Kevin Rudolf (born February 17, 1983)[1] is an American singer-songwriter, and record producer. Rudolf is signed to Cash Money Records and Universal Republic. Born and raised in New York, he is based out of Miami, Florida. Rudolf's debut single, "Let It Rock" featuring Lil Wayne, was certified triple platinum by the RIAA on May 5, 2009. It reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100, #5 on the UK Singles Chart, #3 on the Australian Singles Chart, and #2 on the Canadian Hot 100. His second single, "Welcome to the World," reached #58 on the Billboard Hot 100.[2]
Rudolf has appeared and performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Dancing with the Stars, at the Miss USA 2009 pageant, and at the 2009 NBA All-Star Game. In 2009, Rudolf headlined his first US Tour, the "Let It Rock Tour".
Rudolf grew up in New York; his mother was a singer. He played in local bars and with amateur bands as a teenager and began recording his own music after he bought a computer and keyboard
Career
In 2001, Rudolf got his first break with the release of self-written pop record Binocular by Maverick Records under the pseudonym Binocular.[5][6][7][8][9] The lead track, "You", was featured on TV series Smallville. In 2003, Rudolf began working with Timbaland and played guitar for Lil' Kim's single "The Jump Off".[4] In 2004, still using the "Binocular" pseudonym, Rudolf released a cover version of "Maybe You're Gone," written by singer-songwriter Danny Scherr, for the soundtrack of movie The Girl Next Door.[10]
Rudolf began releasing songs under his own name with the "Let It Rock" single, which appeared on his album In the City released on November 24, 2008. "Let It Rock" was used as the main theme for the WWE's 2009 Royal Rumble.[11] "Let it Rock" was also featured on the soundtrack for WrestleMania XXV. "NYC" featuring Nas was featured on CSI: NY on November 5, 2008. "Let It Rock" reached #5 on the Billboard US Hot 100 chart, #5 on the UK Singles Chart, #3 on the Australian ARIA Chart and #2 on the Canadian Hot 100. The song "I Made It" served as the official theme for WrestleMania XXVI.[12] The song You Make the Rain Fall also serves as the theme song for WWE NXT Season 3.[13]
Rudolf's second album, To the Sky, was released on June 15, 2010
Studio albumsYear Album details Peak chart positions US [16] CAN 2008 In the City Release date: November 24, 2008 Label: Cash Money, Universal Republic 94 74 2010 To the Sky Release date: June 15, 2010 Label: Cash Money, Universal Republic 78 — "—" denotes releases that did not chart
SinglesYear Single Peak chart positions Certifications (sales threshold) Album US [17] US Pop [18] AUS [19] CAN [20] NZ [21] UK [22] 2008 "Let It Rock" (featuring Lil Wayne) 5 6 3 2 15 5 AUS: Platinum[23] US: 3× Platinum[24] In the City 2009 "Welcome to the World" (featuring Kid Cudi) 58 26 42 56 — 77 2010 "I Made It (Cash Money Heroes)" (featuring Birdman, Jay Sean, and Lil Wayne) 21 17 4 44 4 37 AUS: Platinum[25] US: Platinum[24] To the Sky "You Make the Rain Fall" (featuring Flo Rida) — — — 59 — —
Featured singlesYear Single Artist(s) Peak chart positions Certifications (sales threshold) Album AUS [19] CAN [26] 2008 "Shooting Star" David Rush (featuring LMFAO and Pitbull) — 66 Feel the Rush Vol. 1 2010 "Just Say So" Brian McFadden 1 — AUS: Platinum[25] Wall Of Soundz
Music videosYear Title Director 2008 "Let It Rock" Justin Francis 2009 "Welcome to the World" Jeff Panzer/Bill Yukich 2010 "I Made It (Cash Money Heroes)" Jeff Panzer/David Rousseau 2010 "You Make the Rain Fall"[27] Jeff Panzer
Production credits 2005 "Thinking of You" (David Banner) 2006 "Say It Right" (Nelly Furtado) "Scream" (Timbaland feat. Keri Hilson and Nicole Scherzinger) "Release" (Timbaland feat. Justin Timberlake) "My Style" (Black Eyed Peas feat. Justin Timberlake) 2008 "Let It Rock" (Kevin Rudolf feat. Lil Wayne) "Something About You" (Kevin Lyttle)[28] 2009 "Good Girls Go Bad" (Cobra Starship feat. Leighton Meester) "Love Letter" (Leona Lewis) "Beat Me Up" (Allison Iraheta) "Halfway Gone" (Lifehouse) "Falling In" (Lifehouse) "Late Night Automatic" (Three-6-Mafia) "Hot Mess" (Cobra Starship) "One Way Trip" (Lil Wayne feat. Kevin Rudolf) "I Want It All" (Birdman feat. Lil Wayne & Kevin Rudolf) "Better Than Her" (Matisse) "Paradice" (Lil Wayne) 2010 "I Made It (Cash Money Heroes)" (Kevin Rudolf feat. Jay Sean, Lil Wayne & Birdman) "Just Say So" (Brian McFadden feat. Kevin Rudolf) "Ghost" (Fefe Dobson) "Round & Round" (Selena Gomez & The Scene) "Turn Off The Lights" (Lights Over Paris) "Big Time Rush" (B.T.R) "City is Ours" (B.T.R) "On and On" (Flo Rida feat. Kevin Rudolf) "All I Need" (Natasha Bedingfield feat. Kevin Rudolf) 2011 "One Night" (Jesse McCartney) "I Think She Likes Me" (Jesse McCartney) "Do It Better" (Lindsay Lohan)
Musician creditsInstrument Year Title Album Artist(s) Guitar, Bass 2005 "Thinking of You" Certified David Banner (feat. Case) Guitar 2006 "Say It Right" Loose Nelly Furtado "Scream" Timbaland Presents Shock Value Timbaland (feat. Keri Hilson and Nicole Scherzinger) "Release" Timbaland (feat. Justin Timberlake) "My Style" Monkey Business Black Eyed Peas (feat. Justin Timberlake)
