Jason Derulo and I go way back. His first appearance on my show was in 2009 before “Whatcha Say” was on anyone’s radar. The hitmaker has been a consistent presence on the program since, whether he was calling in, stopping by the studio or saying hello at an awards show.
It was great to catch up with him last month in Las Vegas at the Billboard Music Awards; Derulo joined Nicki Minaj, David Guetta and Lil Wayne to open the broadcast, contributing a performance of his Minaj-assisted single “Swalla.”
But there was another part of our conversation that I kept thinking about, besides exchanging pleasantries and talking about his forthcoming TV appearance.
“Soon man, we’ll be celebrating 100 million sold,” he revealed to me. “It’s a really, really exciting time.”
He offered up the stat as we took a trip down memory lane; I had brought up “In My Head” – the single that shed his potential “one hit wonder” label and helped solidify his status as a pop radio mainstay. Coincidentally, it was Minaj that had jumped on a remix of the track and assisted in it gaining airplay on rhythmic and urban radio.
But besides his discography coming full-circle with Minaj, I was curious as to what Derulo thought of when he looked back on that period in his career.
“I remember not quite being myself a lot of the times,” he candidly offered. “I remember being excited as sh—about everything that was happening in my life man.
“It all just kind of came crashing in a moment. When you’ve been working your whole life for something and it finally comes to fruition it’s crazy.”
Derulo couldn’t have imagined what would follow: more hit singles, tours, a near-death experience, TV gigs and the occasional tabloid fodder. And at only 27, surely he doesn’t know what’s to come.
Jason Derulo’s Top 5 Singles (Ranked by peak-Billboard Hot 100 position)
5.) “Wiggle” (featuring Snoop Dogg)
4.) “Want To Want Me”
3.) “In My Head”
2.) “Talk Dirty” (featuring 2 Chainz)
1.) “Whatcha Say”
Honorable mention: the original version of “Ridin’ Solo.”
