Taio Cruz

Taio Cruz, born Adetayo Ayowale Onile-Ere, is an English singer-songwriter, rapper, and record producer from London. Showing musical talent at a young age, he signed a publishing deal at just 17 under famed producer Tricky Stewart and earned a Brit Award for co-writing Will Young’s single "Your Game." He released his debut single I Just Wanna Know in 2006, and followed up in 2008 with his first studio album Departure, which he wrote, arranged, and produced entirely on his own. The album achieved gold certification in the UK and earned him a nomination at the MOBO Awards. In 2009, Rokstarr launched him to global stardom, featuring the chart-topping singles "Break Your Heart" and "Dynamite" — the latter became a worldwide smash hit and earned him three Billboard Awards. He went on to collaborate with artists like Kesha and Kylie Minogue, contributed Telling the World to the Rio soundtrack, and released the album TY.O in 2011, featuring the hit "Hangover" with Flo Rida. Beyond music, Cruz ventured into fashion with his Rokstarr brand (later RXTR), developed the social app Kewe, and composed for artists such as Jennifer Lopez, David Guetta, and Olly Murs. In 2020, he briefly joined TikTok but withdrew due to negative online reactions, sparking a broader discussion about social media’s impact on mental health.