Brooke Valentine
Age: 40
Kanesha Nichole Brookes (born October 5, 1984), better known by her stage name Brooke Valentine, is an American singer, actress, and model. Her single "Girlfight" peaked on U.S. music charts in 2005, paving the way for her debut album Chain Letter, released via Subliminal Entertainment imprint on Virgin Records and went on to sell more than 290 000 units worldwide. After a first attempt at a comeback, Brooke officially returned to the spotlight in 2012 with Two new singles "Forever" and the Adult R&B Top 40 Hit "Don't Wanna Be In Love".
Biography
1984-2004: Early life and career beginnings
Valentine was born in Houston, Texas She started her musical career as a member of the female group Best Kept Secret. To pursue a solo career, she moved to Los Angeles, California with producer and Subliminal Entertainment CEO Deja the Great and signed to Virgin Records.
2004-06: Chain Letter
Brooke Valentine made her debut with the album Chain Letter in 2005. The album was led by the hit single, "Girlfight", which features Lil Jon and Big Boi. It succeeded internationally, peaking in the top fifty in Australia and Ireland, and Top 40 in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Chain Letter debuted at #16 on the US Billboard 200 and as high as No. 3 on the U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums singles charts . The album's second single, "Long as You Come Home", peaked at #71 on the US R&B/Hip-Hop chart. Valentine recorded a song, "Boogie Oogie Oogie", for the soundtrack to the film Roll Bounce. The album peaked at #16 in the Billboard 200 on April 2, 2005 and #3 in the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart. The album totaled nearly 290,000 units sold since release.
2006-09: Physical Education and Physical Education Mixtape
In 2006, Valentine planned a second album, Physical Education. Its first single was "D-Girl", which featured rapper Pimp C. The song peaked at #92 on the R&B chart. She then released the second single "Pimped Out", which featured Dem Franchize Boyz. Her second album Physical Education was put on hold due to Virgin Records’ merger with Capitol Records in 2008. Subliminal Entertainment CEO Deja the Great then acquired the masters and the contract rights from Virgin Records. Some of the material from the Physical Education recording sessions was released in April 2009 as Physical Education Mixtape.
2010-present: "Forever" and change to B. Valentine
In a 2010 interview Valentine said that she took a break and has been writing music for other artists, but now she is ready for a return. In January 2011, she previewed a snippet of a new song. Changing her stage name to B. Valentine, the lead single from the second album, "Forever," was released on February 14, 2012, via Subliminal Entertainment. A video for song "Insanity" was also released in January 2012, shot entirely on an Apple iPad and directed by Subliminal CEO Deja the Great. Brooke's second official single from her second, "Don't Wanna Be In Love", was released and peaked at #29 on the Adult R&B music chart, making it her first single in six years to chart on any music chart.
Brooke is currently working on her upcoming second studio album.
Discography
Main article: Brooke Valentine discography- Studio albums
- Chain Letter (2005)