, mid-tempo track that showcases Khalid’s ability to make heartache feel almost euphoric. The production carries a hazy, late-summer warmth that perfectly complements his vocals as he reflects on a relationship that has run its course. It became one of his most-streamed tracks and demonstrated the range he had developed since his debut, cementing his reputation as one of R&B-pop’s most compelling young voices.
Saturday Nights
From the Suncity EP, “Saturday Nights” is a moody, atmospheric track that blends nocturnal R&B production with Khalid’s introspective lyricism. The song captures the feeling of young love mixed with the anxiety and restlessness of growing up, themes that run throughout Khalid’s body of work. Its brooding energy and memorable hook made it a fan favorite and a staple on curated late-night playlists for years after its release.
Talk
A collaboration with electronic duo Disclosure, “Talk” arrived in 2019 from his second studio album Free Spirit and became one of the most commercially successful singles of that year. The track merges Khalid’s R&B sensibilities with Disclosure’s signature house-influenced production, resulting in a track that felt equally at home on pop radio and at music festivals. It earned Khalid a Grammy nomination and introduced him to an even wider audience hungry for feel-good, danceable music.
OTW (feat. 6LACK & Ty Dolla $ign)
Released in 2018, “OTW” — short for “On The Way” — is a silky R&B collaborative that pairs Khalid’s smooth delivery with complementary verses from 6LACK and Ty Dolla $ign. The song’s production is lush and unhurried, creating a late-night atmosphere that feels intimate and cinematic at once. It highlighted Khalid’s talent for curating collaborations that elevate all parties involved, and it remains one of the strongest ensemble R&B tracks of the late 2010s.
Love Lies (with Normani)
Created for the Love, Simon original motion picture soundtrack in 2018, “Love Lies” is a dreamy, slow-burning duet between Khalid and Normani that exudes understated sensuality. The track became a modest hit on its own merits, earning both artists additional mainstream recognition and showcasing their vocal chemistry. It also stands as an important cultural moment, appearing in one of Hollywood’s first mainstream teen rom-coms centered on a gay protagonist.
8TEEN
One of the standout tracks from his debut album American Teen, “8TEEN” is a heartfelt ode to the freedom and uncertainty of being 18 years old. Khalid delivers the song with a quiet sincerity that makes the listener feel the specific weight of that transitional year between adolescence and adulthood. The track’s gentle production and conversational tone made it an immediate fan favorite and one of his most emotionally resonant early works.
Eastside (with Halsey & benny blanco)
Released in 2018, “Eastside” is a collaborative effort between Khalid, Halsey, and producer benny blanco that became a massive global hit, reaching the top 10 in multiple countries. The song tells a bittersweet story of young love dreaming of a better future, with the two vocalists trading verses that feel tender and lived-in. It remains one of Khalid’s biggest commercial successes and a defining pop moment of 2018, amassing well over a billion streams on Spotify alone.
Be Like That (with Kane Brown & Swae Lee)
Originally released from the Be Like That (Remixes) project in 2020, this track is a genre-blending collaboration that brings together country, pop, and R&B in a way that feels seamless rather than forced. Khalid’s voice sits effortlessly alongside Kane Brown’s country-tinged delivery, with Swae Lee adding an additional melodic dimension to the final product. The song demonstrated Khalid’s cross-genre appeal and his ability to collaborate successfully with artists from entirely different musical worlds.
Suncity (feat. Empress Of)
The title track from his 2018 EP, “Suncity” is a love letter to El Paso, Texas, the city where Khalid grew up and first found his musical voice. Co-written with Empress Of, the track blends a sun-soaked, almost tropical production with warmly nostalgic lyricism that celebrates the beauty of a place often overlooked in popular culture. It stands as one of Khalid’s most personal recordings and a testament to the power of honoring where you come from.
Know Your Worth (with Disclosure)
Reuniting with Disclosure for a second collaboration in 2020, “Know Your Worth” is an uplifting, feel-good track that encourages self-confidence and emotional clarity in relationships. The production is bright and energetic, with Khalid’s vocals gliding over a propulsive groove that immediately commands attention. It arrived during a difficult global period and its message of self-affirmation resonated widely, earning extensive airplay and critical appreciation alike.
Right Back
From his second studio album Free Spirit, “Right Back” is a measured, introspective track that finds Khalid processing the complexities of loyalty and emotional distance in a relationship. The production is deliberately understated, allowing his vocals and lyricism to carry the emotional weight of the song without distraction. It is the kind of album deep cut that rewards patient listening and reveals new layers with each replay, illustrating the depth of artistry present on Free Spirit.
Saturday Nights REMIX (feat. Kane Brown)
The remix of “Saturday Nights” featuring Kane Brown arrived in 2019 and took the already popular original to an even wider audience by fusing its atmospheric R&B production with country-leaning sensibilities. Kane Brown’s contributions bring a grounded, storytelling quality to the track that pairs beautifully with Khalid’s more introspective approach. The collaboration earned both artists new fans across genre lines and stands as one of the more creatively successful pop-country crossover moments of recent years.
Favorite Song (feat. Summer Walker)
Released from the Naujour EP in 2023, “Favorite Song” is a modern R&B slow-burn featuring Summer Walker that leans into the more mature sonic direction Khalid explored in the early 2020s. Summer Walker’s signature hazy, emotionally raw delivery complements Khalid’s own vulnerability, resulting in a duet that feels genuinely felt rather than commercially calculated. The track represents an important step in Khalid’s artistic evolution as he moved beyond his teenage persona into richer, more complex territory.
Present
Appearing on his Scenic Drive (The Tape) mixtape released in 2021, “Present” is a reflective track that finds Khalid in a more mature, contemplative headspace as he examines the passage of time and personal growth. The production carries a warm, lo-fi quality that suits the song’s introspective tone, creating an intimate atmosphere reminiscent of a personal journal entry set to music. It was widely praised by fans and critics as evidence that Khalid was continuing to deepen his artistry well beyond the initial wave of his breakthrough success.
Adore U
From his 2024 album Sincere, “Adore U” marks one of Khalid’s most recent major releases and showcases how his sound has evolved into something richer and more layered over the years. The track blends warm, neo-soul textures with his signature melodic approach, delivering a heartfelt declaration of devotion that feels fresh yet unmistakably his own. As one of his newest songs, it has already resonated strongly with long-time fans and newcomers discovering his catalog for the first time.
Please Don’t Fall In Love With Me
Also from his 2024 album Sincere, “Please Don’t Fall In Love With Me” is a standout new release that demonstrates the continued emotional depth and vocal confidence Khalid has developed across his career. The song navigates the complicated emotional territory of warning someone away from romantic feelings you cannot reciprocate, a theme that feels both universal and deeply personal. Its appearance on Sincere confirms that Khalid remains one of the most compelling voices in contemporary R&B even as he enters a new chapter of his musical journey.
We Go Down Together (feat. Dave)
Released in 2023, “We Go Down Together” is an evocative collaboration with British rapper Dave that blends Khalid’s melodic instincts with Dave’s poetic, socially conscious lyricism. The track is cinematic and ambitious, demonstrating both artists’ willingness to push beyond their comfort zones in service of a larger artistic vision. It stands as one of the most intriguing collaborations of Khalid’s career and a sign of the bold, genre-defying directions he continues to explore as his discography matures.
Why Khalid’s Music Continues to Resonate
Across all 20 of these tracks, a consistent thread emerges: Khalid’s music resonates because it refuses to pretend. His songs deal in the specific textures of everyday emotional experience — the excitement of a new relationship, the ache of growing apart from someone, the pride of where you came from — without resorting to melodrama or cliché. His voice, warm and unhurried, acts as a vessel for feelings that listeners often struggle to articulate themselves. That authenticity is what has allowed him to sustain a loyal, passionate fanbase across multiple albums, EPs, and collaborative projects spanning nearly a decade.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Khalid’s most popular song of all time?
“Young Dumb & Broke” is widely considered Khalid’s most popular song, having achieved mainstream global success after its release from his debut album American Teen in 2017. It reached number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100, earned a Grammy nomination, and remains one of the most-streamed tracks of the late 2010s. “Location” and “lovely” (with Billie Eilish) are close contenders in terms of both cultural impact and streaming numbers.
What album made Khalid famous?
Khalid first rose to prominence with his debut studio album American Teen, released in 2017. The album was a critical and commercial success, earning multiple Grammy nominations and producing several hit singles including “Young Dumb & Broke,” “Location,” and “8TEEN.” It established him as one of the most exciting new voices in R&B and pop and set the foundation for his continued success in the years that followed.
Has Khalid released any new music recently?
Yes, Khalid released his album Sincere in 2024, which includes newer tracks such as “Adore U” and “Please Don’t Fall In Love With Me.” Prior to that, he released the Naujour EP in 2023, featuring the collaboration “Favorite Song” with Summer Walker. These more recent releases show a matured, evolving artistic identity as he continues to build one of the most compelling catalogs in contemporary R&B.
What genre is Khalid’s music?
Khalid’s music primarily sits within the R&B and pop genres, but his sound incorporates elements of alternative R&B, indie pop, soul, and even country on certain collaborative projects. His debut album leaned heavily into a warm, nostalgic indie-pop aesthetic, while later works like Free Spirit and Sincere incorporated more electronic, neo-soul, and mature R&B influences. This genre fluidity is a significant part of what has allowed him to collaborate successfully with such a diverse range of artists.
Where is Khalid from?
Khalid was born in Fort Stewart, Georgia, but grew up primarily in El Paso, Texas, which has had a profound influence on his music and personal identity. His 2018 EP Suncity is explicitly a tribute to El Paso, celebrating the city’s landscape, culture, and the formative experiences he had growing up there. He has spoken frequently in interviews about how El Paso shaped both his worldview and his artistic voice, and that connection to place is palpable throughout much of his catalog.