After signing a publishing deal at the age of 19,[1] Cruz released his debut studio album, Departure in 2006; it reached number 17 on the UK Albums Chart and was certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).

[3] Cruz released his second album, Rokstarr, on 12 October 2009,[4] preceded by the commercially successful single "Break Your Heart".

[5][6][7] Rokstarr also featured the singles "No Other One", "Dirty Picture", "Dynamite", "Higher" and "Falling in Love".

"Dynamite" topped the British and American singles charts, and was later certified sextuple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

[3][7] In 2011, Cruz collaborated with French house musician David Guetta and Ludacris on the single "Little Bad Girl": it reached number four in the United Kingdom and number five in Austria and Germany.