Bobby Valentino To Reveal His Hip Hop Half

By: John Kennedy

August 2, 2006

With Mary J. Blige and the animated Brook Lynn, Beyonce and catching-the-holy-ghost Sasha, and Tyrese and the swaggered Black Ty, it was only a matter of time before other artists followed the split-personalities-trend. The latest addition: Bobby Valentino and his rhyming counterpart, BV.

“I like to rap,” Valentino revealed to Vibe.com in a recent interview. “I'm a great freestyler. I always freestyle with my homeboys.”

The Disturbing Tha Peace/Island Def Jam recording artist says he plans to intertwine his raps into his music later in his career. Until then, he can be heard rhyming smoothly on “Wreck,” the buzz single to his forthcoming Special Occasion.

With rappers continually singing on songs, it should be no surprise that singers from R. Kelly to Monica have experimented with rhymes.

“[Rappers are] singing on their hooks, we need to rap too,” Valentino says. “Because they're doing all of the singing, they're taking all of the singers away.”

As hip hop’s influence becomes increasingly present in R&B, some vocalists have even incorporated the battling aspect. Earlier this summer, R.L. of Next serenaded the “Cater to You” instrumental with jabs toward Jagged Edge and 112, while up-and-coming singer Kev Samples dropped the Death of R&B mixtape, melodically dissing the likes of Ne-Yo and Ray J.

“I think that's the lamest thing ever,” Valentino says of the so-called “R-n-Beef.” “Especially for R&B. We sing love songs… I don't think you have to dis somebody to be competitive. I think our music speaks for itself.”

DTP’s crooning Casanova will let his music speak for itself on Sept. 19, the scheduled release date for his sophomore album. The album features contributions from Rodney Jerkins, Dre & Vidal, Sean Garrett and Tim & Bob.

Valentino hasn’t yet decided if he will add any rappers to the project.

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