Kid Rock
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Robert James Ritchie (born January 17, 1971), known professionally as Kid Rock, is an American musician, singer, rapper, and songwriter. After establishing himself in the Detroit hip-hop scene, he broke through into mainstream success with a rap rock sound before shifting his performance style to country rock. A self-taught musician, he can play every instrument in his backing band and has overseen production on all but two of his albums. Kid Rock started his music career as a rapper, releasing his debut album, Grits Sandwiches for Breakfast (1990), on Jive Records. His subsequent independent releases, The Polyfuze Method (1993) and Early Mornin' Stoned Pimp (1996), saw him developing a more distinctive style, which was fully realized on his breakthrough album, Devil Without a Cause (1998), which sold 14 million copies. This album and its follow-up, Cocky (2001), were noted for blending elements of hip-hop, country, and rock. His 2003 self-titled album and Rock n Roll Jesus (2007) saw him distance further from his rap rock sound and moving towards country rock. He has since released Born Free (2010), Rebel Soul (2012), First Kiss (2015), and Sweet Southern Sugar (2017). He has made a return to his rap rock sound on his latest album, Bad Reputation (2022). His most successful single from that time period, "Cowboy" (1999), is considered a pioneering song in the country rap genre. His best-selling singles overall are "Picture" (2002) and "All Summer Long" (2008). A self-described libertarian, Kid Rock has drawn controversy for his former use of the Confederate flag and his political statements. He is a vocal supporter of the U.S. Republican Party and United States president Donald Trump, despite previously supporting Democratic presidents such as Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. In 2026, he was one of the main performers at Turning Point USA's All-American Halftime Show.