Fast chats with 3 recording artists

Bobby Valentino

After splitting with the Def Jam label, Atlantan Valentino is touring to promote his comeback album, “Rebirth,” on his own label, Blu Kolla Dreams.

Q: After leaving Def Jam, signing with EMI and then putting out your third album, what have you learned in the past year?

A: I’ve learned that being a CEO and running your own label, there’s a lot more responsibility on you… . But it’s very rewarding at the end.

Q: Where do you go late night for something to eat in Atlanta?

A: I love R. Thomas’. They have organic wings and they have this milkshake [smoothie] called the Donkey Kong. Those are my two favorites.

Q: Who’s an artist outside of your genre that you like listening to?

A: I would like to say I like the Bee Gees. I like Nelly Furtado. I like gospel music like Fred Hammond. Let me see who I have on my iPod. I really listen to a lot of stuff, like [indie rock band] Modest Mouse.

Keri Hilson

Hilson’s debut album, “In a Perfect World…,” reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200 after its March release. “Turnin’ Me On,” featuring Lil Wayne, has been received well critically and popularly.

Q: What are you working on?

A: I’m doing a lot of features right now for other people. For the most part, I’m on the road.

Q: Who are you doing features for?

A: Fabolous, R. Kelly, who else? Actually, Gucci Mane, Triple 6 Mafia [now Three 6 Mafia] and Trina.

Q: In your videos, you look like you’re in great shape. What is your exercise regimen?

A: A lot of calisthenics. Cardio. Lots of cardio. That’s the No. 1… . I’m on this new workout where I work out at [simulated] altitude. My trainer has a high-altitude machine, You go from 8,000 feet to 12,000 feet over 30 minutes. Your body has to fight for oxygen.

The-Dream

Terius Nash, better known as the-Dream, won a Grammy in February for his part in Mary J. Blige’s “Growing Pains” album. He is touring on his second album, “Love vs. Money.”

Q: What’s going on with the album?

A: Usually on sophomore CDs, I think everybody gets a little touchy because the reason you make it to a sophomore CD is because of the success on the freshman CD, so I made sure I didn’t tinker with it too much.

Q: Where do you keep your Grammy?

A: I’m looking forward to seeing it. I haven’t seen it yet. I’ve been running around. We’ve got to figure that out as soon as I get to Atlanta on Thursday. I haven’t been there at all.

Q: Where’s the strangest place you’ve been recognized?

A: I think it was the bathroom. I happened to be on the phone in my stall… they couldn’t even see me at all, they just heard me. It was like, “Is that Dream?” I’m not even singing, I’m just talking. What’s going on? I come out and they’re like, “I knew that was you.”