Kid Rock

Kid Rock is a performer of rap music - notably combining rapping with the sounds of more traditional rock - sarcastically described as a hybrid of ZZ Top and Public Enemy. The performer, whose real name is Bob Ritchie, was born in Romeo, Michigan.

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 areas 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[?]. 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".

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 Devil Without a Cause[?] album. This was his first real success. The Detroit Red Wings, after their victory, chose the opening phrase from his Early Morning Stoned Pimp[?] album 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. His latest album, Cocky[?], features all new songs.

Discography:

• Grits Sandwiches for Breakfast[?] (1989)
• Back from the Dead[?]
• The Polyfuze Method[?] (1993)
• Early Morning Stoned Pimp[?] (1996)
• Devil Without a Cause[?] (1998)
• The History of Rock[?] (2000)
• Cocky[?] (2001)