Khalid, Location | Track Review 🎵

Burgeoning teen R&B singer Khalid delivers a sensational single in “Location,” a relatable gem about young love.  

Khalid is quickly becoming one of the hottest names in R&B.  That’s amazing considering he’s still a kid – just 18 years of age.  IT DOESN’T MATTER.  Khalid has already proven he has pipes. “Location” serves as Khalid’s breakthrough single.  In an age where only select R&B graces the Billboard Hot 100, “Location” has earned a spot, deservingly. The best attribute of the single is the voice, pure and simple. Currently, there is no one who sounds like the teen artist – he’s in his own lane. To possess such a special set of pipes to be so young is impressive in its own right.

Beyond the slick production work and the voice, “Location” is a well-rounded song.  Love is the M.O. – to be expected in R&B.  The hook finds Khalid expressing the desires of his heart:

“Send me your location, let’s
Focus on communicating, ‘cause
I just need the time and place to come through...
Send me your location, let’s
Ride the vibrations
I don’t need nothing else but you.”

The verses add more depth to the narrative.  On the first verse, Khalid questions his feelings.

“At times, I wonder why I fool with you
But this is new to me, this is new to you.”

Essentially, this is young love, and a new, unfamiliar experience for the teen, as well as his boo.  Therefore, the questions, hormones, feelings, all run rampant.  Teenage love, as well as love in general, can be characterized as a cluster…fill in the ellipsis.

Verse two continues the love saga, cleverly citing location:

“I don’t wanna fall in love off of subtweets so
Let’s get personal
I got a lot of cool spots that we can go…”

Final Thoughts

All in all, “Location” is an excellent, chill urban contemporary record.  This is not a complexly written song, but it doesn’t need to be.  “Location” is highly relatable and Khalid shows off a beautiful voice. Simply put, this kid is on his way to being a star.

Khalid • American Teen • RCA • Release: 3.3.17 

Photo Credit: RCA