# Jason Derulo
**Jason Derulo** (born Jason Joel Desrouleaux, 1989) is an American singer, dancer, and actor whose Auto-Tuned blend of pop, R&B, and hip-hop produced a run of Hot 100 hits beginning with the 2009 chart-topper "Whatcha Say". The Library of Congress authority record lists him as "Derulo, Jason, 1989-" with the variant form "Desrouleaux, Jason Joel, 1989-", born in Miami, Florida, with the occupations of singer and composer.[1](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2009188445.html) The Official Charts Company gives his full name as Jason Joel Desrouleaux and describes him as an American singer, dancer, and actor.[2](https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/5923/jason-derulo/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birth name and date | Jason Joel Desrouleaux, 1989; LC lists Miami, Florida as birthplace, AllMusic Miramar, Florida[1](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2009188445.html) • [3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jason-derulo-mn0000643543) |
| First hit | "Whatcha Say" (2009), sampling Imogen Heap's "Hide and Seek", reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 3 in the UK[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jason-derulo-mn0000643543) • [2](https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/5923/jason-derulo/) |
| UK record | Six UK top 10 singles including two No. 1s by 2013; four Top 40 albums, peaking at No. 5 with *Tattoos* (2013)[4](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/jul/02/jason-derulo) • [2](https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/5923/jason-derulo/) |
| Billion-stream songs | "Swalla", "Want To Want Me", and "Savage Love (Laxed – Siren Beat)" have each passed 1 billion streams, per his 2024 label bio[5](https://press.atlanticrecords.com/sites/g/files/g2000014001/files/2024-02/JASON%20DERULO%20BIO%20+%20BOILER%202024.pdf) |
| Label-claimed totals | Over 250 million singles sold and a $100 million net worth, figures attributed to Atlantic's 2024 press biography[5](https://press.atlanticrecords.com/sites/g/files/g2000014001/files/2024-02/JASON%20DERULO%20BIO%20+%20BOILER%202024.pdf) |
| Fifth album | *Nu King*, a 27-track collection, released February 2024 after nearly a decade without a studio album[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jason-derulo-mn0000643543) |
| TikTok standing | Nearly 200 million followers across platforms; 4th most-followed male on TikTok and 11th biggest account overall at the time of the 2024 bio[5](https://press.atlanticrecords.com/sites/g/files/g2000014001/files/2024-02/JASON%20DERULO%20BIO%20+%20BOILER%202024.pdf) |
## Early life and background
Derulo was born to a family of Haitian descent and grew up in Florida. AllMusic places his birth in [Miramar, Florida](https://www.edgepedia.org/miramar-florida), to Haitian parents,[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jason-derulo-mn0000643543) while the Library of Congress authority record gives Miami as his birthplace.[1](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2009188445.html) He attended performing arts schools in Florida and wrote his first song at the age of eight.[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jason-derulo-mn0000643543) In a 2013 Guardian interview he described his upbringing as middle class rather than impoverished, saying his childhood dream was for his parents not to argue over money.[4](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/jul/02/jason-derulo)
## Songwriting beginnings and breakthrough
**From writer to performer.** By his teens Derulo was composing tracks for [Lil Wayne](https://www.edgepedia.org/lil-wayne), Pitbull, and [Pleasure P](https://www.edgepedia.org/pleasure-p), and he co-wrote "Bossy" for the New Orleans rapper Birdman.[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jason-derulo-mn0000643543) Forbes describes his start as ghostwriting for Lil Wayne and Diddy before his own breakthrough.[6](https://www.forbes.com/profile/jason-derulo/) After signing to the Warner Bros. subsidiary Beluga Heights, he released "Whatcha Say" in 2009, an Auto-Tuned reworking built on a sample of [Imogen Heap](https://www.edgepedia.org/imogen-heap)'s "Hide and Seek". The single topped the Billboard Hot 100 and reached the top ten in Canada, Australia, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK, where it peaked at No. 3 in November 2009.[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jason-derulo-mn0000643543) • [2](https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/5923/jason-derulo/) The follow-up "In My Head" peaked at No. 5 in the United States and became his first UK No. 1 in 2010, and his full-length debut album arrived in early 2010.[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jason-derulo-mn0000643543) • [2](https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/5923/jason-derulo/)
## Recording career and musical evolution
Derulo's singles through the 2010s defined his phases as a hitmaker. "Talk Dirty" featuring 2 Chainz reached No. 3 on the US pop chart in summer 2013, and "Wiggle" with [Snoop Dogg](https://www.edgepedia.org/snoop-dogg) reached the top ten in summer 2014.[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jason-derulo-mn0000643543) "Swalla" (2017), featuring [Nicki Minaj](https://www.edgepedia.org/nicki-minaj) and Ty Dolla $ign, reached the top 30 of the Hot 100.[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jason-derulo-mn0000643543) In early 2012 he broke a vertebra during rehearsals for the Future History Tour and canceled the entire tour.[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jason-derulo-mn0000643543)
**Mid-decade peak.** "Want to Want Me", from 2015's *Everything Is 4*, was his sixth top ten pop hit in the US and coincided with his role as a judge on the 12th season of *So You Think You Can Dance*.[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jason-derulo-mn0000643543) He later teamed with Maluma for "Colors", chosen as the FIFA 2018 World Cup Anthem.[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jason-derulo-mn0000643543)
In 2020 he parted ways with Warner Bros., which effectively canceled the *2Sides* project, and released "Savage Love (Laxed – Siren Beat)" with the New Zealand producer Jawsh 685. The single topped the UK chart[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jason-derulo-mn0000643543) and, per his label bio, reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped charts in 16 countries.[5](https://press.atlanticrecords.com/sites/g/files/g2000014001/files/2024-02/JASON%20DERULO%20BIO%20+%20BOILER%202024.pdf)
## By the numbers
The scale of his commercial performance depends on which source and which year. In mid-2013 The Guardian reported over 20 million record sales worldwide, with six UK top 10 hits including two No. 1s.[4](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/jul/02/jason-derulo) Atlantic's 2024 press biography claims global sales exceeding 250 million singles with tens of billions of streams and a $100 million net worth.[5](https://press.atlanticrecords.com/sites/g/files/g2000014001/files/2024-02/JASON%20DERULO%20BIO%20+%20BOILER%202024.pdf)
On charts, Forbes counts 14 top 100 hits for Derulo since 2009, including "Talk Dirty", "Wiggle", and "Want To Want Me".[6](https://www.forbes.com/profile/jason-derulo/) In the UK he has had four [Top 40](https://www.edgepedia.org/top-40) albums, with the highest placement No. 5 for *Tattoos* in 2013.[2](https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/5923/jason-derulo/) Three of his songs have each been streamed over 1 billion times, according to the label bio: "Swalla", "Want To Want Me", and "Savage Love (Laxed – Siren Beat)".[5](https://press.atlanticrecords.com/sites/g/files/g2000014001/files/2024-02/JASON%20DERULO%20BIO%20+%20BOILER%202024.pdf)
## Television, acting, and business ventures
Beyond recording, Derulo has worked across television, film, and business. He judged the 12th season of *So You Think You Can Dance* in 2015,[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jason-derulo-mn0000643543) and in 2019 appeared as [Rum Tum Tugger](https://www.edgepedia.org/rum-tum-tugger) in the film adaptation of [Andrew Lloyd Webber](https://www.edgepedia.org/andrew-lloyd-webber)'s musical *Cats*.[2](https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/5923/jason-derulo/) His investment portfolio, as described in the 2024 label bio, includes ownership stakes in Rocket Car Wash, the Pro Volleyball Federation, and the [Omaha Supernovas](https://www.edgepedia.org/omaha-supernovas), plus investments in the restaurant Catch L.A. and Rumble Boxing.[5](https://press.atlanticrecords.com/sites/g/files/g2000014001/files/2024-02/JASON%20DERULO%20BIO%20+%20BOILER%202024.pdf) He has also published the book *Sing Your Name Out Loud: 15 Rules for Living Your Dream*, created the *UZO* graphic novel with Z2 Comics, and launched the On The Road Podcast in 2024.[5](https://press.atlanticrecords.com/sites/g/files/g2000014001/files/2024-02/JASON%20DERULO%20BIO%20+%20BOILER%202024.pdf)
## What has changed since 2023
Derulo ran a steady singles schedule through 2023, beginning with the [David Guetta](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-guetta) collaboration "Saturday/Sunday" and continuing with "Glad U Came", "Slow Low", the Dido-sampling "When Love Sucks", and "Hands on Me" with [Meghan Trainor](https://www.edgepedia.org/meghan-trainor).[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jason-derulo-mn0000643543) In February 2024 he released his fifth studio album, *Nu King*, a 27-track collection gathering hits from the years between full-lengths, including "Acapulco", "Slow Low", "Swalla", "Lifestyle", and "Love Not War".[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jason-derulo-mn0000643543) Further non-album tracks followed, including "Make Me Happy" with Jawsh 685 and 2025's "Snake" with [Nora Fatehi](https://www.edgepedia.org/nora-fatehi), and the club-oriented EP *Last Dance, Pt. 1* appeared in January 2026 with the singles "You DJ, I'll Drive" and "Sexy for Me".[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jason-derulo-mn0000643543) His official site lists "11/13" as a forthcoming release dated November 13, 2026, and also lists "Let me be" (2026) and "Mi Chico" (2026).[7](https://www.jasonderulo.com/)
## Artistry and reception
Derulo's sound is built on glossy hybrids of hip-hop, pop, and R&B, a style The Guardian credited with six UK top 10 hits by 2013.[4](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/jul/02/jason-derulo) His stagecraft draws on [Michael Jackson](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-jackson)'s vocabulary: the same profile describes "Jackson-like performances" in which he bodypops and moonwalks, and links that showmanship to his sales record.[4](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/jul/02/jason-derulo)
## References
1. [Derulo, Jason, 1989- — LC Linked Data Service, Library of Congress](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2009188445.html)
2. [Jason Derulo songs and albums — full Official Chart history, Official Charts Company](https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/5923/jason-derulo/)
3. [Jason Derulo — Biography, Discography & Reviews, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jason-derulo-mn0000643543)
4. [Jason Derülo: 'I couldn't even tie my own shoelaces' — The Guardian, 2 July 2013](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/jul/02/jason-derulo)
5. [Jason Derulo Bio + Boiler 2024, Atlantic Records press kit](https://press.atlanticrecords.com/sites/g/files/g2000014001/files/2024-02/JASON%20DERULO%20BIO%20+%20BOILER%202024.pdf)
6. [Jason Derulo — Forbes profile](https://www.forbes.com/profile/jason-derulo/)
7. [Jason Derulo — Official Website](https://www.jasonderulo.com/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Individual musical biographies › Pop and R&B singer-songwriters › R&B singers, 1990s and 2000s › R&B singers of the 2000s › Surnames A to L*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license