“Don’t Give Up” is the latest offering from American rock-singer/songwriter/producer Kevin Rudolf. Released April 17th, “Don’t Give Up” was written by Rudolf and serves as the first single off his upcoming third album, due out this summer via Cash Money/Universal Republic Records. If I’m being honest, I wasn’t even sure Kevin Rudolf was still around, at least not as a solo act. The last I heard from him was his 2008 hit single, “Let It Rock,” featuring rapper Lil’ Wayne. That single turned out to be Rudolf’s biggest hit to date, peaking at an impressive #5 on Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart, not to mention #3 on the ARIA Singles Chart, and #5 in the UK.
Being that “Don’t Give Up” is the first I’ve heard of Rudolf in nearly four years, it’s easy to compare it to “Let It Rock” but that wouldn’t be fair at all. Is “Don’t Give Up” as catchy as “Let It Rock?” Absolutely not, but the two songs are completely different. Whereas “Let It Rock” was more mainstream “Pop 40,” (especially with the addition of Lil’ Wayne), “Don’t Give Up” is a bit more “Adult Top 40,” sort of like an Uncle Kracker. Kevin Rudolf‘s inspirational lyrics are complemented nicely by the song’s video which includes powerful visuals taken from the Occupy Wall Street protests (watch out for a cameo by Cash Money CEO Bryan “Birdman” Williams).
While Rudolf’s 2008 debut album, In The City, spawned the international top 5 smash hit, “Let It Rock,” the album itself only managed to peak at a disappointing #94. The album’s second single, the Rick Ross-assisted “Welcome To My World” fizzled out at #58 and no further singles were released from the album. Kevin Rudolf returned in 2010 with “I Made It (Cash Money Heroes),” the lead single from his sophomore set To The Sky, featuring Birdman, Jay Sean and (once again) Lil’ Wayne, clearly seeking a repeat success story with his brand of hip-rock. Unfortunately, the single peaked at #21 on Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart in the States. While “I Made It” did fare better in Australia and New Zealand, becoming a top 5 hit in both countries, the song did not achieve the same success for Rudolf as his debut single. Rudolf’s sophomore album, To The Sky peaked at #78 on the Billboard 200 after it’s release in June of 2010. The album’s second and final single, “You Make The Rain Fall,” featuring rapper Flo-Rida peaked at #59 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart.
I like that this time around, Kevin Rudolf is relying purely on his songwriting and impressive rock vocals. It’s important to remember that Rudolf is first and foremost a storyteller, and he’s helped some of today’s hottest artists tell their stories. Amongst the talent Rudolf has produced and co-written with; Cobra Starship, Leona Lewis, Lifehouse, Natasha Bedingfield, Weezer, Cher Lloyd, and Timbaland. That’s quite an impressive lineup if you ask me. I’m hopeful that Rudolf’s third album will showcase more of his raw talent. These days, everyone seems to be adding a rapper to a track, and while Rudolf might have been one of the first to do that, I think this shift into a more singer/songwriter pop/rock direction is a smart move for him.
Download Kevin Rudolf‘s new single, “Don’t Give Up” on iTunes (U.S.) and check out the rest of his tunes BELOW. Also, make sure you check out the intense video for “Don’t Give Up,” directed by SHOMI PATWARY (Karmaloop TV/Illusive Media).
Check out Kevin Rudolf on the web: