kidd russell

Kidd Russell developed an early interest in music, freestyling with professional wrestler Colt Cabana during high school. This early encouragement led to his first performance at a wrestling/rap concert in Cleveland, Ohio. During college, Russell utilized his radio production classes as a foundation for understanding the music business, recording songs that gained traction across his campus. After leaving college and returning to Chicago, he established himself as a dedicated artist in the region, managing his career independently.

His career progression highlights include self-releasing and promoting his music, which led to his music videos being featured on MTV2 and MTV Jams. Russell has successfully placed over 50 songs on television, including the theme song “Rush RockRemix” for “Ring of Honor Wrestling.” This particular music video attracted the attention of Sonja Norwood, the mother and manager of Brandy and Ray J, leading to a collaboration with Cisco Adler. This partnership resulted in the creation of the EP “Pulaski Day,” which saw two singles licensed for a skateboard-focused Android game prior to its official release.

Russell’s work has also been featured on various television programs, including Oxygen’s “Bad Girls Club,” Food Network’s “Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations,” and ESPN. He has shared stages with a diverse range of artists such as Shwayze, Mike Stud, Jake Miller, The Roots, Common, and G Love. His discography includes numerous singles, EPs, and albums like “Untied” (2006), “Backyard Heroes” (2010), and “The Sweet Spot of Life” (2017), along with recent singles “Food for the Soul” (2025), “Happy Place” (2024), and “Manifesting Mansions” (2024).