Russell James Vitale, known mononymously as
Russ, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. After years of releasing his music for free online, Vitale released his twelfth studio album,
There's Really a Wolf, in May 2017 through Columbia Records. The album was met with critical and commercial success, attaining platinum certification a year after its release, and spawning the minor hit singles: "What They Want", "Losin Control" and "Best on Earth", peaking respectively at number 83, 63, and 46 on the US
Billboard Hot 100. His thirteenth and fourteenth albums,
Zoo (2018) and
Shake the Snow Globe (2020), saw similar success, as both peaked at number 4 on the US
Billboard 200. Outside of his solo career, he is part the Atlanta-based hip hop collective Diemon.