Devil Without a Cause

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Devil Without a Cause
Studio album by Kid Rock
Released	August 18, 1998
Recorded	1997–1998
Genre	Rap metal, southern rock
Length	71:10
Label	Lava/Atlantic/Top Dog
Producer	Kid Rock with John Travis
Professional reviews
Allmusic link Blender Robert Christgau (A-) [1]
Kid Rock chronology
Early Morning Stoned Pimp (1996) Devil Without a Cause (1998) The History of Rock (2001)

Devil Without a Cause is Kid Rock's breakthrough album and his fourth overall. It was released in 1998 by Atlantic Records and produced by Kid Rock with John Travis. The album was certified 11 times Platinum and by the RIAA by April 2003.^{[citation needed]} In 2007, the National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM) and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame named Devil Without a Cause the 68th best album of all time.^{[citation needed]} At the time it was a refreshing sound mixing hardcore rap with metal guitars with a gospel chorus, this album along with Limp Bizkit's Significant Other inspired the rap metal movement of the late 1990s and early 2000s. The most glaring thing about the album that separated it from the other bands is that it contained country and blues elements to the raps in songs such as "Cowboy", "Wasting Time" and "I Got One For Ya".

Success on radio

The albums lead single was the rap anthem "Welcome 2 The Party". It failed to find a market and Devil Without A Cause failed to do anything until March of 1999. In March 1999 Kid Rock released "I Am The Bullgod", a rap meets funk metal hybrid with a catchy Alice in Chains-inspired chorus. It would peak at #31 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, and gain MTV's attention. The third single proceeded to blow up with MTV's exposure. That single was "Bawitdaba", which Kid Rock released in May of 1999. It was a non sensical rap-metal song that's chorus used an old school rap chant. The MTV crowd and radio embraced it. While it peaked outside of the Hot 100 at #104, it was successful on rock radio, peaking at #10 on Alternative Songs (which at the time was called Modern Rock Tracks) and #11 on Mainstream Rock. It also charted at #45 in the UK and #84 in Sweden and Denmark. "Cowboy" would be the next released single it threw elements of country music into the mix. It would be his first pop hit charting at #82 on the Hot 100 and #34 on the Mainstream Top 40. It reached #5 on Alternative Tracks and #10 on Mainstream Rock. It would chart in the UK at #34. The next single was the southern rock power ballad "Only God Knows Why". It would chart at #19 on the Hot 100 and #6 on the Top 40. It would peak on the rock charts at #5 on Mainstream Rock and #13 on Alternative Songs. The song would become Kid Rock's first Hot AC hit at #23 and peaked at #96 in Denmark. The album's final single was "Wasting Time", which was a minor mainstream rock hit at #35.

Musical analysis

The album's writing process only took 11 days, recording began for the album in April 1997 with a 6 track demo cd sent to Atlantic Records, who were not sure of the strength of material to sign him to a contract. "Somebody's Gotta Feel This" was the first song recorded for the album. There were four older songs that were featured on the album, they were "I Am The Bullgod", "Roving Gangster" (a demo from EMSP), "Where U At Rock" and "Black Chick, White Guy". There is a series of phone message recordings after the song "Fuck Off" ends. The messages come from a furious girlfriend, his upset mother because he missed father's day, and his agent searching for his whereabouts. He picks up the phone for Kracker, who is waiting for him with three girls at a hotel. After each message you hear "Where U At Rock", which happens to be the next track. There is a hidden remix of "I Am The Bullgod" as the last track. The Japenese import release includes "Bawitdaba", "Welcome 2 The Party" and "I Am The Bullgod" live from Rochester,NY.

Track listing

Atlantic Records demo tape

Demos

Samples

• "Bawitdaba"
  • "Rapper's Delight" by Sugarhill Gang
• "Cowboy"
  • "Midnight Rider" by The Allman Brothers Band
  • "L.A. Women" by The Doors
• "Devil Without A Cause"
  • "The Freaks Come Out At Night" by Whodini
  • "Don't Fight The Feeling" by Too Short
• "Roving Gangster (Rollin)"
  • "Stick Em" by The Fat Boys
• "Wasting Time"
  • "Second Hand News" by Fleetwood Mac
• "Welcome 2 The Party"
  • "Free Your Mind" by The Politicians
• "I Got One For Ya"
  • "Slow Slow Disco" by Swamp Dogg
  • "In The Summertime" by Mungo Jerry
  • "Freddy Fender" by The Faces
• "Somebody's Gotta Feel This"
  • "Kick Out The Jams" by The MC5
• "Fist Of Rage"
  • "Whole Lotta Love" by Led Zeppelin
• "Black Chick, White Guy"
  • "Ain't No Sunshine" by Bill Withers

Personnel

• Kid Rock – vocals, guitar, banjo, acoustic guitar, synthesizer, bass
• Jimmy Bones – keyboard, organ, piano, arp, synth bass
• Joe C. – raps
• Stefanie Eulinberg – drums, percussion
• Shirley Hayden – background vocals
• Jason Krause – metal guitar, electric guitar
• Misty Love – background vocals
• Kenny Olson – lead guitar
• Uncle Kracker – turntables, background vocals
• Eminem – vocals on "Fuck Off"
• Kenny Tudrick – guitar, drums
• Robert Bradley – vocals on "I Got One For Ya"
• Thornetta Davis – vocals on "Wasting Time"

See also

• List of best-selling albums in the United States

References