Dude Diary: Taio Cruz

Over the weekend, we were mesmerized by British pop singer Taio Cruz‘s sexy music video for “Dirty Picture” with Ke$ha. So we got to wondering — who was this crooner from the other side of the pond?

By age 26, Taio had released the gold selling album — Departure — along with five hit singles, toured for 18 months and won a Brit Award, his MySpace profile boasts. And before becoming a pop superstar in Britain with hits like “She’s Like a Star,” he was an in-demand songwriter and producer, working with likes of Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and the Pussycat Dolls.

Last fall, he released his second album, Rokstarr, with its first single, “Break Your Heart,” debuting stateside last month. In one week, the song jumped from number 53 on the charts to number one. After five weeks on Billboard 100, “Break Your Heart” currently sits at number 6, although its getting major airplay and sales, Billboard notes. “Dirty Picture” is up next and, from what we can tell, it will be another major hit for Taio, especially with help from Ke$ha, who has been dominating the charts herself these past few months (her “Tik Tok” is currently at number 10).

There’s no doubt that Taio will be a star, but will his star power make a lasting mark on an industry that’s growing ever more fickle? If comparisons to Babyface are any indication, Taio should take comfort in knowing that his abilities as writer and producer will be able to withstand the test of time, even if his popstar performing fame dims.

Check out his “Break Your Heart” video — we can’t get enough in the Crushable offices (but our male coworkers are plotting ways to irreparably damage our computer speakers). What do you think of this rising superstar and his catchy songs? Are you planning on buying Rokstarr?

(Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images)