On January 7th of 1971, in Romeo, Michigan, Robert James Ritchie was born. His father owned a successful car dealership, and the family grew up on a large estate, surrounded by their horses, and an abundance of nature. Robert would eventually take the world by storm, and become known to his fans as being 'Kid Rock.' His rise to fame was a slow and steady one, and he would make the headlines not only for his incredible musical talents, but also for his high profile marriage to Pamela Anderson, and his very outspoken views and on-stage antics. Kid Rock has continued to smash records along his rise to fame, dabbling in a variety of different music genres and wowing crowds with his love for music and abundant energy. Wealthy Genius reports that his journey has taken him all the way to a $150 million net worth.
His Rise To Fame
While some artists spring on the scene and see instant stardom, Kid Rock's story was a very different one. He rose to fame more gradually, and skipped from label to label, tantalizing his audiences with a wide array of different types of sounds until he found the level of success he was seeking.
Kid Rock has been rocking stages across the globe since 1988. His career spans over 3 decades and embraces the multitude of talents he possesses. He's a successful musician, rapper, producer and songwriter that has skipped across a variety of musical genres, treating fans with new sounds each time he switches gears.
His music ranges from country to hip hop and includes rap-rock, metal, and pure rock as well. Kid Rock gained mainstream success in the early 90s with his debut album called Grits Sandwiches For Breakfast. After signing with Jive Records, he toured with rap legend Ice Cube, then jumped over to sign on with Continuum Records. Unable to settle into a groove with any given label, it was only 4 years later that Kid Rock shifted once again, and signed on with Atlantic Records.
Celebrity Net Worth reports that by this time; "Kid Rock had fully refined not only his "rock-rap" sound, but also his stage persona. His next album, Devil Without a Cause, proved to be a major hit. Solid promotional tactics and the popularity of the single "Bawitdaba" led to over 15 million units sold worldwide. The album later achieved diamond status."
Kid Rock Journey's Onward
Kid Rock began to leave hip hop behind, in favor of the raw sounds of rock music, and he released his self titled album in 2003. At that point in time, he experienced a huge, milestone moment. His album titled Rock N Roll Jesus rose to the top of the Billboard 200, and Kid Rock continued to release hit after hit.
During his time on tour, he was also multi-tasking, and he released a variety of different projects in the realm of television and film.
It didn't take long before his name became synonymous with controversy. His relationship with Pamela Anderson was blowing up all over the tabloids, as the two embraced a raunchy, public display of affection and raised eyebrows with each appearance they made together. He went on to marry Anderson in 2006, and soon after, it was revealed that Pamela was pregnant with their child. Sadly, she suffered a miscarriage, and their marriage came to an abrupt end just a few months later.
By this time, Kid Rocks' fame had been solidified, and he was infamous for his wild antics, both on and off the stage. He spoke loudly and without a filter when he expressed his political views, and faced harsh judgement by fans for racially charged commentary, on more than one occasion.
His physical attack on Tommy Lee at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards and his continuous use of the confederate flag was met with resistance and backlash. However, by that time he had already released his album Devil Without A Cause, which was described by Wealthy Genius as being; "unapologetically rude, willing to offend anyone who doesn’t find the humor in juvenile sex jokes."
Notable Hits
Among Kid Rock's most notable hits are Cowboy, Cocky, and American Badass.
He pushed the envelope into a different musical realm when he collaborated with Sheryl Crow on the hit song, Picture. This quickly became his very first country hit, and attracted a fresh, new audience that added to his already massive fan following.
Perhaps one of the most unique traits that Kid Rock possesses is his complete and total ability to play every single musical instrument in his own band. His talent with instruments is all encompassing and seems to have no limitation. He has the uncanny ability to cross over varying musical genres without it seeming effortful in any way.
As a front-man, his image and persona were enough to mesmerize his fans, and the controversy that swarmed around him, seem to popularize him even more.
Kid Rock has truly climbed his way to the very top of his career, and shows no signs of slowing down. His spunk and spirit have set him a cut above the rest, and fans are always looking ahead, towards what he may come up with next.
Sources: Celebrity Net Worth, Skintillating Stars, Wealthy Genius