EXCLUSIVE TAIO CRUZ TORONTO MUCHMUSIC PHOTOS AND AUTOGRAPH GIVEAWAY

UK R&B/Dance Pop superstar Taio Cruz is in Toronto doing a bit of promotion for his stateside debut Rokstarr, which has seen much success overseas already.

Having made a number of modifications to the album for its release in North America, he is now poised to release his second single Dynamite, a recent addition to the collection.  And if the decision to add rapper Ludacris to  Billboard Hot 100 Chart number one single Break Your Heart is any indication of his decision making ability,  Cruz will become a  household name in no time in these parts.

Born Jacob Taio Cruz, the 27 year-old London based singer-songwriter's success has been long in the making.  He's written for the likes of Ke$ha, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Pussycat Dolls, Kylie Minogue and many more.  It's only fitting that he's now writing songs for himself and getting proper recognition for it.   Cruz confirmed today at MuchMusic's MuchOnDemand with VJ Sarah Taylor that he's working with British Boy-Band McFly and the likes of Rihanna.   And the girls in the audience seemed to take a liking to his British accent when asked what they thought of it.  The singer also was quizzed about his relationship status, to which he confirmed awkwardly that currently he has a girlfriend, although he would not expand further on the matter.  Taylor noted, "You make that (having a girlfriend) seem like it's a bad thing!".

TAIO CRUZ - ROKSTARR (NORTH AMERICAN PRESSING) REVIEW

Taio Cruz (pronounced Tye-oh Krewz) is just what American music needs. It's too bad that we had to go to the UK to find him. Having done the Urban Dance-Pop thing ahead of the curve that is dominating airwaves and iPod players in North America, the talented 27 year-old singer-songwriter picks up where Ne-Yo teased us back in 2008 with his excellent single Closer, but failed to run with on subsequent singles.

Originally released in October 2009 in the UK, sophomore effort Rokstarr is repackaged and modified for tastes on this side of the Atlantic with just ten solid tracks. The North American pressing of the album includes smash single Come on Girl (ft. Luciana) from his debut album Departure, plus three additional new tracks. Italian Disco meets Reggae track Higher is undeniably a welcome addition to his catalogue, while I Can Be takes a queue of the string sample heard in Bittersweet Symphony (The Verve) and planned second single Dynamite is almost as catchy as Billboard Hot 100 Chart topping Break My Heart. Although musically it has no bearing with its presence, a collaboration with Ke$ha, Dirty Picture gives North Americans that added bit of familiarity to ascertain that Taio Cruz can be a household name in these parts too.