Kid Rock is "Cocky" and Cool

The "cowboy kid's" new album, Cocky is slated to arrive in stores November 20. The first single, Forever, will arrive at radio stations nationwide October 22. Among the highlights is a duet with smooth rapper Snoop Dogg.

So who is this kid with the last name rock? The patriotic ladies' man was born-ironically-in Romeo, Michigan at a time when he was known simply as Bob Ritchie. Inspired by hard rock radio hits and grooving hip-hop, he joined a local breakdancing crew called The Furious Funkers. While in high school he moved up to DJ, and won several talent contests and jammed at local parties-eventually crafting a name for himself as a kid from the outskirts of Detroit with a lot of soul and street edge.

In 1988, he threw down some demos, which led to a gig with Boogie Down Productions. That stint brought Kid to the attention of Jive Records, where he was signed immediately. Getting down and dirty, in 1990 he released his debut album Grits Sandwiches for Breakfast, produced by Rock along with rappers D-Nice and Too Short. The debut record revealed Rock's penchant for tongue in cheek lyrics and his pimp daddy image: The song Yodeling In The Valley led to the biggest government fine for a college radio station due to its sexual overtones. After a lot of press and much ado by the industry, the FCC eventually dropped the fine altogether. But Kid's rep was solidified!

Subsequently, Rock went on tour with some big name hip-hop acts (such as Ice Cube), establishing his name as a rock-rapping white kid from the edge of Detroit. Kid Rock moved to New York City in 1993 and recorded The Polyfuze Method, which included the risqué single "Balls In Your Mouth." Its country-tinged raps, coupled with his macho stance furthered Rock's image as a "bad ass" trailer-park rapper.

Now for the beginning of the big time: enter CD Devil Without a Cause and the hot single Bawitdaba. Kid Rock's rap-metal rhetoric and jamming joints saw him enter the ranks of mainstream radio, pooling several aspects that made for a totally fresh image. Rock went on to release Star Profile and The History of Rock, before recording his latest Cocky.

To date, the Kid's tunes show versatility, style and talent. His image is one-of-a-kind, as he pimps and rocks out the American Dream. Lately, Kid seems to be everywhere. From singing with Aretha Franklin at the VH1 Divas Live concert to inducting Aerosmith into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame! To me,

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