When you think of Bobby V(alentino), your mind probably goes two places – his mid 2000s run of radio singles (“Slow Down,” “Tell Me,” “Anonymous”) or his big features (“Pimpin All Over the World,” and, uggggggh, “Mrs. Officer”).
But you may be surprised by how prolific Bobby V has been over the years. From his vastly underrated debut with R&B group Mista, aka the “Blackberry Molasses” boys, to a slew of EPs, mixtapes and LPs that spanned most of the 2010s, a film, and his current penchant for dropping random singles on Instagram, it seems like this man is always creating.
So let’s do what we always do – look back at every LP, EP, and collab project he’s shared with us thus far, ranking them from bottom to top. Although we’re skipping mixtapes this time, I added a few surprises to make up for that.
11. Hollywood Hearts (2016)
Soul in Stereo rating: 2 stars out of 5
Edd said: So yeah, this was a thing. Bobby hit the small screen in 2016 with Hollywood Hearts, his acting debut. The project inevitably lead to a soundtrack, which served as an undercover Bobby V album. And …I have absolutely nothing to say about this. I’m not being facetious either – the production is marginal, the singing is OK, the writing is predictable. There’s absolutely nothing of note here, it’s just 44 minutes of content. No wonder I forgot this project existed.
Forgotten favorites: “Big Booty Judy,” I guess
10. The Next of Both World (2005)
Soul in Stereo rating: 2.5 stars out of 5
Edd said: Just six months after dropping his breakout solo debut, quietly Bobby V teamed with rapper STIX to hopefully improve upon Jay-Z and R. Kelly’s woeful Best of Both Worlds. They did not. The Next of Both Worlds serves up a handful of bland mid ’00s club tracks and OK-ish Radio&B. It’s much better when Valentino takes the lead but it still fails to impress. No shock that this one didn’t really go anywhere. Also, shouldn’t “Your My Girl” be “You’re My Girl?” Sheesh.
Forgotten favorites: “Your My Girl”
9. Dusk Till Dawn (2012)
Soul in Stereo rating: 3 stars out of 5
Edd said: One listen to Dusk Till Dawn and you can tell that Bobby was long overdue for a refresh. Superproducers Tim & Bob – a constant presence on his early albums – are limited to just one song here (one of the best songs, naturally). While he has a few fresh faces behind the boards, most just mimic the sounds that worked on previous projects. And it doesn’t help that the writing feels weaker this time around. Bobby needed a change at this point.
Forgotten favorites: “Are You Ready,” “Ooh (She Got Me Like)”
8. Fly on the Wall (2011)
Soul in Stereo rating: 3 stars out of 5
Edd said: I always felt like Fly on the Wall struggled to find an identity. We got four singles from this album – the most from any Bobby V project at this point – and none really stuck, with the slight exception of “Words.” The album was crammed with top tier production (Tim & Bob, Bryan-Michael Cox, Jazze Pha, Hit-Boy, Stevie J) and a ton of guests (50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, Twista, Plies – even Cyhi Da Prynce jumps off the back of a milk carton for this one). But between the excessive runtime and glut of songs that feel like “been there, done that,” Fly on the Wall can’t justify its buzz.
Forgotten favorites: “Words,” “If I Can’t Have You”
7. Electrik (2018)
Soul in Stereo rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
Edd said: It’s kinda wild that Bobby has gone almost a decade without an official studio project. Electrik works best when Bobby lingers in familiar territory. Tracks like “Lil Bit” and “Beautiful Life” feel like they were plucked from 2005 sessions with Tim and Bob. But despite solid attempts to return to form, several of the performances are too low energy. What should have been a strong comeback winds up too lethargic for its own good. His Static Shock album cover cosplay deserved better.
Forgotten favorites: “Lil Bit,” “Promise U,” “Beautiful Life”
6. The Rebirth (2009)
Soul in Stereo rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
Edd said: Following his split with Disturbing Tha Peace, Bobby returned with a slightly more mature outlook. The results are kinda weird – Tim & Bob are back behind the boards, with heavy hitters like Raphael Saadiq coming in clutch. Always a win. But despite all the ingredients being in place, the formula started to feel like it was losing its potency. That could be due to the album’s erratic sequencing; reordering things would greatly help the album’s flow. Also, this is the project that gave us “Beep,” which only comes second to “Mrs. Officer” in the race for Most Annoying Song of the 2000s. There’s elements of a good album here, but it’s all over the place.
Forgotten favorites: “Butterfly Tattoo,” “Just Me & You,” “My Girl”
5. Peach Moon (2013)
Soul in Stereo rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
Edd said: By 2013, Bobby was ready for a change, and Peach Moon was part of that transition. This EP leans closer to jazzy soul than the hip-hop infused sounds and high-octane R&B that made Bobby a star, and it’s actually a solid fit. But at just six tracks, this feels more like a demo than a fleshed out project. Still, this had a ton of potential and I’d score it even higher if we got more. Neo-soul Valentino should have been a thing.
Forgotten favorites: “Who Am I to Change,” “Koko Lovely,” “Never Give Up”
4. Special Occasion (2007)
Soul in Stereo rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
Edd said: Bobby obviously has undeniable chemistry with Tim and Bob but Timbaland comes in at a very close second on Valentino’s sophomore album. “Anonymous” was a surefire hit and “Rearview (Ridin’)” was pretty fun too. I wish we got more of them together. But of course, Tim and Bob are back with the bangers as well, along with Dre & Vidal, Darkchild and others. The album starts quite strong with great midtempos and space-age sonics but it struggles to maintain the momentum on the second half. The loss of innovative tracks takes away from the fun. Without them, Special Occasion winds up a Typical Occasion.
Forgotten favorites: “Rearview (Ridin’),” “Checkin’ For Me,” “Only Human”
3. Come with Me (2008)
Soul in Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5
Edd said: Here’s another Bobby V EP you may have missed, and it’s the best one to date. Bobby teams with producer B Jabr, who laces Valentino was a very smooth, mellow sound. It’s what I’d imagine his group Mista would have evolved into in the 2000s. There are no big hits here, but it’s surprisingly fulfilling despite its extremely brief runtime. This was very impressive and I really wish he explored this sound later in his career when he was seeking direction.
Forgotten favorites: “Another Life,” “What’s Going On”
2. Mista (1996)
Soul in Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5
Edd said: I figured I’d throw in Bobby’s official introduction for a lil’ razzle dazzle. Mista stormed on the scene with a maturity that was leagues ahead of their young peers. Admittedly, the group was still rough around the edges vocally but the grit added to many of these emotional tracks. While the bluesy production couldn’t measure up to the flashy heavy-hitters of its era and the somber tone likely was too heavy for younger ears, Mista’s debut still was ahead of its time. I think we were robbed of something special with these guys.
Forgotten favorites: “? (Heart) Is,” “Things You Do,” “Lady”
1. Disturbing Tha Peace Presents Bobby Valentino (2005)
Soul in Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5
Edd said: I’m pretty sure you all predicted which album would land on the top spot – sometimes, the most obvious answer is the most correct one. After a criminally overlooked run with Mista, Bobby Valentino linked up with battle-tested superproducers Tim and Bob to create R&B’s next great triple threat. “Slow Down” and “Tell Me” instantly became career defining singles and R&B had a new contender for the crown. But the album brought more to the table than those singles, thanks to the stellar production and catchy writing. This is the way to make a first impression and it’s still remembered as Bobby V’s defining work.
…And 20 years later I’m STILL demanding a video for “Want You to Know Me.”
Forgotten favorites: “Want You to Know Me,” “Never Lonely,” “One Girl to Love”
What’s your favorite Bobby V album? Let us know below.
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