Bobby V

Read more: Is Patti LaBelle dating 41-year-old drummer Eric Sit? [PHOTOS] | Top Q&A Born Bobby Wilson in Mississippi but raised in Atlanta, slick contemporary R&B singer Bobby V – known as Bobby Valentino until a lawsuit from a British performer of the same name – came – known as Bobby Valentino – had trouble convincing his skeptical parents that the music business was the place for him. When 16-year-old Wilson hooked up with the production team of Organized Noize, his parents knew he was serious and that his dream of a record deal was possible. With a group of friends, he formed Mista, a Boyz II Men style vocal group that made some waves with the single “Blackberry Molasses”. The group’s album of the same name came out in 1996 but couldn’t match the single’s success. A second, unreleased album was recorded with the help of producer Timbaland, but management problems divided the group and Wilson decided to focus on college. After earning his degree in 2003, he went back to demo work. One of his demos went to Ludacris, who made Wilson the first R&B singer on the rapper’s DTP (Disturbing tha Peace) team. The catchy track “Slow Down” announced the singer’s rebirth as a DTP member in early 2005 and quickly became a BET and radio favorite. As the ballad was being voted on by many schools, Def Jam/DTP released its eponymous debut, topping the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Special Occasion equalized that success in 2007, but Wilson left his label on good terms and signed with EMI. His first album for the label, titled The Rebirth and released through his Blu Kolla Dreams boutique label, was released in February 2009 and features works by longtime collaborators. Tim & Bob, as well as Carlos McKinney and Raphael Saadiq. Fly on the Wall, released on Capitol in 2011, debuted in the Billboard 200’s Top Ten. Led by a collaboration with Lil Wayne “Mirror,” the singer returned on eOne in 2012 with Dusk’ to Dawn. Wilson continues to record polished material, which was released independently of Hollywood Hearts in 2016 and Electrik in 2018.