Russell James Vitale (born September 26, 1992) was born in Secaucus, New Jersey, United States. He is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. He is professionally known as Russ. He began his musical journey in 2011 when he and his friend and fellow rapper Bugus appeared on MTV after Bugus' song "El Jefe" gained popularity.
Russ enrolled briefly in Kennesaw State University before co-founding his own collective and record label, Diemon, along with Bugus and other artists. Russ's exceptional talent as an in-house producer for Diemon was recognized in a 2012 article on Jenesis Magazine.
From December 2011 to August 2014, Russ released an astonishing 11 albums and 87 singles consecutively, all free of charge. Despite the absence of any commercial backing, two of his songs, "What They Want" and "Losin Control," managed to peak at number 83 and number 62 respectively on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Following his rise to fame, Russ signed a partnership with Columbia Records and released his twelfth studio album, "There's Really a Wolf," on May 5, 2017. The album made an impressive debut, landing at number seven on the US Billboard 200 and number four on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts. On April 18, 2018, "There's Really a Wolf" was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), which is a testament to Russ's exceptional talent and popularity.
In addition to his music, Russ has been actively touring to promote his albums. In May 2017, he announced on his Twitter account that he would be headlining his tour, "The Wake Up Tour," which ran from May 16 to August 5, 2017. Russ's performances are renowned for their energy, passion, and impeccable rap skills, which have won him a legion of dedicated fans worldwide.
Overall, Russ is a remarkably talented artist who has achieved immense success in the music industry through sheer hard work, determination, and dedication to his craft. His unique style and sound continue to captivate audiences, and his future in the industry looks promising.
