Slow Down (Bobby Valentino song)

"Slow Down" is the debut single of American singer Bobby Valentino, released from his first self-titled album, Bobby Valentino, on February 14, 2005. Produced by Tim & Bob, the song spent four consecutive weeks at number one on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and has since been certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). "Slow Down" also peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 as well as number four in the United Kingdom. The music video was directed by Erik White.^[1]

"Slow Down"
Single by Bobby Valentino
from the album Bobby Valentino
B-side	"Give Me a Chance" "You and Me"
Released	February 14, 2005 (2005-02-14)
Studio	Record Plant (Hollywood, California)
Length	4:18 (album version) 3:56 (radio edit)
Label	Disturbing tha Peace Def Jam
Songwriter(s)	Tim Kelley Bob Robinson Bobby Wilson
Producer(s)	Tim & Bob
Bobby Valentino singles chronology
"Slow Down" (2005) "Tell Me" (2005)

Release and reception

"Slow Down" was first serviced to US rhythmic contemporary and urban radio on February 14, 2005.^[2] Prior to this, the song received enough early airplay on these formats to debut at number 63 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart in December 2004 and climb to number 54 two days prior to its release.^[3][4] Afterwards, the song rose up the chart, reaching number one on May 7, 2005, and staying there for four weeks.^[5] On the Billboard Hot 100, the song first charted in March 2005 and peaked at number eight on May 21, staying on the ranking for 22 weeks.^[6] The single also appeared on the Billboard Rhythmic Top 40 chart, where it also reached number eight.^[7] It finished 2005 at number 47 on the Hot 100 year-end chart and at number six on the annual R&B listing.^[8][9]

On June 20, 2005, "Slow Down" was released in the United Kingdom as a 12-inch single and a CD single.^[10] Six days later, it debuted and peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Valentino's only top-20 single in the UK and spending 12 weeks in the top 100.^[11] It went on to become the UK's 77th-best-selling hit of 2005.^[10] Across Europe, the single entered the top 40 in Germany, Ireland, and Switzerland, placing at number 13 on the Eurochart Hot 100.^[12][13][14] In Australia, a CD single was issued on July 4, 2005, but it did not appear within the ARIA Singles Chart top 100.^[15] "Slow Down" has been certified gold by the RIAA and the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).^[16][17]

Track listings

US 12-inch single[18] "Slow Down" (radio) "Slow Down" (LP) "Slow Down" (instrumental) UK CD single[19] "Slow Down" (album version) – 4:20 "Give Me a Chance" (featuring Ludacris) – 4:43 "You and Me" – 4:35 UK 12-inch single[20] A1. "Slow Down" (12-inch version) – 4:20 A2. "Slow Down" (instrumental) – 4:20 B1. "Give Me a Chance" (featuring Ludacris) – 4:43

European CD single[21] "Slow Down" (album version) – 4:20 "Slow Down" (instrumental) – 4:20 Australian CD single[22] "Slow Down" (radio edit) – 3:55 "Slow Down" (12-inch version) – 4:20 "Give Me a Chance" (album version featuring Ludacris) – 4:48 "Slow Down" (video)

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the European CD single liner notes.^[21]

Studios

• Recorded at Record Plant (Hollywood, California)
• Mixed at Studio Atlantis (Los Angeles)
• Mastered at Glenn Schick Mastering (Atlanta, Georgia, US)

Personnel

• Tim & Bob – production
  • Tim Kelley – writing, drum programming and keys, recording, mixing
  • Bob Robinson – writing, guitars
• Bobby Valentino – writing (as Bobby Wilson)
• Jun Ishizeki – recording
• Kevin "KD" Davis – mixing
• Glenn Schick – mastering

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2005) Peak position Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[14] 13 France (SNEP)[23] 42 Germany (GfK)[24] 31 Ireland (IRMA)[13] 31 Netherlands (Urban Top 100)[25] 22 Scotland (OCC)[26] 19 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[12] 35 UK Singles (OCC)[11] 4 UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[27] 2 US Billboard Hot 100[6] 8 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[5] 1 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[7] 8

Year-end charts Chart (2005) Position UK Singles (OCC)[28] 77 UK Urban (Music Week)[29] 2 US Billboard Hot 100[8] 47 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[9] 6 US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard)[30] 28

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[17]	Gold	400,000‡
United States (RIAA)[16]	Gold	500,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	February 14, 2005	Rhythmic contemporary urban radio	Disturbing tha Peace	[2]
United Kingdom	June 20, 2005	12-inch vinyl CD	Disturbing tha Peace Def Jam	[10]
Australia	July 4, 2005	CD		[15]

References

1. Bobby Valentino – "Slow Down" music video^{[dead link‍]} MTV. Accessed September 14, 2008.
2. "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1593. February 11, 2005. p. 27. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
3. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. December 25, 2004. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
4. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. February 12, 2005. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
5. "Bobby V Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
6. "Bobby V Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
7. "Bobby V Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
8. "Billboard Top 100 – 2005". Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
9. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: 2005". Billboard. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
10. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. June 18, 2005. p. 35.
11. "Bobby Valentino: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
12. "Bobby Valentino – Slow Down". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
13. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Bobby Valentino". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
14. "Hits of the World – Eurocharts" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 117, no. 28. July 9, 2005. p. 83. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
15. "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 4th July 2005" (PDF). ARIA. July 4, 2005. p. 30. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 19, 2005. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
16. "American single certifications – Bobby Valentino – Slow Down". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
17. "British single certifications – Bobby Valentino – Slow Down". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
18. Slow Down (US 12-inch single vinyl disc). Bobby Valentino. Disturbing tha Peace. 2005. B0004294-11.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
19. Slow Down (UK CD single liner notes). Bobby Valentino. Disturbing tha Peace, Def Jam Recordings. 2005. 9883239.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
20. Slow Down (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Bobby Valentino. Disturbing tha Peace, Def Jam Recordings. 2005. 9883231.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
21. Slow Down (European CD single liner notes). Bobby Valentino. Disturbing tha Peace, Def Jam Recordings. 2005. 9883080.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
22. Slow Down (Australian CD single liner notes). Bobby Valentino. Disturbing tha Peace, Def Jam Recordings. 2005. 9883560.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
23. "Bobby Valentino – Slow Down" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
24. "Bobby Valentino – Slow Down" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
25. "The Urban Chart Top 100 – Urban Top 100". urbantop100.nl. Archived from the original on June 22, 2005. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
26. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
27. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
28. "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2005". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
29. "2005 Urban Top 40" (PDF). Music Week. January 14, 2006. p. 22. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
30. "2005 The Year in Charts: Top Rhythmic Top 40 Songs". Billboard Radio Monitor. Vol. 13, no. 50. December 16, 2005. p. 34.