Rocco Valdes, known professionally as Rocco Did It Again!, is an American record producer, songwriter, music publisher, and music executive from Hialeah, Florida.[1] Valdes co-founded the record label Chase Records (or Chase Entertainment) in 2004, which has been credited with signing American singers T-Pain and Austin Mahone prior to their mainstream breakthroughs; Valdes remained the former's manager after his departure in favor of a major label, while the latter's record deal—first signed in 2012—led to a joint venture with Republic Records and Cash Money Records the following year.[2] By 2018, he served as talent manager for fellow Floridian, rapper 9lokkNine prior to his December 2021 incarceration.[3][4]
Early life
Rocco was born in Hialeah, Florida, where he attended Hialeah-Miami Lakes Senior High School. After High School, Valdes developed an interest in music and decided to attend Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida. Initially, Valdes wanted to be a music engineer, but decided to he was more intrigued by the business side of music, only to find himself back on the technical side of music later in his career.[5][6]
Career
Valdes began his career in 2002 at Def Jam Recordings, where he worked as an A&R assistant for two years. In 2004, Valdes discovered American singer T-Pain and managed his career in a joint venture with RCA Records for ten years. In 2012, Valdes signed pop singer Austin Mahone to his first recording contract in a joint venture with Universal Republic Records, and later Cash Money Records the following year.[7] In 2018, he became the manager of Orlando, Florida-based rapper 9lokkNine. He produced his song "223's" (featuring YNW Melly), which was released commercially the following year as Melly's single; where it then reached at number 34 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. That same year, Valdes shifted focus onto further work in production and songwriting.[8][9]
List of singles as either producer or co-producer, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released, performing artists and album name
List of singles written or co-written for other artists
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