Russ (rapper)

Russell James Vitale(born September 26, 1992), knownmononymouslyasRuss, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, author, and actor.After eleven self-released albums, Vitale signed withColumbia Recordsto release his twelfth studio album andmajor labeldebut,There's Really a Wolf(2017). Met with critical and commercial success, the album receivedplatinumcertification by theRecording Industry Association of America(RIAA)and spawned his firstBillboardHot 100entries—"What They Want" and "Losin Control."His thirteenth and fourteenth albums,Zoo(2018) andShake the Snow Globe(2020), both peaked at number four on theBillboard200; the latter spawned his highest-charting single, "Best on Earth" (featuringBia). Outside of his solo career, he is a member of theAtlanta-based hip hop collective Diemon.In 2024, he made his acting debut in the thrillerTrap. In 2019, he published his first book "It's All In Your Head"
Russell James Vitale was born on September 26, 1992, inSecaucus, New Jersey.Vitale was born into an American family withSicilian ancestry, which included him and three other siblings.He lived inNorth CarolinaandKentuckyin his childhood due to his father having to constantly relocate due to his career, before his family found a permanent home during his late teenage years inAtlanta,Georgia.Vitale was taught to play guitar by his father, and over the years gradually learned how to play several instruments.He started writing raps in his notebook at 7 years old. He started making beats when he was 14 and was initially producing with his friend Bugus.He recorded his first song at 18 years old and continued making beats and producing songs in the basement ofColm Dillane's KidSuper.
In 2011, Russ, alongside friend and fellow rapper Bugus, appeared onMTVafter Bugus' song "El Jefe" gained traction.After his short enrollment inKennesaw State University, Russ co-founded his own collective and label, Diemon, with Bugus and others.In a 2012 article onJenesis Magazine, Russ was described as an in-house producer for Diemon.
From December 2011 to August 2014, Russ released 11 albums and 87 singles consecutively; all free of charge.Despite this, his music had not gained the attention that he wanted, so he began to release a song every week onSoundCloudfor almost three years.Two of these songs, "What They Want" and "Losin Control", eventually peaked at number 83 and number 62 on the USBillboardHot 100, respectively.
After signing a partnership withColumbia Records, Russ released his twelfth studio album,There's Really a Wolf, on May 5, 2017; it debuted at number 7 on the USBillboard200and number four on the USTop R&B/Hip-Hop Albumscharts.On April 18, 2018, the album was certifiedplatinumby theRecording Industry Association of America(RIAA) for combined sales andalbum-equivalent unitsof over 1,000,000 units in the United States.Prior to releasing his album, Russ announced on hisTwitteraccount that he would be headlining his tour, The Wake Up Tour, from May 16 to August 5, 2017.
Russ released his thirteenth studio album,Zoo, on September 7, 2018, which peaked at number 4 on theBillboard200.On November 12, 2019, Russ published his first book,It's All in Your Head.On January 31, 2020, he released his fourteenth studio album,Shake the Snow Globe, on Russ My Way Inc. and Columbia Records.It peaked at number 4 on the USBillboard200.
The first book authored by Russ,It's All in Your Head, was published in 2019 and went on to be a bestseller.
On June 30, 2020, Russ announced that he completed his deal with Columbia Records and is now an independent artist.On November 17, 2020, he released an EP titledChomp. It features guest appearances fromBlack Thought,Busta Rhymes,Benny the Butcher, andAb-Soul, among others.
On November 18, 2021, Russ announced a new EP,Chomp 2, as the sequel to last year’sChomp. The project was released on December 8, 2021, under Russ My Way Inc.
On August 18, 2023, Russ released the albumSantiago.It went on to peak at 12 on theBillboard200 album chart.
On January 10th, 2024, he published the sequel to his first bookIt Was You All Along.Later that year, he made his film debut, appearing as Parker Wayne in theM. Night Shyamalanthriller,Trap.
Russ's early inspirations wereG-Unit,50 Cent, andEminem.He produced beats for around six years before he attempted to record himself rapping.Russ is known for his songs beingproduced,mixed,mastered,engineered, written, and performed by himself.Most of his songs containhip hopandR&Belements, while combining rapping and singing on thehook. His style has been described byUproxxas a "raspy, hardbody rap flow, and lilting, almost drunken singing voice".
On September 11, 2017, after a show, Russtweeteda picture depicting him in a shirt with writing on it that said: "How muchxansandleando you have to do before you realize you're a fucking loser".The tweet caused controversy, and led to numerous responses from other music artists. LateChicagorapperFredo Santanaresponded to the tweet, stating: "Until I can stop thinking bout my dead homies an the trauma I been thru in my life that's when I'll stop".
Following the controversy, the phrase "fuck Russ" became a commonly referenced phrase andmeme. On June 6, 2018, after rappersLil PumpandJ. Colesettled their issues in an interview, Lil Pump tweeted "ME & J COLE COOL NOW SO NOW ITS FUCK RUSS".
Russ has two different eye colors, a condition known asheterochromia; his left eye is dark brown, and his right is light brown.