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Taio Cruz

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Taio Cruz
Cruz in 2017
Cruz in 2017
Background information
Birth nameAdetayo Ayowale Onile-Ere[1][2][3][4][5]
Also known as
Born(1980-04-23)23 April 1980(age 44)
Brent, London, England
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • rapper
  • record producer
Years active2003–present
Labels
Websitetaiocruz.com
Taio Cruz signature

Jacob Taio Cruz(/ˈtaɪoʊ/;bornAdetayo Ayowale Onile-Ere,23 April 1980; stylised asTΛIO CRUZ)[a][10][11]is an English singer-songwriter, rapper, and record producer.[12]In 2008, he released his debut albumDeparture,which he wrote, arranged and produced. The album achieved certified gold status in the United Kingdom and earned him aMusic of Black Origin Awards(MOBO) nomination.

On 12 October 2009, Cruz released his follow-up albumRokstarr,which includes the number one singles "Break Your Heart"and"Dynamite".Cruz collaborated withKeshaon the single "Dirty Picture",and withKylie MinogueandTravie McCoyon his single "Higher".Cruz wrote and recorded the song"Telling the World"as the lead single from thesoundtrackto the 2011 animated filmRio.Cruz's third studio album,TY.O,was first released in Germany on 12 December 2011.

In 2012, Cruz co-wroteDavid GuettaandUsher's song "Without You"and the same year released the music video to There She Goes featuringUzbekmodel Nadya Nepomnyashaya. In April 2015, Cruz released the first single, "Do What You Like"from his forthcomingRoses Collection.In late 2015, he added vocals toTujamo's Melbourne track, "Booty Bounce"which was released bySpinnin' Records.

Biography

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Early life and career

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Cruz was born in London to a NigerianYorubalawyer father[13]and aBrazilianmother who had a hairdressing business. He was raised in "a five-bedroom house inKensal Rise".[14][15][16]He was educated at fee-paying independent schools, attendingBilton Grangepreparatory schoolin Warwickshire andBattle Abbey SchoolinEast Sussex,[17][18][19]before relocating to London where he went toStanmore College.[20]

Cruz's songwriting career began as part ofTricky Stewart's writing collective, RedZone Entertainment[21]and achieved notability in 2005 when he was awarded aBrit Awardfor co-writingWill Young's 2004 single, "Your Game".[22]

Cruz is the founder and chief executive of Rockstar Music London, which in 2006 released his debut single "I Just Wanna Know".The single charted at #29 in the UK singles charts. It won him some admirers includingIsland Records's Darcus Beese andMonte Lipman,who, according to manager Binns, "both believed 'I Just Wanna Know' fitted the format on both sides of the Atlantic".[23]In 2006, Cruz signed a split single deal withUniversal Music Groupcompanies,Republic Recordsand the UK branch ofIsland Records.

2007–08:Departure

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Main article:Departure (Taio Cruz album)

In September 2007, Cruz released his second single "Moving On",which made the top 30 in the UK. In March 2008 his next single,"Come On Girl",featuringLuciana,peaked at No. 5 on the UK charts. The related albumDepartureappeared on 17 March and peaked at No. 17.[24][25]This was followed by the single "I Can Be",which reached No. 18 in May. On 18 August,"She's Like a Star"was released, which was a remix of the previous single and featured American rapperBusta Rhymesand girl-groupSugababes.The remix later appeared on the Sugababes studio albumCatfights & Spotlights,which peaked at No. 20. It was later revealed that Cruz narrowly missed out on the chance to record the song "Umbrella"which was recorded byRihannaand ended up topping charts around the world.[21]

2009–2011:Rokstarr,international breakthrough andThe Rokstarr Collection

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Main articles:RokstarrandThe Rokstarr Collection
Cruz at Tup Tup Palace nightclub,Newcastle upon Tyne,UK. 2009.

Cruz was featured onTinchy Stryder's breakout single "Take Me Back"which peaked at No. 3 in theUK Singles Chart.According to Cruz's officialMyspaceblog, as of 1 January 2009, Rokstarr Music London changed its name to Rokstarr Entertainment Division, abbreviated to R.E.D Inc. During 2009, he worked on his follow-up album entitledRokstarr.[26]It was released on 12 October through R.E.D Inc./Island Records and is written and produced by Cruz, with co-writes and co-productions predominantly with UK producerFraser T Smith.The album's lead single "Break Your Heart"was released on 14 September and reached number one in the UK, where it stayed for three weeks.[24]In the US it went directly from number 53 to number one, breaking the record for the largest leap of a début single.[27]At the 2010Brit Awards,"Break Your Heart" was nominated forBest British Single.[28]The success of the song attracted the attention ofDavid Masseyand Daniel Werner from Mercury/Island Def Jam who were excited and aggressive about releasing "Break Your Heart" in the United States on their label.[29]According to Cruz's manager Jamie Binns, the relationship with Monte Lipman at Universal Republic had "gone a bit quiet" by this point and as Taio wanted to be with the label that was most enthusiastic about his music, a move from Universal Republic to Mercury/Island Def Jam was engineered.[29]

The single reached the top spot in the United States for one week on theBillboardHot 100.[30]In an interview withThe Guardian,it was stated that "Cruz was clever to have hooked up with a US rapperLudacrison his breakthrough hit ".[31]In order to introduce Cruz into the U.S. market, David Massey had suggested that the single feature an American rapper with chart credibility.[29]The album spawned two other UK singles, "No Other One",and the top-ten hit"Dirty Picture"featuring AmericanelectropopsingerKesha.The album's fourth single (second in the United States) titled "Dynamite"debuted at 26[30]and peaked at number two on the U.S.BillboardHot 100.[32]At the 2011Brit Awards,"Dynamite" was nominated forBest British Single,and at the2011 Billboard Music Awardsthe song won threeBillboard Awards,including Top Hot 100 Song.[33][34]

Rokstarrwas followed by the compilation albumThe Rokstarr Collectionwhich includes songs both fromDepartureand the international version ofRokstarr.[35]Cruz later released four versions of his single "Higher"—one featuringKylie Minogue,one featuringTravie McCoy,one featuring both, and one with just himself.

Cruz has also been featured on the soundtrack of Americanreality TV seriesJersey Shore.[36]

2011–12:TY.O

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Main article:TY.O

In March 2011, Cruz premiered an all-new song called "Telling the World",which was written by Cruz and Alan Kasirye for theRiosoundtrack.The track was not featured on any of Cruz's prior studio albums.[37]On 23 May 2011, Cruz received his firstBillboard Awardin the United States. He announced onstage that his third album, entitledBlack and Leather,would be released in the fourth quarter of 2011.[38]In June 2011, Cruz released a collaborative single, "Little Bad Girl",with French DJDavid Guettaand American rapperLudacris.The song was a worldwide smash, topping singles charts across the world.[39]During July and August 2011, a series of unreleased songs, recorded during the album sessions, were leaked toYouTube.in an interview, Cruz promised a "fun" and "energetic" album, and claimed that due to the leak, none of the tracks posted on YouTube would be included on the album. Cruz claimed, "It's a shame really, because one person has spoilt it for all the fans. They could have had an album packed with 17, 18 tracks, and now, they're only getting eleven because of one stupid act of tomfoolery."[40]During the interview, Cruz also claimed that the title of the album had been changed toTroublemaker,after one of the tracks included on the album. On 4 October 2011, the single "Hangover"was officially released in Germany and the US, and it was rumoured that a solo version of the song, that features on the physical release, would be included as a bonus track on the album. However, these rumours were later quashed.[41]

Around October 2011, the album was made available for pre-order, and in turn, the album's final title,TY.O,was revealed. Cruz announced, via hisTwitteraccount, that he made the decision to phonetically name the albumTY.Oin hopes that it would help people pronounce his name correctly. The album was first released in Germany on 2 December 2011. Originally slated for release in the US on 17 May 2012 it was rescheduled to 31 December 2012 to coincide with the UK release, along with new tracks, including the U.S. single "Fast Car".

Cruz was scheduled to co-headlinePitbull'sAustralianleg ofPlanet Pit World Tourin August 2012.[42]On 12 August, Cruz performed at theclosing ceremonyof the2012 Summer Olympicsin London. The performance at London'sOlympic Stadiumsaw Cruz sing his own song "Dynamite", and also perform "Written in the Stars" alongsideJessie JandTinie Tempah.

2013–present:#Black,Roses Collection,and business ventures

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In early 2013, Cruz recorded vocals over the song"Brazil"by electronic artistDeadmau5and titled the remake "Touch the Sky".

In August 2013, Taio Cruz announced on hisFacebookandTwitteraccount that he would be releasing a new app. It is called Kewe and is a social media app for Android and iOS, where people can interact and keep up with what Taio Cruz is doing. It was launched on 18 August 2013.

On 24 November 2013, Cruz announced his fourth studio album,#Blackvia hisInstagram,Facebook, and Twitter pages.

On 21 June 2014, Cruz released a new track titled "Don't You Dare"produced by Dr. Luke for his upcoming#Blackalbum.[43]

On 27 April 2015, Cruz released his first single in two years. "Do What You Like",produced by Taio and theGrammy Award-winning production team,The Monsters & The Strangerz,was fully released on 24 July 2015 through a joint venture between the multinational Cruz owned venture capital company, Tourean andKobalt Music Group.The "Do What You Like" full release features remixes by Bel Air, Billy Da Kid,KREAMand Zoo Station.[44][45][46]"Do What You Like" is the first single from Cruz'sRoses Collection.[47]According to his biography, Cruz will henceforth release collections ofsingles;rejecting the outdated album format.[46]Cruz called this particular collection Roses, "because every rose is unique". Roses will consist of around ten tracks, each with its own lifecycle.[48]

On 4 December 2015,Tujamore-released his song "Booty Bounce",featuring vocals from Cruz.[49]

On 10 November 2017, Cruz released his first song in two years, titled "Row the Body", viaWarner Bros. Records.The single features rapperFrench Montana.

On September 6, 2019, Cruz released "Time For You", which features Wonder Stereo.

Writing and production

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Cruz has written songs on albums byCheryl,JLS,The Saturdays,The WantedandDavid Guetta.Cruz wrote and featured onTinchy Stryder's hit single "Take Me Back".Pop rock bandMcFlyrecorded "Shine a Light"which not only features, but was also penned and produced by Cruz for their fifth studio album.[50]Cruz also pennedJennifer Lopez's 2011 single "I'm Into You",featuringLil Wayne.He also contributed significantly toDavid Guetta's fifth albumNothing but the Beat,penning two of his hit singles "Without You",featuringUsherand "Little Bad Girl",featuring Cruz andLudacris.He also wrote "Mechanics of the Heart" for Cheryl's albumA Million Lights.

Other ventures

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RXTR/Rokstarr brand

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On 1 September 2009, Cruz launched the brand Rokstarr, a fashion and accessories brand which had a focus on sunglasses. Speaking in October to R&B writer Pete Lewis, Cruz promoted his brand: "There's a load of US celebrities that are all rocking the sunglasses already—Kid Cudi,Justin Timberlake,Kanye West.... Then in the UK we haveThe Saturdays,JLS,Daniel Merriweather—who've all been twittering and writing on their blogs how much they love them. So yeah, it's definitely my new album 'Rokstarr' and the fashion brand that are my two main focuses at the moment. "[51]

Meanwhile, speaking again to Lewis in April 2010, Cruz gave his brand more free publicity: "We're currently looking to expand the brand and possibly go into things like watches. I've also got a newsubsidiaryof Rokstarr called 'Rok By Rokstarr'. And we've just started doing things like jeans and T-shirts, and stuff that more of the fans of Taio Cruz can buy. Because with Rokstarr in itself being so expensive, a lot of the kids out there who want to buy Rokstarr things can't. So we're bringing in stuff that's a little bit more High Street and more affordable. "[52]

In 2012 the brand was renamed to RXTR, abackronymfor Riots and Twelve Rebels. The new name came along with new products, watches, which were immediately stocked atSelfridgesonOxford Streetin London.[53]

As of 2015, the RXTR website redirects to Cruz's artist website.

Philanthropy

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Cruz filmed a public service announcement withLittle Kids Rock,a national nonprofit that works to restore and revitalize music education in disadvantaged U.S. public schools.[54]

Discography

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Main article:Taio Cruz discography

Writer discography

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Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result
2004 Brit Awards[22] Best British Song "Your Game" Won
2008 MOBO Awards Best UK Male Nominated
2010 American Music Awards Breakthrough Artist Won
2010 Brit Awards[28] Best British Song "Break Your Heart" Nominated
2010 iTunes Best Album & Song Best Song "Dynamite" Nominated
2010 Premios 40 Principales Best International Song "Break Your Heart" Nominated
2010 ASCAP Awards Ascap Vanguard Award Departure Won
2011 Brit Awards[33] Best British Song "Dynamite" Nominated
2011 Virgin Media Awards[55] Best Male Nominated
2011 Best Collaboration "Dirty Picture" Nominated
2011 Best Video Nominated
2011 Billboard Awards[34] Top New Artist Nominated
2011 Top Hot 100 Song "Dynamite" Won
2011 Top Pop Song Won
2011 Top Digital Song Won
2011 Top Radio Song Nominated
2011 Top Streaming Song Nominated
2011 2011 MuchMusic Video Awards MuchMusic.com Most Watched Video "Dynamite" Won
2011 ASCAP Awards Song Of The Year "Dynamite" Won
2012 ASCAP Awards (Honoured) Most Performed Song "Dynamite" Won
2012 "Without You" Won

Notes

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  1. ^Sources differ regarding his birth year; examples include 1980, 1982, 1983 and 1985.

References

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  1. ^"ISNI 0000000110084242 Cruz, Jacob Taio".Isni-url.oclc.nl.Archivedfrom the original on 27 July 2015.Retrieved8 June2016.
  2. ^"Cruz, Taio, 1983- - LC Linked Data Service - Library of Congress".Id.loc.gov.Archivedfrom the original on 6 August 2016.Retrieved8 June2016.
  3. ^"Cruz, Taio".D-nb.info.Archivedfrom the original on 13 March 2021.Retrieved30 August2016.
  4. ^"TAIO CRUZ INDUSTRIES LIMITED".Companycheck.co.uk.Archived fromthe originalon 13 March 2021.Retrieved8 June2016.
  5. ^"Adetayo Ayowale Onile Ere director information".Cbetta.com.Archivedfrom the original on 25 September 2019.Retrieved8 June2016.
  6. ^Will Young's Your Game(Media notes). 19 Recordings. 82876 602962.
  7. ^Your Game(Media notes). BMG UK & Ireland. GAME01.
  8. ^"Taio Cruz says he was 'ambushed' by hate on TikTok - as he returns to music".BBC News.27 October 2020.Archivedfrom the original on 5 November 2021.Retrieved29 November2021.
  9. ^"Album search results for" rokstarr "- AllMusic".AllMusic.Archivedfrom the original on 20 May 2015.Retrieved8 August2015.
  10. ^"ADETAYO AYOWALE ONILE ERE director information. Free director information".www.companycheck.co.uk.Archived fromthe originalon 10 April 2016.Retrieved17 January2022.
  11. ^"Jacob CRUZ - Personal Appointments (free information from Companies House)".Beta.companieshouse.gov.uk.Archivedfrom the original on 9 November 2019.Retrieved17 April2020.
  12. ^"Taio Cruz Biography".Billboard.com.Archivedfrom the original on 4 February 2017.Retrieved29 July2017.
  13. ^"5 International Stars of Yoruba Origin Making Waves in Hollywood - Western Post News".15 June 2015. Archived fromthe originalon 25 September 2019.Retrieved8 June2016.
  14. ^"My Secret Life: Taio Cruz, singer-songwriter, 26".Independent.co.uk.12 December 2009.Archivedfrom the original on 9 February 2023.Retrieved9 February2023.
  15. ^Billboard, vol. 122, issue 13, 3 April, 2010, p. 24
  16. ^Birchmeier, Jason."Taio Cruz > Biography".AllMusic(Rovi Corporation).Archivedfrom the original on 16 February 2011.Retrieved24 July2010.
  17. ^Billboard, vol. 122, issue 13, 3 April, 2010, p. 24
  18. ^"Graham Norton Show - Page 2 - Unofficial Christ's Hospital Forum".Archivedfrom the original on 9 February 2023.Retrieved9 February2023.
  19. ^Rock and Pop Features (24 March 2010)."Jay Sean and Taio Cruz wowing America".Telegraph.Archivedfrom the original on 12 January 2022.Retrieved30 May2014.
  20. ^"Cruz control".Halesowen News. 23 August 2008.Archivedfrom the original on 20 September 2021.Retrieved20 September2021.
  21. ^abMcCormick, Neil (27 March 2008)."Taio Cruz The Public School Soul Sensation".Daily Telegraph.London.Archivedfrom the original on 12 January 2022.Retrieved30 July2010.
  22. ^abTaio Cruz BiographyArchived26 July 2011 at theWayback Machine,Island Records.Retrieved 2010-15-10.
  23. ^"A&R, Record Label / Company, Music Publishing, Artist Manager and Music Industry Directory".Archivedfrom the original on 9 June 2012.Retrieved2 January2016.
  24. ^ab"UK Charts > Taio Cruz".Official Charts Company.Archivedfrom the original on 28 June 2012.Retrieved6 May2010.
  25. ^Jones, Alan (25 March 2008)."Now That's What I Call Music! still has it".Music Week.United Business Media.Archived fromthe originalon 14 July 2011.Retrieved28 July2010.
  26. ^"Amazon:New Release – UK Forthcoming Albums".AMAZON.Archivedfrom the original on 4 April 2023.Retrieved16 September2009.
  27. ^"Billboard Apr 3, 2010,Cruz Control,page 24 ".3 April 2010.Archivedfrom the original on 4 April 2023.Retrieved16 March2023.
  28. ^ab"The BRITs 2010: British Single"Archived8 May 2017 at theWayback Machine.Brits.co.uk. Retrieved 11 July 2012
  29. ^abc"Interview With Jamie Binns".HitQuarters.18 April 2011.Archivedfrom the original on 9 June 2012.Retrieved2 May2011.
  30. ^ab"Taio Cruz > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles".Allmusic.Macrovision.Archivedfrom the original on 4 April 2023.Retrieved21 April2010.
  31. ^Adesioye, Lola (1 April 2010)."Jay Sean and Taio Cruz Interview".The Guardian.London.Archivedfrom the original on 30 September 2013.Retrieved30 July2010.
  32. ^"Taio Cruz Talks 'Energetic' New Album, Justin Bieber & Jennifer Lopez"Archived17 June 2013 at theWayback Machine.Billboard. Retrieved 11 July 2012
  33. ^ab"The BRITs 2011: British Single"Archived30 May 2012 at theWayback Machine.Brits.co.uk. Retrieved 11 July 2012
  34. ^ab"2011 Billboard Music Awards (Complete List of Winners)"Archived21 October 2012 at theWayback Machine.Yahoo. Retrieved 11 July 2012
  35. ^"Taio Cruz – The Rokstarr Collection".play.com. Archived fromthe originalon 2 August 2010.Retrieved30 July2010.
  36. ^Kaufman, Gil (28 July 2010)."Eminem Edges Out Rick Ross To Hold Billboard #1 For Fifth Week".MTV.MTV Networks (Viacom). Archived fromthe originalon 30 July 2010.Retrieved30 July2010.
  37. ^"What do we think of Taio Cruz's new video?"Archived24 October 2012 at theWayback Machine.Digital Spy. Retrieved 30 March 2011
  38. ^"Taio Cruz wins first Billboard award"Archived29 July 2011 at theWayback Machine,Digital Spy.Retrieved 23 May 2011.
  39. ^"David Guetta teams with Taio Cruz, Ludacris for 'Little Bad Girl' video"Archived19 September 2011 at theWayback Machine,Digital Spy.Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  40. ^"Taio Cruz promises" fun, energetic "new album"Archived29 December 2011 at theWayback Machine,Digital Spy.Retrieved 6 September 2011
  41. ^"Taio Cruz, Flo Rida release new single 'Hangover'"Archived16 January 2012 at theWayback Machine,Digital Spy.Retrieved 4 October 2011
  42. ^"International Planet Pit Tour".Archivedfrom the original on 1 April 2019.Retrieved1 August2012.
  43. ^"New Music: Taio Cruz - 'Don't You Dare'".Directlyrics.Archivedfrom the original on 15 July 2015.Retrieved8 August2015.
  44. ^"Taio Cruz Releases His New Single 'Do What You Like' Today".Bloomberg.com.Bloomberg L.P.Archivedfrom the original on 17 August 2015.Retrieved28 April2015.
  45. ^"Taio Cruz Releases His New Single 'Do What You Like' Today".Pressat.co.uk.Archivedfrom the original on 15 July 2015.Retrieved28 April2015.
  46. ^abLipshutz, Jason (30 April 2015)."Taio Cruz Premiere: Hear The KREAM Remix of 'Do What You Like'".Billboard.com.Archivedfrom the original on 4 May 2015.Retrieved1 May2015.Instead of coming back with a new album, Cruz is planning on releasing a string of new singles..
  47. ^"TAIO CRUZ 'DO WHAT YOU LIKE': 'IT'S A THROWBACK TO THE 80s, BUT WITH MODERN PRODUCTION'".FameMagazine.co.uk.Archivedfrom the original on 2 May 2015.Retrieved28 April2015.
  48. ^Bills, Jon. "TAIO CRUZ BIOGRAPHY 2015" (Press release). London. Bills PR.
  49. ^"Booty Bounce - Single by Tujamo & Taio Cruz".iTunes.Archivedfrom the original on 22 December 2015.Retrieved18 December2015.
  50. ^"McFly – Shine A Light: **** or hit?".20 July 2010.Archivedfrom the original on 28 July 2010.Retrieved30 July2010.
  51. ^"Rokstarr In The Making – Pete Lewis Interviews Taio Cruz".Blues & Soul. 2 October 2009.Archivedfrom the original on 7 November 2011.Retrieved2 October2009.
  52. ^Lewis, Pete (May 2010)."Taio Cruz Comes Clean".Blues & Soul.Archivedfrom the original on 7 November 2011.Retrieved27 April2011.
  53. ^"TIME² Chats To Taio Cruz At The LTD RXTR Watch Launch"Archived26 June 2012 at theWayback Machine.Time2. Retrieved 11 July 2012
  54. ^"Taio Cruz".Little Kids Rock.Archivedfrom the original on 16 July 2015.Retrieved8 August2015.
  55. ^"Lady Gaga, Christina Aguilera Win Virgin Media Music Awards"Archived14 May 2013 at theWayback MachineMTV.com. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
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