When Kid Rock was ‘Black’ - The rock-rap star got his start in hip-hop. Now, he’s unrecognizable to some of the people he came up with

Culture vulture

I'm glad the article brings up the fact Kid Rock was a rich kid and is pretty much just boomeranging back to where he came from.

culture vulture is the term you are looking for

Remember back when Rock looked like Vanilla Ice!? lol. I mean the resemblance was uncanny!

Kid Rock is a human skid mark.

He was just a rich white boy cosplaying.

He’s probably unrecognizable to himself at this point

I remember Too Short was one of the guys who helped Kid Rock. Same with Geto Boys and NWA. Shame he ended up betraying all of them.

Robert James Ritchie was born in [Romeo, Michigan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romeo,_Michigan), on January 17, 1971, the son of Susan (née Brabbs) and William "Bill" Ritchie (1941–2024), who owned multiple car dealerships. He was raised in his father's large home on extensive property, which included an [apple orchard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_orchard) and barnyard for their horses. He attended [Romeo High School](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romeo_High_School). His younger sister, [Jill Ritchie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jill_Ritchie), is an actress. In the 1980s, Ritchie became interested in [hip-hop](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hip-hop), began to [breakdance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breakdance), and taught himself how to rap and DJ while performing in talent shows in and around [Detroit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detroit).

If I had to guess - he grew up liking old rock, 80’s rap and old country. He blended all the genres together which was actually hot at the time, people with little to no singing talent (see: Fred Durst) could be the front man for multi platinum rock bands. And he blew up. Nu metals popularity plummets as the 2000’s advance. He’s not seen as a “serious” rapper, he’s not seen as a “serious” rocker, who’s left? For someone like Kid Rock, country is an easy market. Middle America is a massive demographic, you don’t have to be the best singer and there’s a very low threshold for “authenticity” compared to rock & rap - fans aren’t as picky. He tests the waters with a single like Picture -> smash hit, he watches his DJ Uncle Kracker put out an attempted rap album yet the only hit on it is the one that leans country with no rap, Follow Me -> smash hit. It was an obvious transition and one critical for any relevance at all after the death of nu metal. It’s a career move that you see to this day for white rappers from middle America, they aren’t usually fully embraced in hip-hop (even Eminem seems to struggle to be nowadays) and they don’t see the sales and success they see from Country music. From Kid Rock and Uncle Kracker to Yelawolf, Jelly Roll, and now Post Malone. White rappers who didn’t? Ones like Bubba Sparxx and Paul Wall who never crossed over to full blown country, if they had they’d probably be much more relevant figures today with a strong followings.

Absolutely idiotic title

Joe C is rolling in his little grave.

considering how some hip hop stars align themselves with trump these days for whatever clout they think they'll get for doing that i'm not so sure this distinction is warranted 

Looks like a tweaker now...

What never changed is he’s a chameleon

Morgan Wallen’s not far off.

The article doesn't mention this, but a lot of people forget or just don't know that he was on the first Insane Clown Posse album, Carnival of Carnage: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4g06\_8XwR0](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4g06_8XwR0)

I'm just glad Joe C isn't around to see what he's become.

This must be where MGK got it from.

You know who is the same as they were from Detroit? The All Knowing about Magnets.. Are you down with the clowns? Detroits own ICP

I think it may be possible Kid Rock has some mental health issues.

Kid Rock hired a drag queen for his birthday party in 2003. Before it was politically expedient to be a homophobic d*****.

Agree, ain’t done nothing good since devil.