In 2017, Khalid Donnel Robinson, otherwise known as Khalid, became a household name following the release of his first single titled “Location.” Coupled with the release of his debut album “American Teen,” the El Paso, Texas, native became unavoidable. 

Both “Location” and its follow-up, “Young Dumb & Broke,” put Khalid’s name on the map. Over the past decade, however, Khalid has shifted his sound to be more mature and true to himself through focusing on his personal connections to the songs.

It has now been four months since Khalid released his fourth studio album “’After the Sun Goes Down,” a ballad of love, lust and loss. Almost 10 years after his debut record, and less than a year since his third studio album, Khalid released this 17-track record with a newfound confidence in himself.

In an interview with Apple Music’s Proud Radio Host Hattie Collins, Khalid shared what contributed to the making of this album. “In the process of creating the album, I got outed and then immediately knew everything that I needed to say,” he said. “It’s time to make that album for myself. It’s time to make the album that solidifies who I am — not only as an artist, but just as a person in the world.”

This album is unlike his previous; it displays self acceptance as Khalid enters this new chapter of his life as a musician. The opening track, “medicine,” feels familiar but is more mature than the rest of his discography. Khalid is balancing stepping out of his musical comfort zone with an emphasis in production and raw lyrics, while still sticking to his pop roots. 

This song displays themes of lust that are seen throughout the whole record. “Medicine” is particularly direct, however, with lyrics like “Oh both of us in this room/What is a man supposed to do/When your lips all over me.” The transition of the first song into the second track, “in plain sight,” is seamless and sets the tone for the rest of the listening experience. 

“Nah,” one of the more popular songs off the record, depicts leaving a toxic relationship and breaking old habits of being with someone you know you shouldn’t. He puts himself first, further emphasizing the self acceptance themes in this record. Similar concepts are found in “please don’t call (333),” in which he says “I ain’t tryna worry bout you tomorrow/So baby if you need me you can reach me at 333.”

Executively produced by Ilya Salmanzadeh, this album is cohesive and flows as one. This was the first album that Salmanzadeh worked on with Khalid, and the new style is noticeable yet nostalgic of “American Teen.” 

“On ‘After the Sun Goes Down,’ Khalid fully embraces who he is as a Black queer R&B-pop artist — and all the nuances that come with it,” Keithan Samuels, founder of Rated R&B, said in an article. “While the album is brighter than his introspective ‘Sincere’ (2024), he still bares his heart with raw authenticity.”

Authenticity is exactly what this album encapsulates as Khalid enters this chapter of his life. This album has something that his previous records lacked: raw vulnerability. This vulnerability is not only with his music and sound, but with his personal identity. 

“I feel like the queer community has embraced me so much, and with love unconditionally,” he said on Apple Music’s Proud Radio. “I have to give that back to the world, because it’s a huge part of me. It’s who I am. And I feel like I’ve played it safe so many times in my life that this time, I felt like I wanted to be bold.”