Bobby Wilson
(Known as Bobby Valentino) was born in Jackson, Mississippi
but raised
in Atlanta. Bobby started his career in the music industry
at a young age by forming the group Mista with a group of friends.
The Boyz II Men-styled group had a hit in 1996 with the single "Blackberry
Molasses" but the album didn't follow in the same success
and despite a second album being produced by Tim & Bob
it was never released. Due to management issues the group decided
to split and the members decided to go their separate ways.
Despite the short-lived success of the group Bobby still believes
it wasn't a bad experience but a "learning experience".
Bobby then decided to put his music career on hold to gain a college degree in
Mass Communications from Clark Atlanta University due to the competitive nature
of the music industry and also having something "to fall back on".
After graduating
from University in 2003, Bobby decided to focus on music
again and, armed with three albums of demos, he set out
to pursue his music career dream. The demos reached Poon
Daddy who then forwarded them onto Ludacris and Shaka Zulu
and "the rest is history" as Bobby says. Bobby
Valentino (nicknamed "Valentino" because he was
due to be born on Valentines day), under the label Disturbing
Tha Peace (DTP), then collaborated with production team
Tim & Bob on his debut solo album "Disturbing
Tha Peace Presents...Bobby Valentino" which includes
the number 1 smash hit "Slow Down" as well as "Tell
Me" and "Give me a chance" which features
Ludacris.
The second solo album entitled "Special Occasion" was released on
May 8th 2007 and includes the Rodney Jerkins produced official first single
called "Turn The Page" as well as Timbaland Smash Hit "Anonymous".
The album debuted at No. 3 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and eventually peaked
at No. 1 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
Bobby Valentino returned to the studio in late 2007 and began working on his
third album which was due to be called "Underground Love". Bobby Valentino's
departure from DTP/Def Jam in early 2008 stalled the project and the album
was shelved.
On April 29th 2008, the digital-only album entitled Come With Me was released
and included the tracks "Another Life" and a remake of the Marvin Gaye classic,
"What's Going On."
In July 2008, Bobby Valentino signed a new recording contract with EMI which
houses his imprint Blu Kolla Dreams. The new album "The Rebirth" os schedule
for release on February 10th 2009 and the first official single from the album
entitled "Beep" was released via iTunes on October 7th 2008.
