Kid Rock, Pop Musician / Rock Musician

Born: 17 January 1971
Birthplace: Romeo, Michigan
Best Known As: Cowboy-rocking, rapping pop star
Name at birth: Robert James Ritchie

A self-proclaimed redneck from the midwestern United States, Kid Rock's catchy mix of rap and country-influenced hard rock took him to pop stardom after his 1998 release Devil Without A Cause. He grew up near Detroit, Michigan, but in 1991 he moved to New York City to further his career. Although he had landed his first record contract in 1990, record labels weren't quite sure how to promote a white rapper who blended heavy metal and country rock. His albums The Polyfuze Method (1993) and Early Mornin' Stone Pimp (1996) featured lyrics too nasty to play on the radio, but relentless touring and a gift for self-promotion earned Kid Rock a cult following. By 1999 he and his band, Twisted Brown Trucker, were performing in arenas and causing sparks on MTV. In 2000 Kid Rock released The History of Rock, a collection of re-mixes and older material. He began dating actress Pamela Anderson in 2001; they became engaged in April of 2002.

Kid Rock's 3'9" sidekick, Joe C., died of Celiac disease in November of 2000.

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Kid Rock (real name Robert Ritchie, born January 17, 1971 in Romeo, Michigan) is a performer of rap music - notably combining rap with the sounds of more traditional rock music and even country music.

Rock derives his name from his early years rapping in parking lots and bars, when people in the audience would say, "Look at that white kid rock." He dropped "white," and his stage name was born.

He began his hip-hop career at the age of 15. He became well-known in the Mt. Clemens housing project because of his unique style of rapping. He later moved to New York City, where he was said to have lived just below Queen Latifah. He got to know a lot of the area's rappers and landed a tour deal with Ice Cube and Too $hort when he was only 18 years old.

In 1989, his first album, on the Jive label, was Grits Sandwiches for Breakfast, produced by Too $hort, D Nice and others. This defined his outlandish attitude, although the album was not a success. When a college DJ played the song from his album "Yodelin' in the Valley," he was fined $25,000 by the FCC. The president of the university described the song as "the most indecent thing ever heard".

After the release of his first album, Rock attended an autograph signing at Record Time in Roseville, Michigan to promote his CD. While there, a young musician got into an argument with him over his rise to fame. This young musician was a 17 year old Marshall Mathers III, who later became famous under the name of Eminem.

Kid Rock continued to produce albums, however. In 1993 The Polyfuze Method was released. In 1996, Early Morning Stoned Pimp dropped along with the EP, Fire it Up.

In 1998, he joined Atlantic Records and released his famous album Devil Without a Cause. This was his first real success. The Detroit Red Wings, after their victory, chose the opening phrase from "Early Morning Stoned Pimp" as their victory chant.

In 2000, Kid Rock released a compilation album, The History of Rock, which included tracks from many of his previous albums. Following this up he released his album Cocky which features all new songs.

Rock dated actress Pamela Anderson, having an adulterous affair with her while she was still married to musician Tommy Lee. He is now dating actress Jesse Jane. Earlier in his career he performed with a white midget rapper named Joe C, who later died of complications of celiac disease. Many people adored Joe C. Rock has also recently gained country music acclaim for such notable performances as "Picture", a duet with Sheryl Crow; his performance of "Luckenbach, Texas" on the Waylon Jennings tribute album I've Always Been Crazy; and his appearance on Country Music Television's Crossroads episode with Hank Williams, Jr.. Initially scheduled to perform at one of the many inaugural galas for President Bush in early 2005, largely at the request of the Bush daughters, Rock was later asked not to perform out of respect for the town elders.

Discography

Grits Sandwiches for Breakfast (1991)
Back from the Dead (1992)
The Polyfuze Method (1993)
Fire It Up (1994)
Early Morning Stoned Pimp (1996)
Devil Without a Cause (1998) US: #4 (11x Platinum)
Bawitdaba
Only God Knows Why
Cowboy
Waisting Time
The History of Rock (2000) US: #2 (2x Platinum)
American Bad Ass
Cocky (2001) US: #3 (4x Platinum)
Forever
Picture (with Sheryl Crow) (#1 for 1 week as highest played song on TV, radios, and downloads)
Kid Rock (2003) US: #8 (Platinum)
Feel Like Makin' Love
Cold and Empty
Single Father

Kid Rock grew up in Romeo, Michigan, located forty miles north of Detroit where there was not a whole hell of a lot to do. Therefore, he had to basically create his own fun. Having one of their children getting into trouble was nothing new to Kid’s parents. Kid got into his share, (playing with matches and denying it, lackluster performance in grades and citizenship, running away from home at 17, hiding in the bushes and throwing apples at passing cars and the school bus, smashing mailboxes with baseball bats, threatening the babysitter and her boyfriend who came to straighten Kid out) but this is all pretty normal to any kid growing up. Kid would not go unpunished. Kid was raised in a catholic household where going to church every Sunday was expected and the sound of shit, fuck or god damn were all punishable with a bar of soap. With high moral expectations came the responsibility of hard work. Kid’s early chores included feeding horses, cleaning all the sh*t up, getting up at six in the morning when it was 20 below zero to drag unfrozen water down to the horses. Kid then went on to dominate a push lawn mower. This is long before the days of self propelled push mowers.

A predominantly-white Detroit 'burb, where he absorbed the rock 'n' roll that sprang forth from the FM radio as well as the bad-ass beats emerging from the urban underground. Inspired by the energy of hip hop pioneers like Run DMC and Whodini, the Kid began hanging out in the projects of nearby Mt. Clemens. He was a member of a local breakdancing crew - The Furious Funkers (!) - and first put the wheels of steel in motion while still in high school. Grabbing thunder across the largely-black local talent show scene, Bob earned himself his moniker spinning at subterranean basement parties: Watch that white kid rock!

In 1988, he laid down his first batch of demos, recordings which earned him an opening performance spot with Boogie Down Productions. That gig brought Kid to the attention of Jive Records, who signed him immediately. 1990 saw the release of the Kid Rock debut album, "GRITS SANDWICHES FOR BREAKFAST," produced by Kid Rock with Too $hort and D-Nice, and featuring a flat-topped, 40-guzzlin' cartoon Kid on the cover.