Who is Bobby Valentino?
BV: I’m a very down to earth person, I’m a real person. Fellas can relate to me as well as the ladies. I’m definitely singing to the ladies, but from a fellas point of view. I just graduated from Clark Atlanta University, Mass Communication, radio, tv, and film. I played sports, baseball and football. That’s pretty much it.

Tell me what is your pet peeve?
BV: When people just look at you and stare at you.

But you’re Bobby Valentino!
BV: (Laughs) Another pet peeve is when people ask where’s Ludacris? I don’t know!

Now, all the ladies want to know—are you single?
BV: Yes, definitely single and love to mingle.

Since you’re single how can you tell who is talking to you because you’re Bobby Valentino or because you’re you?
BV: I can tell there are always little signs. I can definitely tell if they’re hollering for me or just for name sake. I can definitely tell. I’ve grown up throughout the years being Bobby from Mista and I’ve seen who likes me for me and the difference between a groupie and real love.

By the way, Congratulations on graduating! Can you give us a brief background on your musical foundation?
BV: I started in the group Mista, that’s where I learned the game, learned the business. I broke up with the group probably about 2000 and started working on my solo career. I probably had about three or four albums worth of material that I got to Disturbing The Peace and they loved it. It was history from there.

How was it working with Mista?
BV: It was a great experience. I learned a lot had a lot of fun and we still all cool. We still all kick it and we all talk, but now it’s about this Bobby Valentino album.

What’s the story with the Mista break up?
BV: Most groups break up for the same reasons. Everybody has their own goals in life but my goals weren’t the same as everybody else’s. We still cool and we still kick it, but everybody wanted to do their own thang.

Okay, so how is it working with DTP?
BV: It’s great! I learn a lot from them. They’re hard workers and they instill in me if you work hard you can be on top. I learned that from Luda he never gets any sleep and I don’t either. I definitely learned a lot from DTP. They teach me the game, they teach me right from wrong. I’ve learned a lot through the years, but them teaching me more is great.

Who did you work with on your album?
BV: Tim and Bob they did the first single. They did the majority of the album. I have one feature on the album that’s Ludacris and the rest of the album is me showcasing my thoughts and ideas.

So you write all of your own material also?
BV: Yea.

That shows a lot of talent. What would you say is the best thing about being an artist?
BV: The best thing is the special treatment, but with that comes a lot of things. You don’t really have a personal life. You have to watch what you say, watch what you do.