Jason Derulo

Jason Derulo
Born	Jason Joel Desrouleaux (1989-09-21) September 21, 1989 Miramar, Florida, U.S.
Other names	Derülo (previous stylization)
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter, dancer
Years active	2006–present
Known for	Hit singles "Whatcha Say", "In My Head", "Ridin' Solo", "Talk Dirty", "Want to Want Me", "Savage Love (Laxed – Siren Beat)"
Notable work	Albums: Jason Derulo (2010), Future History (2011), Tattoos / Talk Dirty (2013/2014), Everything Is 4 (2015), Nu King (2024)

Jason Joel Desrouleaux (born September 21, 1989), professionally recognized as Jason Derulo (; previously stylized as Derülo), is an American vocalist, songwriter, and dancer. Since initiating his solo career in 2009, he has sold more than 250 million singles globally and achieved fourteen platinum-certified singles in the United States.

After contributing songwriting to multiple artists, Derulo secured a contract with Beluga Heights, a label managed by producer J. R. Rotem. When Beluga Heights became part of Warner Music Group, Derulo launched his solo career with the single "Whatcha Say" in May 2009. This track sold upwards of five million digital copies, earned quintuple platinum certification, and reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. He continued his success with US top-ten hits such as "In My Head", which also topped the UK Singles Chart, and "Ridin' Solo", both featured on his self-titled debut album Jason Derulo (2010).

His sophomore album, Future History (2011), included the UK chart-topping single "Don't Wanna Go Home" along with the top-ten single "It Girl". The third international release, Tattoos (2013), was reissued in the United States as Talk Dirty (2014), generating worldwide hits like "Talk Dirty", "Trumpets", and "Wiggle".

Derulo’s fourth studio project, Everything Is 4 (2015), was spearheaded by the single "Want to Want Me", marking his sixth US top-ten hit and fourth UK number-one. In 2020, he collaborated with New Zealand producer Jawsh 685 on "Savage Love (Laxed – Siren Beat)", which topped charts internationally. A remix featuring South Korean band BTS propelled the track to number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Derulo’s second chart-topping single in the US. After departing from Warner Music due to creative disagreements, he signed with Atlantic Records in 2021. His fifth studio album, Nu King (2024), features earlier hits including "Swalla" and "Take You Dancing".

Early life

Born Jason Joel Desrouleaux on September 21, 1989, in Miramar, Florida, Derulo is of Haitian descent. Haitian Creole was his first language, and his mother pursued legal studies. He began singing at a young age and attended performing arts institutions in Florida, composing his first song at eight years old. As a teenager, his songwriting abilities attracted attention; notably, he wrote "Bossy" for rapper Birdman, highlighting his vocal skills.

2006–2010: Early career and Jason Derulo

Before establishing himself as a solo artist, Derulo penned songs for performers such as Diddy, Danity Kane, Sean Kingston, Cassie, and Lil Wayne. He trained at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy and participated in theatrical productions like Ragtime. His victory on the 2006 season finale of Showtime at the Apollo earned him recognition. Producer J.R. Rotem discovered him and subsequently signed him to Beluga Heights Records under Warner Bros. Records.

Rotem commended Derulo’s dedication and consistent productivity in the studio.

On August 4, 2009, Derulo released his debut single "Whatcha Say", produced by Rotem with additional input from Fuego. The song incorporates a sample from Imogen Heap's "Hide and Seek". It initially entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 54 and climbed to number one by November 2009, marking his first chart-topping achievement. Following this breakthrough, he released "In My Head", which peaked at number five on the Hot 100.

His debut album, Jason Derulo (stylized as Jason Derülo), was released on March 2, 2010. It reached the top ten on both the UK and Irish Albums Charts. To promote the album, Derulo served as an opening act for Lady Gaga during her 2009–2010 The Monster Ball Tour. The third single from the album, "Ridin' Solo", was released on April 26, 2010, and attained number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 by July. Additionally, he appeared on Will Roush's "Turn it Up" alongside Stat Quo and Young Buck and collaborated with UK artist Pixie Lott on "Coming Home" from her album Turn It Up.

2011–2012: Future History and Related Projects

In 2011, Derulo teamed up with pop rock artist Demi Lovato on the track "Together," included in her album Unbroken. His sophomore studio album, Future History, was launched on September 27, 2011. The album's leading single, "Don't Wanna Go Home", released on May 20, 2011, achieved the top position in the UK charts and secured a spot within the top five in Australia. Early in 2012, Derulo had scheduled an eight-date tour across the UK, featuring a performance at Wembley Arena on March 1. Unfortunately, on January 3, 2012, he sustained a C2 vertebra fracture during rehearsal, which forced the cancellation of all tour engagements.

On March 28, 2012, Derulo appeared on American Idol to initiate a fan-participation lyric contest for the song "Undefeated," part of a collaboration between American Idol and Coca-Cola. Fans contributed and voted on lyrics to complete the composition. He later revealed on May 5, 2012, that his first television appearance following his injury would be at the season 11 finale of American Idol on May 22. In August of the same year, Derulo took on the role of dance mentor alongside Kelly Rowland on the Australian dance competition show Everybody Dance Now, which was cancelled after only four episodes due to poor viewership ratings.

On July 9, 2012, Derulo signed Australian singer-songwriter Arlene Zelina to his label Future History (which he co-owns with manager Frank Harris), having discovered her during a performance at Whisky a Go Go in 2011 before she returned to Melbourne. He confirmed this signing through Twitter the following day.

2013–2014: Tattoos and Talk Dirty Era

Derulo released the single "The Other Side" on April 16, 2013; by July it had climbed to No. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. His third studio album, titled Tattoos, was unveiled on September 24, 2013. The international second single from this album, "Talk Dirty", featuring American rapper 2 Chainz, became available digitally on July 27, 2013 and reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The track "Marry Me" debuted on US radio as the second US single and third overall from the album on August 26, 2013. On December 11 of that year, Derulo headlined Radio City Live at Liverpool's Echo Arena where he performed popular songs including "Ridin' Solo" and "Talk Dirty."

Approximately six months following the initial release of Tattoos, Derulo announced a US edition featuring four new tracks alongside seven selections from the original album; this rebranded version was named Talk Dirty and released on April 15, 2014. Simultaneously, a special edition of Tattoos containing these additional songs was issued in the UK.

On November 21, 2014, rapper Pitbull released "Drive You Crazy," featuring both Derulo and Juicy J, as part of his album Globalization. This track was later released as a single in August 2015.

2015–2016: Release of Everything Is 4

Dick Clark Productions announced on January 22, 2015 that Derulo would join Paula Abdul and Nigel Lythgoe as a judge for season twelve of So You Think You Can Dance.

Derulo’s fourth studio album, Everything Is 4, was preceded by its lead single "Want to Want Me," which dropped on March 9. This song set a new record for being added to Top 40 radio playlists most rapidly—appearing across 156 stations—and peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 while reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart. The music video for the second single "Cheyenne" premiered on June 30, 2015.

On June 29, Derulo announced his inaugural greatest hits compilation titled Platinum Hits, which was released on July 29, 2016. This collection features eleven singles that have achieved platinum certification along with a new track called "Kiss the Sky," included in the soundtrack for the animated film Storks.

Derulo also made a guest appearance in an episode of Fox’s drama series Lethal Weapon, which aired on September 28, 2016.

2017–2020: 2Sides, Cats, and Exit from Warner Music

On February 24, 2017, Derulo unveiled the track "Swalla" featuring Nicki Minaj and Ty Dolla $ign. Shortly after, on March 17, he teamed up with Pitbull for "Educate Ya," included in Pitbull's album Climate Change. Derulo was also announced as part of the 2017 Cheyenne Frontier Days concert roster scheduled for July 28. During the 2017 Billboard Music Awards, he revealed plans for his upcoming album, initially titled 777. The singles "If I'm Lucky" and "Tip Toe" featuring French Montana were released in September and November respectively. Eventually, the album's title was changed to 2Sides, symbolizing the dual nature of his artistry and incorporating a more urban musical direction.

In August 2018, Derulo dropped "Goodbye," a collaboration with David Guetta that also featured Nicki Minaj and Willy William. Throughout 2019, he released several singles such as "Let's Shut Up & Dance" alongside Lay Zhang and NCT 127, "Mamacita" with Farruko, and "Too Hot". He intended to launch a two-part EP series, with 2Sides (Side 1) arriving in November 2019 and Side 2 anticipated for 2020. That year, Derulo portrayed Rum Tum Tugger in the movie adaptation of Cats, which premiered in December 2019 and earned him a Golden Raspberry nomination for Worst Screen Combo.

After prolonged discussions, Derulo parted ways with Warner Bros. Records in May 2020 due to creative disagreements, leading to the cancellation of 2Sides (Side 2) but assuring fans of forthcoming music within the year. In June 2020, his collaboration with Jawsh 685, titled "Savage Love (Laxed – Siren Beat)", gained viral momentum on TikTok and secured the number one spot on UK charts. Initially released without formal clearance for Jawsh 685's sample, the matter was resolved resulting in a re-release crediting both artists. A remix featuring BTS topped the US Billboard Hot 100, marking Derulo’s second chart-topping single in America.

November 2020 saw the release of "Love Not War (The Tampa Beat)" featuring New Caledonian producer Nuka, inspired by Nuka’s viral SoundCloud hit "The Tampa Beat," which had been used in over 23 million TikTok videos.

2021–present: Singles, Collaborations, and Nu King

In March 2021, Derulo signed with Atlantic Records. By May, he appeared on the remix of "Jalebi Baby" by Indian-Canadian artist Tesher. On September 3, he released his single "Acapulco". In March 2023, it was announced that Derulo would serve as a judge on the Australian edition of The Voice, succeeding Keith Urban. Later that month, he portrayed Isley Brothers lead singer Ron Isley in the biographical film Spinning Gold. On May 18, 2023, Derulo released "When Love Sucks," featuring vocalist Dido, incorporating a sample from her 2000 hit "Thank You". On September 27, 2023, he performed a medley including his forthcoming track "Hands on Me" alongside Meghan Trainor, as well as "Take You Dancing," during the finale of season 18 of America's Got Talent.

Introduced to TikTok by family members, Derulo quickly built one of the platform’s largest audiences, significantly elevating his online profile.

Derulo’s fifth studio album, Nu King, was released on February 16, 2024 — his first since Everything is 4 in 2015. The album features major hits from recent years such as "Take You Dancing", "Love Not War (The Tampa Beat)", and "Lifestyle", alongside his latest collaboration "Hands on Me" with Meghan Trainor.

Artistry

Derulo's musical style is predominantly classified as pop, incorporating influences from R&B and hip-hop. He identifies Michael Jackson as his foremost influence, crediting Jackson with shaping his artistic direction from an early age. Additional inspirations encompass Elvis Presley, Madonna, Prince, Usher, and Justin Timberlake. As described by Billboard, Derulo skillfully merges two distinct musical approaches: a "positive PG-romance dance-pop vibe" alongside "energetic, somewhat risqué club anthems," which he modulates to keep his audience engaged.

Personal life

Derulo was in a relationship with singer Jordin Sparks for three years, ending in 2014. On May 8, 2021, he welcomed a son with then-partner Jena Frumes; the couple separated approximately four and a half months afterward. He is also uncle to three nieces.

He holds co-ownership of the Omaha Supernovas, a professional women's volleyball franchise competing in the Pro Volleyball Federation. Derulo continues to be an active investor in this league. Furthermore, he is a supporter of the English football club Leicester City.

Lawsuit

In October 2023, singer Emazan Gibson (also known as Emazan Dilan) initiated legal action against Derulo, accusing him of quid pro quo sexual harassment, intimidation tactics, and contract breaches. Gibson was signed under Derulo’s label, Future History, in 2021, where he served as her "mentor, supervisor, [and] agent". She alleges that Derulo coerced her into drinking and engaging in sexual acts against her will and that she was dropped from the label in September 2022. The lawsuit also names Derulo’s manager Frank Harris, Future History, and Atlantic Records as defendants.

In April 2024, a judge in California dismissed the case due to forum selection clauses within Gibson’s contracts mandating dispute resolution in New York City and approved a venue transfer. Gibson and her attorneys plan to refile the complaint in New York jurisdiction.

Cryptocurrency ventures

Derulo has participated in various cryptocurrency projects that have faced criticism for being "scams" or instances of rug pulls.

Discography

• Jason Derulo (2010)
• Future History (2011)
• Tattoos (2013; re-released in 2014 as Talk Dirty)
• Everything Is 4 (2015)
• Nu King (2024)

Tours

Headlining

• AOL AIM presents: Jason Derülo (2010–11)
• Tattoos World Tour (2014)
• Talk Dirty Tour (2014–15)
• Everything Is 4 Tour (2016)
• 2Sides World Tour (2018–19)
• Nu King World Tour (2024)
• The Last Dance World Tour (2026)

Residencies

• The Best Show Ever (2024)

Filmography

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2010	Turn the Beat Around	Himself
2012	Everybody Dance Now		Dance master, season 1
2012	State of Georgia		Season 1, "The Popular Chicks"
2013	Dancing with the Stars		Musical guest
2014, 2015	So You Think You Can Dance		Guest Judge
2015	Empire		Season 2, "Et Tu, Brute?"
2016	Lip Sync Battle		Episode "Katharine McPhee vs. Jason Derulo"
2016	Lethal Weapon	Ronald Dawson	Season 1, "Surf N Turf"
2016	CMT Crossroads	Himself	with Luke Bryan
2017	Sounds Like Friday Night	Guest host & performer
2017	The Voice of Germany	Guest coach
2017	Drop the Mic	Himself	Episode: Niecy Nash vs. Cedric the Entertainer / Liam Payne vs. Jason Derulo
2023	The Voice (Australia)	Himself/Coach	Season 12

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2019	Cats	Rum Tum Tugger
2023	Spinning Gold	Ronald Isley

Web

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2020	SML	Himself	Episode: "Chef Pee Pee Goes To Hollywood!"

Awards and nominations

MTV Europe Music Awards Best World Stage Performance Himself Template:Nom 2013 MOBO Awards International Artist of the Year Himself Template:Nom rowspan="11"|2014 rowspan="4"|Teen Choice Awards Male Music Artist Himself Template:Nom Male Star in Music Himself Template:Won Male Artist Single "Talk Dirty" Template:Nom Summer Song of the Year "Wiggle" Template:Nom rowspan="2"|MTV Video Music Awards Pop Video of the Year "Talk Dirty" Template:Nom Choreography Award "Talk Dirty" (implied) Template:Nom ARIA Music Awards Best International Artist TattoosTemplate:Nom rowspan="4"|Los Premios 40 Principales International Act of the Year Himself Template:Nom International Album of the Year TattoosTemplate:Nom International Song of the Year "Talk Dirty" Template:Won International Video of the Year "Wiggle" Template:Nom rowspan="4"|2015 YouTube Music Awards 50 Artists to Watch Himself Template:Won Brasil Music Awards International Artist Himself Template:Nom rowspan="2"|Teen Choice Awards Male Artist Choice Himself Template:Nom Summer Male Star in Music Himself Template:Nom 2016 LOS40 Music Awards Lo + 40 Artist Award Himself Template:Won 2017 CMT Music Awards Performance of the Year (CMT) "Want to Want Me" (with Luke Bryan) Template:Won 2018 MTV Europe Music Awards Best World Stage Performance Himself Template:Nom rowspan="2"|2020 Golden Raspberry Awards Worst Screen Combo Cats (including "his CGI-neutered 'bulge'") Template:Nom Melon Music Awards Best Pop Category "Savage Love (Laxed – Siren Beat) (BTS Remix)" (with Jawsh 685 and BTS) Template:Nom rowspan="3"|2021 Kids' Choice Awards Favorite Male Social Star Himself Template:Nom Gaon Chart Music Awards Song of the Year – October "Savage Love (Laxed – Siren Beat) (BTS Remix)" (with Jawsh 685 and BTS) Template:Nom iHeartRadio Music Awards TikTok Bop of the Year "Savage Love (Laxed – Siren Beat)" (with Jawsh 685) Template:Nom 2022 Mirchi Music Awards Listener's Choice Award "Jalebi Baby" (with Tesher) Template:Nom

Year	Awarding Body	Category	Entry	Outcome
2010	Teen Choice Awards	Breakthrough Male Artist	Himself	Template:Nom
		R&B Track of the Year	"In My Head"	Template:Won
		R&B Album of the Year	Jason Derulo	Template:Won
	MTV Video Music Awards	Male Video of the Year	"In My Head"	Template:Nom
		Best New Artist Video	"In My Head"	Template:Nom
	MTV Europe Music Awards	New Act of the Year	Himself	Template:Nom
		Push Act of the Year	Himself	Template:Nom
	ARIA Music Awards 2010	International Artist Most Popular	Himself	Template:Nom
	American Music Awards 2010	New Artist of the Year	Himself	Template:Nom
2011	NAACP Image Awards	Outstanding New Artist	Himself	Template:Nom
	BMI Pop Music Awards	Songwriter of the Year	"In My Head", "Ridin' Solo", "Whatcha Say", "Replay"	Template:Won
		Top 50 Most Performed Songs	"Replay"	Template:Won
	Teen Choice Awards	Male Artist of the Year	Himself	Template:Nom
		R&B/Hip-Hop Track of the Year	"Don't Wanna Go Home"	Template:Nom
		Summer Music Star: Male	Himself	Template:Nom
	International Act of the Year	Himself	Template:Nom
2012	MTV Video Music Awards Japan	Best R&B Video	"It Girl"	Template:Nom