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Devil Without a Cause is the fourth studio album by Kid Rock, released on August 18, 1998. The album was produced by Kid Rock with John Travis. It is Kid Rock's last album to be categorized as "hip hop" before crossing over to more traditional rock music. AllMusic labeled the album as a "rap-rock masterpiece".

The album was certified 11× Platinum by the RIAA by April 2003. It is Kid Rock's best-selling album, and as of 2015 it has sold 9,500,000 plus copies in the United States, according to Nielsen soundscan. (RIAA is units shipped, Soundscan is units scanned)

Initially, Atlantic Records was not sold on the idea of signing Kid Rock based on the strength of his material. Kid Rock then entered the studio and cut a two-song demo tape featuring "Somebody's Gotta Feel This", a punk rock song with a southern rock chorus and "I Got One for Ya" a blues song with Robert Bradley. Jason Flom immediately signed him and the band for $100,000 after hearing the tracks.

The song "Bawitdaba" which blended hard rock and hip hop helped increase the popularity of nu/rap metal along with the bands Limp Bizkit and Korn. This led to the success of new groups like Linkin Park, P.O.D., Papa Roach and Saliva. "Cowboy" also aided in ushering in the then-new genre "country rap" or "hick hop". The song has gone on to influence Toby Keith, Blake Shelton, Trace Adkins, Big & Rich, Uncle Kracker, Gretchen Wilson, Jason Aldean, Brantley Gilbert, Eric Church, Rehab, Moonshine Bandits and Colt Ford.

Originally "Cowboy", "Devil Without a Cause" and "Only God Knows Why" were rejected by Atlantic Records. The label did not understand a rap song about a cowboy and wanted him to take the "I'm going platinum" line out of the title track, because at that point, his albums had gone nowhere. "Only God Knows Why" was too country; they wanted a pure rock album. Rock wrote the first four lines of the song in jail after being arrested for a bar fight he got into while celebrating being signed to Atlantic. The song "Wasting Time" documented his frustrations with the label after he developed writer's block. Because of this he brought back four old tracks—"I Am the Bullgod" from 1993's Fire It Up EP; "Roving Gangster (Rollin)", a demo left off Early Mornin' Stoned Pimp; as well as "Where U at Rock" and "Black Chick, White Guy" off EMSP. The album got its first exposure on the video game Road Rash 3D; it used "Somebody's Gotta Feel This".

Release and promotion

Atlantic Records would get Kid Rock a slot on the 1998 Vans Warped Tour, then released the lead single "Welcome 2 the Party (Ode 2 the Old School)", which failed to find success. The album did not garner any attention until "I Am the Bullgod" was released; the single peaked at number 31 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and garnered the attention of MTV VJ Carson Daly. Kid Rock would go on to open for Monster Magnet on the "White Trash On Dope Tour" in late 1998. Kid Rock would then get his big break performing on MTV's Fashionably Loud and MTV's Wanna Be A VJ in early 1999. MTV took Kid Rock under their wing and he was featured during their spring break special "Say What Karaoke" and MTV Beach Brawl. This led to heavy rotation of his next single and his first headline tour called "Destroy Your Liver." The HBO special "Reverb" aired his hometown performance on March 21, 1999.

"Bawitdaba", the third single, bubbled under the Billboard Hot 100 at number 4, but nevertheless was successful on rock radio, peaking at number 10 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart and number 11 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks. The song was used in the trailer for the 2000 movie, The Gladiator and his performance at Woodstock 99 made him a household name. He then went on a European tour and performed at the Rock AM and IM Festivals.

"Cowboy", the fourth single, charted at number 82 on the Hot 100 and number 34 on the Mainstream Top 40, as well as number 5 on the Modern Rock Tracks and number 10 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks. The fifth single was "Only God Knows Why", which charted at number 19 on the Hot 100 and number 6 on the Mainstream Top 40, with peaks of number 5 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks and number 13 on the Modern Rock Tracks. He would then go on the Millennium Tour with Metallica, Creed, Ted Nugent and Sevendust. Finally, the album's sixth and final single was "Wasting Time", which was a minor mainstream rock hit at number 35.

The album's censored version removes most profanity as well as the songs "Fuck Off" and "Black Chick, White Guy". The clean version of the disc features a black background with Kid Rock's name printed on the disc, while the unedited version features an image of Kid Rock's right hand with a raised middle finger (the disc of Kid Rock's next album Cocky would later feature both of Rock's hands making the same gesture) with no text on the disc. Also, on the clean version, the song "Welcome 2 the Party (Ode 2 the Old School)" has some portions cut from the song, along with some lyrics being altered. The clean edit shortens the song length from 5:14 to 3:52. Several songs on the album have explicit words censored out. The song "Cowboy" censors out "this dick fits right up your ass" and "suck my dick" in the My only words are wisdom line. Fuck off has "cancer" and "be no homo". Welcome 2 the Party censored out "fuck" and "ass".

Legacy

• The album was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
• Bawitdaba was rated 47th greatest hard rock song by VH1 in 2009.
• Bawitdaba was named 325th best song ever by Blender in 2005.
• Only God Knows Why was rated 19th greatest power ballad by VH1 in 2002.

Track listing

Sample credits

• "Bawitdaba"
  • "Rapper's Delight" by Sugarhill Gang (adapted into chorus)
  • "Making Cash Money" by Busy Bee (adapted into chorus)
  • "Blue Moon" by The Marcel's (adapted into chorus)
  • "Rocket in My Pocket" (live) by Cerrone(percussion break)
• "Cowboy"
  • "L.A. Woman" by The Doors (piano break)
  • "Midnight Rider" by the Allman Brothers Band (guitar on verses)
  • "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Theme Song" (the whistling effect)
  • "Different Strokes" by Sly Johnson (vocal sample only)
• "Devil Without a Cause"
  • "Mysterious Ways" by U2 (main funk riff)
  • "The Freaks Come Out at Night" by Whodini (bass line on first verse)
  • "Don't Fight the Feeling" by Too Short (bass line on second verse)
  • "Looking for the Perfect Beat" by Soulsonic Force (vocals only)
  • "Down on the Avenue" by Fat Larry's Band (saxophone break)
• "Roving Gangster (Rollin')"
  • "Immigrant Song" by Led Zeppelin (guitar hook before outro)
  • "Human Beat Box" by The Fat Boys (vocal sample only)
  • "Long Red (live)" by Mountain (vocal sample only)
  • "Get Up Off That Thing" by James Brown (hook/riff)
• "Wasting Time"
  • "Second Hand News" by Fleetwood Mac (vocal sample, altered to say "pimp" in background)
• "Welcome 2 the Party (Ode 2 the Old School)"
  • "Free Your Mind" by The Politicians (funk guitar loop)
  • "The Message"" by Grandmaster Flash (beat on heavy rap part)
  • "He Cuts So Fresh" by Marley Marl (intro on the music video version)
• "I Got One for Ya'"
  • "Slow Slow Disco" by Swamp Dogg (bass line)
  • "In the Summertime" by Mungo Jerry (backbeat)
• "Somebody's Gotta Feel This"
  • "Whole Lotta Love" by Led Zeppelin (main riff)
  • "Kick Out the Jams" by MC5 (guitar solo)
• "Fist Of Rage"
  • "Communication Breakdown" by Led Zeppelin (bass line)
• "Only God Knows Why"
  • "Yellow Ledbetter" by Pearl Jam (bass line)
• "Fuck Off"
  • Iron Man " by Black Sabbath (riff between verses)
• "Where U at Rock"
  • "Rock the House" by the B Boys (vocal sample only)
• "Black Chick, White Guy"
  • "Seagulls" by Bad Company (guitar loop and vocal interpolation)
  • "Ain't No Sunshine" by Bill Withers (beat)
  • "Cars" by Gary Numan (organ)

Demos

• "Bawitdaba" (rough mix)
• "Cowboy" (rough mix)
• "Devil Without A Cause" (rough mix )
• "I Am the Bullgod" (rough mix)
• "Wasting Time" (rough mix)
• "I Got One for Ya" (rough mix)
• "Somebody's Gotta Feel This" (rough mix)
• "Only God Knows Why" (rough mix)
• "Bawitdaba" ("Kill Someone" version)
• "Cowboy"
• "Devil Without A Cause "
• "Wasting Time"
• "Only God Knows Why"
• "Fuck Off" (without Eminem)
• "Fuck Off" (unedited)
• "Fuck That"

Personnel

• Kid Rock – lead vocals, guitar, banjo, acoustic guitar, synthesizer, bass
• Jimmie Bones - keyboard, organ, piano, synth bass
• Joe C. – vocals
• Stefanie Eulinberg – drums, percussion
• Shirley "P-Funk" Hayden – background vocals
• Jason Krause – metal guitar
• Misty Love – background vocals
• Kenny Olson – guitar
• Uncle Kracker – turntables, background vocals
• Eminem – vocals on "Fuck Off"
• Bobby East- slide and rhythm guitar
• Kenny Tudrick – guitar, drums on Bawitdaba and Cowboy
• Matt O'Brien – Bass guitar
• Robert Bradley on "I Got One for Ya"
• Thornetta Davis – vocals on "Wasting Time"
• Chris Peters-Guitar on I Am The Bullgod
• Andrew Nerha-Guitar on I Am The Bullgod and Roving Gangster
• Mike Nerha- Bass on I Am The Bullgod and Roving Gangster
• Bob Ebuling-drums on I Am The Bullgod,Roving Gangster

Charts

Album

Year-end charts

Certifications

See also

• List of best-selling albums in the United States

References

1. "Nu Metal Meltdown". MTV. Archived from the original on 2003-02-01. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help) (Retrieved on September 21st, 2015)
2. ^ Rap-Rock | Significant Albums, Artists and Songs | AllMusic
3. ^ Sharp, Tyler. "Kid Rock reflects on his nu-metal days and Korn: "I can do that sh*t in my sleep"". Alternative Press. (March 20, 2015). Retrieved on September 21, 2015
4. http://teamrock.com/feature/2016-10-26/the-10-essential-rap-metal-albums
5. ^ Christgau, Robert (May 25, 1999). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. New York. Archived from the original on March 23, 2013. Retrieved March 23, 2013. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
6. Stephen Thomas Erlewine (1998-08-18). "Devil Without a Cause – Kid Rock | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-05-29.
7. "Kid Rock: Devil Without A Cause: Pitchfork Review". 2001-12-23. Archived from the original on 2001-12-23. Retrieved 2011-12-30.
8. "Kid Rock: Album Guide". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2012-03-23. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
9. "Recording Industry Association of America". RIAA. Retrieved 2011-12-30.
10. Kegan, Yrjänä. Subgenres of the Beast: A Heavy Metal Guide. Lulu.com. ISBN 9781312984509.
11. "Top 40 Most Iconic MTV Spring Break Performances". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
12. LLC, SPIN Media (1 October 1999). "SPIN". SPIN Media LLC. Retrieved 6 January 2017. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
13. "Fox Files - Groupes & Sex - Kid Rock,,,,,,DESTROY your LIVER tour;; - Kid Rock". Kid Rock. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
14. "HBO Show To Feature Kid Rock, Sugar Ray, Alanis". MTV News. July 15, 1999. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
15. Robert Dimery; Michael Lydon (23 March 2010). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition. Universe. ISBN 978-0-7893-2074-2.
16. "Discography Kid Rock". australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 25, 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
17. "Kid Rock - Devil Without a Cause". Austrian Album Charts (in German). Hung Medien. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
18. "Canadian Albums Chart - September 17, 1999". Billboard.
19. ^ "Kid Rock - Devil Without a Cause". charts.org.nz. Hung Medien. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
20. "Billboard 200 - March 11, 2000". Billboard.
21. "Billboard Year-end Albums Chart 2000". Billboard.
22. "Canadian album certifications – Kid Rock – Devil Without a Cause". Music Canada.
23. id MUST BE PROVIDED for UK CERTIFICATION.
24. "American album certifications – Kid Rock – Devil Without a Cause". Recording Industry Association of America.

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