Taking inspiration from the classic Run DMC and Aerosmith collaboration 'Walk This Way', the self-proclaimed saviour of rock & roll burst on to a stagnant scene in a wave of controversy and hype at the end of the 1990s. Swaggering to a mix of hip-hop beats and thrashing rock guitars, he rapped with a gruff country twang and brashly strutted the image of a hard-drinking superstar. After a decade without serious recognition his fourth album 'Devil Without a Cause' (1998) achieved a startling breakthrough, selling eleven million copies. Amid a high-profile relationship with Pamela Anderson, 'Cocky' made it to number three in the 2001 US Album Charts, producing hit singles 'Forever' and 'Picture' (featuring Sheryl Crow) and his best-received record 'Rock N' Roll Jesus' topped the charts in 2007. The single 'All Summer Long' - a mash-up of Warren Zevon's 'Werewolves of London' and Lynyrd Skynyrd's 'Sweet Home Alabama' - gave him a global smash and his first UK number one in 2008. 2010 saw the release of 'Born Free', his eighth studio album, which debuted at number five. His first proper country album, 'Born Free' launched him to a whole new set of fans with the title single breaking into the Country Charts. The album achieved gold status and led the way for his ninth album 'Rebel Soul'. He celebrated his 40th birthday with a one-off concert in Detroit featuring, among others, Sheryl Crow, Jimmie Johnson and Anita Baker. He followed this with a 12-city tour, the proceeds of which he donated to charity. His tenth album, 'First Kiss', released in 2015 was another country offering, confirming to fans and critics that he was serious about the genre. The release was his first through Warner after departing from Atlantic, and gave him a number two position on the Billboard 200 and a number one on the Top Rock Albums Chart. After teasing the possibility of him running for Michigan's State Senate, Kid Rock released his eleventh album, 'Sweet Southern Sugar', in 2017.
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