Editing Kid Rock (section)

===Early career, signing with Jive Records, and ''Grits Sandwiches for Breakfast'' (1988–1991)===
Kid Rock began his professional music career as a member of a [[hip-hop]] group called the Beast Crew in the late 1980s.<ref name=Biography/> During this time, he met [[D-Nice]]. That relationship would eventually lead to him becoming the opening act at local shows for [[Boogie Down Productions]].<ref name=Biography/>

During this time, Kid Rock began a professional association with producer [[Mike E. Clark]], who, after some initial skepticism with the idea of a white rapper, found himself impressed with Kid Rock's energetic and well-received performance where the artist, using his own turntables and equipment, actually prepared his own beats to demonstrate his skills for Clark.<ref name="freepearly">{{cite web|url=https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/music/brian-mccollum/2015/08/26/kid-rock-early-years-detroit/31193049/|title=Kid Rock before the fame: The definitive Detroit oral history|website=Freep.com|access-date=February 1, 2018|archive-date=January 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127204237/https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/music/brian-mccollum/2015/08/26/kid-rock-early-years-detroit/31193049/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1988, Clark produced a series of demos with Kid Rock. These demos eventually led to offers from six major record labels, including [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]] and [[CBS Associated Records|CBS Records]].<ref name="Allmusic"/><ref name="freepearly"/>

In 1989, Kid Rock became a shareholder in an independent record label that was formed by Alvin Williams and Earl Blunt of EB-Bran Productions, called "Top Dog" Records. Later, that investment would become a 25% ownership stake.<ref name="mtv.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1458341/kid-rocks-ex-partners-ask-judge-to-determine-whos-top-dog/|title=Kid Rock's Ex-Partners Ask Judge To Determine Who's Top Dog|website=MTV.com|access-date=February 1, 2018|archive-date=January 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180128132500/http://www.mtv.com/news/1458341/kid-rocks-ex-partners-ask-judge-to-determine-whos-top-dog/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

With the help of D-Nice, Kid Rock signed with [[Jive Records]] at the age of 17, releasing his debut studio album, ''[[Grits Sandwiches for Breakfast]]'' in 1990.<ref name="Biography"/><ref name="cowboysindians"/><ref name="freepearly"/> According to Kid Rock, the contract with Jive resulted in animosity from fellow rapper [[Vanilla Ice]], who felt that he should have been signed with Jive instead of Kid Rock.<ref name="freepearly"/>

The album made Kid Rock one of the two biggest rap stars in Detroit in 1990, along with local [[independent music|independent]] rapper [[Esham]].<ref name="BehindthePaint164">{{cite book |last1=Bruce |first1=Joseph |author-link=Violent J|last2=Echlin |first2=Hobey |editor=Nathan Fostey |title=ICP: Behind the Paint |url=https://archive.org/details/icpbehindpaint00viol |url-access=registration |date=August 2003 |edition=second |publisher=Psychopathic Records |location=Royal Oak, Michigan |isbn=0-9741846-0-8 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/icpbehindpaint00viol/page/164 164–167] |chapter=Paying Dues }}</ref><ref name="BehindthePaint174">{{cite book |last1=Bruce |first1=Joseph |author-link=Violent J |last2=Echlin |first2=Hobey |editor=Nathan Fostey |title=ICP: Behind the Paint |url=https://archive.org/details/icpbehindpaint00viol |url-access=registration |edition=second |publisher=Psychopathic Records |location=Royal Oak, Michigan |isbn=0-9741846-0-8 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/icpbehindpaint00viol/page/174 174–189] |chapter=The Dark Carnival|date=August 2003 }}</ref> To promote the album, Kid Rock toured nationally with [[Ice Cube]], D-Nice, [[Yo-Yo (rapper)|Yo-Yo]] and [[Too Short]]; Detroit artist James "Blackman" Harris served as Kid Rock's DJ on this tour.<ref name="freepearly"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.metrotimes.com/editorial/story.asp?id=7099 |title=Metro Times - Music: Champ's town |access-date=January 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090102071445/http://www.metrotimes.com/editorial/story.asp?id=7099 |archive-date=January 2, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> During instore promotions for the album, Kid Rock met and developed a friendship with local rapper [[Eminem]], who frequently challenged Kid Rock to rap battles.<ref name="freepearly"/>

Ultimately, unfavorable comparisons to Vanilla Ice led to Jive dropping Kid Rock, according to Mike E. Clark.<ref name="freepearly"/>