Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Kid Rock

How Kid Rock built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Kid Rock, born Robert James Ritchie, is an American musician known for his diverse musical style. Starting in hip-hop, he gained mainstream fame with rap rock before transitioning to country rock. A self-taught and multi-instrumentalist, he is a singer, rapper, and songwriter who has overseen production on the majority of his albums.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

1988: Formation of Top Dog Records

In 1988, Alvin Williams and Earl Blunt of EB-Bran Productions formed the independent record label Top Dog Records.

1989: Kid Rock Becomes Shareholder of Top Dog Records

In 1989, Kid Rock became a shareholder of Top Dog Records, investing in the company and gaining 25% ownership.

1997: Kid Rock Writes "Cool, Daddy Cool"

In 1997, Kid Rock wrote the song "Cool, Daddy Cool", which included controversial lyrics, later used in the 2001 movie Osmosis Jones.

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1998: MTV Describes Kid Rock's Sound

In a 1998 piece, MTV described Kid Rock's sound as having "heavy-metal licks and rap riffs".

2001: Confederate flag display at concerts

In 2001, Kid Rock began displaying the Confederate flag at his concerts, a practice he continued until 2006.

2001: Kid Rock Files Lawsuit for Control of Top Dog Records

In 2001, Kid Rock filed a lawsuit seeking full control over the Top Dog record label.

2001: "Cool, Daddy Cool" used in Osmosis Jones

Kid Rock's "Cool, Daddy Cool" was used in the children's movie Osmosis Jones in 2001.

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2003: Kid Rock Gains Full Ownership of Top Dog Records

In 2003, Kid Rock gained full ownership of the Top Dog record label after the lawsuit filed in 2001.

September 2005: Kid Rock Fills In for Johnny Van Zant at Hurricane Katrina Benefit Concert

In September 2005, Kid Rock filled in for Johnny Van Zant, the lead singer of Lynyrd Skynyrd, on the band's hit "Sweet Home Alabama" at the Hurricane Katrina benefit concert.

2006: End of Confederate flag display at concerts

In 2006, Kid Rock stopped displaying the Confederate flag at his concerts, a practice he had started in 2001.

2007: Kid Rock Tours for the USO

In 2007, Kid Rock toured for the United Service Organizations (USO).

2008: Kid Rock Records "Warrior" for National Guard

In 2008, Kid Rock recorded and created a music video for the song "Warrior" for a National Guard advertising campaign.

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2015: Detroit Free Press on Kid Rock's Reinvention

In 2015, the Detroit Free Press noted that Kid Rock reinvented "his persona from scrappy hip hop street kid to swaggering rock-rap showman."

March 2018: Kid Rock to Perform on Lynyrd Skynyrd's Final Tour

In March 2018, Kid Rock announced his participation in Lynyrd Skynyrd's final tour before the Southern rock band's retirement. He was scheduled to perform alongside other artists such as Hank Williams Jr., Bad Company, the Marshall Tucker Band, and 38 Special.

September 21, 2018: Release of Greatest Hits: You Never Saw Coming

On September 21, 2018, Kid Rock released his first greatest hits album, titled Greatest Hits: You Never Saw Coming.

March 29, 2020: Kid Rock Releases "Quarantine" as DJ Bobby Shazam

On March 29, 2020, Kid Rock, under the alias "DJ Bobby Shazam", released his first single titled "Quarantine", featuring an old-school hip-hop sound. He pledged that all proceeds from the single would go towards fighting COVID-19.

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November 18, 2021: Release of "Don't Tell Me How To Live"

On November 18, 2021, Kid Rock released "Don't Tell Me How To Live", the first single from his upcoming triple album. The song, featuring Monster Truck, has a rap rock sound reminiscent of his Devil Without a Cause album.

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December 17, 2021: Release of "Ala-Fuckin-Bama"

On December 17, 2021, Kid Rock released a cover of Trace Adkins' "Ala-Freaking-Bama", titled "Ala-Fuckin-Bama".

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January 25, 2022: Kid Rock Releases "We the People," "Rockin'," and "The Last Dance"

On January 25, 2022, Kid Rock released the single "We the People", which criticizes the media, Anthony Fauci, face masks, COVID-19 restrictions, and Big Tech. He also released "Rockin'" and "The Last Dance" on the same day.

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January 28, 2022: Kid Rock Announces Restrictions on Bad Reputation Tour

On January 28, 2022, Kid Rock announced that he would not perform at venues requiring masks and proof of COVID-19 vaccination on his upcoming Bad Reputation Tour, and that he would cancel shows at such places.

March 10, 2022: Kid Rock Announces Upcoming Album "Bad Reputation"

On March 10, 2022, Kid Rock announced his twelfth studio album, Bad Reputation, which would include his five previously released singles. The album was digitally released on March 21, with a physical release on April 6.