About
Robert Ritchie, known by his stage name Kid Rock, is an American multi-instrumentalist and actor, most popularly known for his first commercial success, the 1998 studio album Devil Without a Cause. He is a five-time Grammy Award nominee and has sold 23.5 million albums in the U.S. and 27.5 million worldwide.
Born in Romeo, Michigan, Rock was a rapper and hip hop performer with 5 releases between 1990 and 1997. After signing a recording contract with Atlantic Records in 1998, he gained commercial success in the rap-rock genre behind the singles “Bawitdaba,” “Cowboy” and “Only God Knows Why.” After Devil Without a Cause’s success in 2000, he released The History of Rock, a compilation of remixed and remastered versions of songs from previous albums as well as the hit rock single, “American Bad Ass.”
Rock’s follow-up records became more rock-, country-, and blues-oriented, starting with 2001’s Cocky. His collaboration with Shery Crow on the song “Picture” was his first country hit and biggest pop hit in the US to date charting at No. 4 on the Hot 100.
After 2003’s Kid Rock and 2006’s Live Trucker sales declined from the previous releases, he then released Rock ‘n’ Roll Jesus in 2007. The album featured the song “All Summer Long,” which charted at No. 1 in eight countries across Europe and Australia. In 2010, he released Born Free, which featured an eponymous song that became the political campaign theme of Mitt Romney, the Republican nominee for President of the United States in the 2012 election.
Rock released Rebel Soul in 2012. The lead single, “Let’s Ride,” is a war anthem to the United States military. The album was certified gold in April 2013.
Kid Rock released his entire Atlantic Records catalog to iTunes in January 2013, with the exception “Racing Father Time EP.” Three of the albums recharted on the Billboard 200. His old hits also re-entered the charts on the Rock Digital Songs Chart.
