| Net Worth | $10,000,000 |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Russell Vitale |
| Date of Birth/Age | September 26, 1992 (age 26) |
| Source of wealth | Rapper, Singer, Songwriter, Record Producer |
| Height | 5’5’’ |
| Country of origin | U.S |
| State/City of origin | Secaucus, New Jersey |
| Last Updated | 2019 |
Net Worth
Russ’s net worth is $10 million dollars.
How Much Does Russ Make a Year?
Russ makes more than $1 million each year. That number grows each year as his songs get more and more plays.
He makes hundreds of thousands of dollars from his streaming music and then even more money from the concerts, tours and appearances he makes.
How does Russ make his money?
Russ primarily makes his money from his music. He’s had two songs that went RIAA-certified platinum and were heard all over the radio.
Those songs, “What They Want” and “Losing Control” pushed him to superstardom. He’s now a household name, especially popular with millennials.
Russ’s second studio album did very well. His singles “Serious,” “The Flute Song,” and “Missing You,” all made it onto the Billboard charts. There were even guest rappers on the album including Rick Ross and Snoop Dogg.
In addition to his album sales, Russ makes hundreds of thousands of dollars from his musical tours and appearances.
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Introduction
Russ is an American rapper, singer, songwriter and music producer who quickly made a splash on the music scene and started making tons of money. He’s worked with artists like Jessie Reyez and more.
He grew up with a love for music, thanks to his father. Russ always knew that he wanted to do something in the music world but started off his adult life by going to college.
Those plans quickly changed once he started gaining more success.
His solo career took off with songs like “What They Want,” which made it onto the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Besides his career as a rapper, Russ also is part of the rap group the Diemon Crew.
Russ achieved most of his success at the start of his career by releasing his songs for free on Soundcloud.
He also released some Billboard chart-topping hits after signing with Columbia Records in 2016.
Early Life
Russ’s real name is Russell Vitale, but those close to him call him Russ and that’s where he got his stage name. His family is Sicilian and very proud of their Italian heritage.
Russ is 26 years old and was born on September 26th, 1992 in Secaucus, New Jersey. He and his family lived there for a short time before moving to North Carolina and then Kentucky.
Even though his dad was busy during all of the moves, he still found time to teach Russ how to play a number of instruments, including the guitar.
Russ loved music and started writing his own raps songs down in a journal when he was just seven years old. His grandfather also played the guitar and played a big role in Russ’s love for music.
Eventually, they settled in Atlanta, Georgia when Russ was just a teenager. The family had to move often because of Russ’s dad’s career moved him frequently.
Russ attended Roswell High School and then went to Kennesaw State for a short period of time before dropping out to pursue his career in music.
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Personal life
During his youth, Russ liked to work on music with his dad. However, he was very influenced by rappers like G-Unit, Eminem, and 50 Cent.
When he was a teenager and in college, he was constantly producing beats but didn’t talk himself into recording his own raps until about six years later.
Russ is on the shorter side. He’s only 5’6’’ and has two different eye colors. Some people think it is because he wears contacts and wants to look different, but it is from a condition called heterochromia.
If you look at photos of him, you’ll notice that his left eye is dark brown, and his right eye is light brown. He prefers to wear an unshaven, somewhat rougher look.
There is very little known about Russ’s personal life. He is very private and does not ever talk about the women he’s dated although he alludes to women he’s had relations within his music.
He has never been married and has no children, but outside of that little is known about his romantic life.
It is believed that he still lives in the Atlanta, Georgia area, near where his family resides.
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Career
Russ started writing raps at just seven years old and started making beats when he was just 14 years old. His first song was recorded when Russ was just 18 years old.
He loved music so much it led him to drop-out of Kennesaw State prior to completing his degree.
Russ is an incredibly busy rapper. From December 2011 to August 2014, he released 87 singles featured on 11 different albums.
All of this music was available for free on Soundcloud, which is what helped Russ achieve his success so quickly.
Most rappers don’t achieve that in a lifetime! Russ was able to do this because he started his own collective and label called Diemon and released a song a week on Soundcloud.
Some of Russ’s most popular songs include “Prosper,” “Maybe,” and “Lean on You.” His music is influenced heavily by artists like Eminem, 50 Cent and G-Unit.
Most of his songs feature a raspy rap-flow with hip-hop and R&B undertones. They also are primarily written, produced, mixed and engineered by Russ himself.
In 2016, Russ signed with Columbia Records. With Columbia, he released the single “What They Want” which was on the Billboard Hot 100.
Russ then released “Losin’ Control” which also made it onto the Billboard Hot 100, going even higher than the last single.
Russ released his first studio album with Columbia in 2017 called “There’s Really a Wolf.” It debuted at number seven on the US Billboard 200.
It started at number four on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Album charts. Amazingly, the album went platinum on April 18, 2018. The album sold the equivalent of more than 1,000,000 units in the United States!
Prior to the album being released, Russ announced via Twitter that he was going to go on tour from May 16th to August 5th, 2017. This tour was called the “Wake-Up Tour.”
Interesting Facts
- Russ has two different eye colors. He was born this way. His left eye is dark brown, and his right eye is light brown.
- Russ gained a large part of his following from Soundcloud. The website helped him freely distribute his music to a wide audience.
- He is Italian-American and very proud of his Sicilian heritage
- Russ’s dad taught him how to play a number of instruments as he was growing up. One of his favorites was the guitar. This love for music at a young age certainly put him on the path to become a musician.
- Six of Russ’s singles achieved gold RIAA-certification.
- Two of his singles achieved platinum RIAA-certification.
- In 2017, he was nominated for a Woodie award but didn’t win.
- He produced beats for six years before attempting to get into the rap game himself.
- Russ was ranked #20 on the Forbes Hip-Hop Cash King listed in 2017.
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Highlights
- Russ’s highest charting single is the song, “Losin’ Control”, which peaked at number 62 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
- Russ dropped out of college to pursue his dream of rapping.
- Russ signed with Columbia Records in 2016 which helped him achieve greater fame.
- He headlined his own concert tour, called “The Wake-Up Tour” from May 16th to August 5th, 2017.
- Russ created two solo studio albums with Columbia Records in partnership with his own record label called Diemon. One is called “Zoo,” and the other is called “There’s Really a Wolf.”
- He has released eleven studio albums with his own label including “Velvet,” “Vacation,” “Silence” and “How to Rob.”
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Favorite Quotes from Russ
“I don’t count the days, I make the days count.”
“Trends die. That’s the natural thing about a trend. It’s natural for people to be followers and be sheep and go with a trend. “
“I started playing instruments before I started making beats, and I was never the best guitarist or the best pianist or the best drummer. And when I started making beats, I was not the best beatmaker, and when I started making hooks, I was not the best vocal melody person. When I first started rapping, I wasn’t the best rapper at all.”
“I’m not sitting around, waiting for something to run across the Internet so I can go, ‘Oh, that’s what I’m going to write about.’ I just go around, live life, make music, and it’s epic.”
“I’m not obsessed with the idea of doing what you’re supposed to be doing when you’re a rapper. Walking around with cash that you haven’t even provisioned for tax. Spending all of your time in the designer store to create some weird impression. I’m not interested, bro. I just like making music, and that’s it.”
“Being great is a choice. You’re always working in silence. I let my success make the noise.”
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Tips for success from Russ
- Talk things out. Not only is it therapeutic, but it helps resolve issues you have within yourself and with other people.
- Self-confidence will get you extremely far in life. Wear it like it is a stain on your clothing that you cannot remove.
- Live your life and do what makes you feel alive. That is the only way to find true success in life. Don’t copy other people or do what other people tell you they think you should do. You are in control of your own success and happiness.
- Many people think they have to put on a show or be a certain way to be successful. For example, a rapper might stereotypically wear chains and expensive clothes. But being a successful rapper isn’t about that, it is about being good at music. Find the heart of what it is you love and cling tightly to it.
- Stick to your gut and don’t deviate. Don’t question your decisions. People will always try to get you to doubt yourself and that’s when things get dangerous. Once you make a decision, move confidently in the direction of fulfilling it.
- There is nothing more enjoyable than a good conversation with like-minded individuals. They will fill you up and make your heart happy.
- When you have success, if you enjoy material things, buy them. Show others what you have. It isn’t bragging, it is inspiring to others.
- Don’t attach yourself to the outcome of what you’re doing. Set a goal and pursue it passionately, but if the journey toward the goal is enjoyable, then it is all worth it.
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