Bobby Valentino: Somebody that really sings and is not lip-synching. You can go to the shows and you can tell who does the lip-synching and you can tell who sings for real. I think there are a lot of fake singers out there. I wanted to send a message out saying, Let’s get some people out here who are really singing and let’s bring this R&B thing back. What do you feel about the state of R&B right now? Some people think its lacking creativity. Bobby Valentino: The way music is today, I think whenever you try to do something new, people don’t like it. So you kind of have to reel people in with what they’re familiar with and then you can give them something new. With Ne-Yo, Mario, Chris Brown, Omarion, and of course you in the spotlight, a new generation of singers are emerging. How do you think this generation of male R&B singers compares to the past generation? right Bobby Valentino: I think the past generation was more into it. They knew more about music. It wasn't all about just entertainment with them. It was more about the song and it was more about the passion that they might have for music. I think now it’s more sugarcoated and there are more politics involved. So now you just have to conform for a little while. Before, [record labels] were into making artists. Now they’re just into making a hit record. Out of the new generation of male R&B artists, what makes you stand out of the bunch? What do you think your place is in this generation of singers? Bobby Valentino: I think my album’s hotter. My music is hotter than all of theirs. But who am I to judge? If you listen to my album and put it next to anything that any one of those other artists are doing, I think that mine really speaks for R&B and what it’s supposed to be. I don’t do all of the dancing and all that stuff, not to knock them for that. I think they’re cool artists. I’m really just high on myself because if you don’t believe in yourself, nobody else will. Toward the end of “Wreck” you do a bit of rhyming. And lately singers like Mary J. Blige and Tyrese have revealed hip hop alter egos… Bobby Valentino: I definitely have one too: BV. I’m a great freestyler. I always freestyle with my homeboys. I’d like to rap later on, but right now I’m really focused on R&B. I just had my chance to do it on that song. Earlier this summer, R.L. of Next put out an R&B record dissing Jagged Edge and 112. Then, an up-and-coming singer named Kev Samples dissed several singers on his Death of R&B mixtape. What do you think about what is now being called R-N-Beef? Bobby Valentino: I think to dis somebody on a record is lame, especially for R&B. We sing love songs. So to be hating on somebody like that – I don’t know about that. You don’t think it adds to the competitiveness of the music? Bobby Valentino: It’s competitive anyway. I don’t think you have to dis somebody to be competitive. I think our music speaks for itself. Suppose one of your contemporaries dropped a dis record towards you. Would you have any urge to respond? Bobby Valentino: No I wouldn’t respond. I’d respond to their face. I wouldn’t have to do it on a record. So you were on the Biggie Duets project a little while back. What did it mean to you to participate on that album? Bobby Valentino: It meant a lot because Biggie Smalls is a legend. Just for me to be a part of that – that was a big album. It was a great look for me to be a part of what’s probably Biggie’s last album. So I’m definitely happy to have been a part of that. Some people feel that an artist’s work should not be released posthumously. What’s your take on that? Bobby Valentino: I feel like it should be released because I’m doing songs just for that purpose. I don’t know when I’m going to go. So I record all of the time and I want them to be able to put out my music when I’m dead. I’ll probably sell more. I definitely want them to put my stuff out. So from hearing your songs it seems like you know how to treat a lady. And being that your album is named Special Occasion, I wanted to finish off by asking you how you would treat certain occasions to make them special. First scenario: Your girlfriend’s birthday. Bobby Valentino: I’d pick her up, we might go to the movies. We might go race go-karts. We might go to Six Flags. We might go back to the crib, pop some champagne, throw down some rose pedals on the floor and just spend some quality time together. Okay. Second scenario: Mother’s Day. Bobby Valentino: That’s the day for my momma so I’m definitely going to take her out. Take her out to eat. We’ll probably go eat brunch or something, go to church. I’d just spend the day with my momma and kick it. I might go bowling with her. Do something fun. Third scenario: Anniversary. Bobby Valentino: I don’t know what I would do for an anniversary because I haven’t had one of those. I love to eat, so we’d go to a nice restaurant and just celebrate the anniversary. I don’t know if you’ve thought this far ahead yet but what about a wedding? You have any type of vision for that? Bobby Valentino: Nah, not at all. That’s a long way in my future. I bet you can probably think of something for the honeymoon though. Bobby Valentino: Oh, hell yeah. We’re somewhere where the water is real blue. Good bottles of champagne. We’re at the beach. And then we’re back to the room for breakfast Read more vibe.com online exclusives.
home
