[edit] Guide Note
Ray J is an actor, singer-songwriter, record producer and rap artist. He was born in McComb, California but his family later moved and settled in Carson, California while he was a child.
[edit] Acting Career
At the age of eight, Ray J began conducting commercial auditions and scoring several gigs in the acting industry. He had caught the attention of comedian Sinbad who was currently casting a part for a child on his self-titled television show, The Sinbad Show. Ray won the part and portrayed L.J., the thirteen year old son of David Bryan (Sinbad). The show was cancelled in 1994. He then received minor roles in movies such as , Steel and Mars Attacks!. He later made appearances on the UPN television show, Moesha between 1996 and 2001. His sister Brandy portrayed Moesha.
[edit] Early Music Career
Then begin his music career here even though the date is not beginning with the end of his acting career, being that he began writing and producing while filming other projects. In 1995 he signed with Elektra and recorded "Everything You Want" with a set of producers and songwriters behind him. In 1997, he worked for a television special with his sister but he was dropped by Elektra soon after. In 1999, the producers of Brandy's television show, Moesha, decided to give him a role on the UPN series. Ray also began producing and placing the music for several commercials and in 1997 he released his debut album Everything You Want.
[edit] Musical Success
In 2001 Ray covered the hit "Another Day In Paradise" with Brandy which obtained the Top Ten in several countries. In this year, he released his second studio album, This Ain't a Game which had more rap and hip-hop influence than his debut. Regardless the promotional support offered to the new label Atlantic Records, this one did not obtain success. In 2002, he appeared in the video of his sister "What About Us" which was in the majority of the charts, reaching the Top Ten in Australia, Denmark, New Zealand, Norway, the Philippines, the UK and the United States.
[edit] Current Musical Career
His third album, Raydiation, was released on September 27, 2005 with support of producers as Rodney Jerkins, Timbaland and R. Kelly. The album was produced by Sanctuary Records and Ray's own label, Knockout Entertainment. It was number forty-eight on the Billboard 200 chart and sold 18, 321 copies in the first week. The single "One Wish" reached the top 20 in Ireland, New Zealand, the UK and U.S. More recently it has announced the upcoming fourth album All I Feel for an April 2008 release. The album's first single is "Sexy Can I" featuring rapper Yung Berg and the video was shot in December 2007.
[edit] Fast Facts
- Birth Name: William Ray Norwood, Jr.
- Born: January 17, 1981
- Birthplace: Carson, California
- Years Active: 1997 - present
- Record Label: Knockout/Deja 34
- He appeared in a sex tape with Kim Kardashian.
- He is brother of R&B singer Brandy and son of gospel singer Willie Norwood.
- Ray joined the cast of One On One.
- He has appeared in videos such as Fabolous' "Make Me Better", Tyrese' "One", US5's "In the Club" and Yung Berg's "Sexy Lady".
[edit] Quotes
- "I'm a bad boy at times. But on the Ray J Day, since it's unity and it's everybody and it's kids and parents and all, we're gonna keep it real clean, we're gonna keep it real positive."—Ray J, BBC.co.uk
- "It put me out there more, whether it hurt or helped. People know I'm wild and crazy and they respect that. But whether it hurt or helped, it just put me out there. I was on Tyra!"—Ray J, BadNews
