It Was You All Along: What If You're the One You've Been Waiting For?

The self-made musical artist follows his bestseller IT’S ALL IN YOUR HEAD with this second inspirational book for everyone who’s looking for answers in all the wrong places. It’s a book about self-empowerment, self-awareness, and ultimately self-love.

Independent rapper, songwriter, singer, and producer Russ sells out concerts across America and around the globe, collaborating with top artists, such as Snoop Dogg, Joey Bada$$, Ed Sheeran, Rick Ross, Lil Baby, Jadakiss, Bia, and Mozzy to name a few. At twenty-seven, he became a bestselling author with the publication of his debut book, IT’S ALL IN YOUR HEAD. Now, at thirty-one, Russ returns with a second book even more profound and intimate than his first. Building on his message of self-acceptance, It Was You All Along goes deeper into Russ’s heart and soul as it tracks the keys to knowing and loving yourself.

The book addresses the question posed by the subtitle—what if you’re the one you’ve been waiting for?—a line from Russ’s first album inspired by his mother’s advice. Success comes from loving and believing in yourself and working hard regardless of obstacles and naysayers. Published in conjunction with his tour of the same name, It Was You All Along expands on themes found in Russ’s music and across his albums, and each chapter title takes the name of a track. Russ has always followed his own beat—and shows you how to find your own unique rhythm, offering motivational wisdom on everything from trust, discipline, and letting go to authenticity, joy, and faith.

Packed with moving observances, It Was You All Along gives fans a rare look into the man behind the music and the challenges he continues to face both personally and as an independent artist. Russ gets deeply personal in these pages, revealing how seeing a therapist helped him understand his relationship with his family and realize that he was so overly focused on helping everyone in his orbit when the person who needed his attention most was himself.

Russ uses his immense passion, his experiences, and his love for people to inspire us all. His honesty and straightforwardness will convince even the most reluctant reader that the answer can always be found within. An artist known for his powerful lyrics, Russ uses his songwriting gifts to craft prose that is moving, memorable, and motivational.

A veteran in the industry, Russ has garnered a whopping 22 billion career streams and over 25 million singles sold to date. His albums There’s Really A Wolf, SHAKE THE SNOW GLOBE, and Zoo released via his partnership with Columbia Records all hit the Billboard 200 chart and received critical acclaim, with There’s Really A Wolf going certified 2x platinum with standout singles “What They Want” and “Losin Control,” and spending 84 weeks on the Billboard 200 chart. In 2019, Russ released his best-selling IT’S ALL IN YOUR HEAD, an inspirational book reminding us that your success starts with you and the belief in yourself. That same year, Forbes named Russ one of their “30 Under 30.” In 2022, a champion for independent artists, Russ launched his indie label DIEMON (an acronym for “Do It Everyday Music Or Nothing”) with partner and longtime collaborator Bugus Thompson. With DIEMON, Russ launched artist Ktlyn after her remix of his platinum single “Handsomer” went viral. He’s performed on some of the world’s largest stages and wowed audiences – including performing “Patience” on Jimmy Kimmel Live! His most recent album, SANTIAGO, debuted at #12 on the Billboard 200 albums chart and explores Russ’ journey of self-approval, finding his self-worth, self-love, and moving on from seeking validation from others. On this album, Russ opens up about his struggles with mental health following the trials and tribulations of the music industry, and now his newfound freedom as an independent artist. Russ also debuted his short film SANTIAGO, a visual to the album, in 88 theaters worldwide.