Ray J

Coordinates	26°12′44″N127°40′45″N
Name	Ray J
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	William Ray Norwood Jr.
Born	January 17, 1981 McComb, Mississippi, U.S.
Origin	Carson, California, United States
Instrument	Vocals
Genre	R&B;, hip-hop, pop
Occupation	Singer, songwriter, actor, record producer, rapper
Years active	1995–present
Label	Atlantic, Knockout/Deja 34, E1, Koch Entertainment, Elektra
Associated acts	Brandy, Diplo, Gucci Mane
Url	www.rayj.com

William Ray Norwood Jr. (born January 17, 1981), better known by his stage name Ray J, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and actor.

Early life

Willie Ray Jr. was born in McComb, Mississippi to Willie Norwood, and Sonja Bates-Norwood. Norwood was born into a musically oriented family, his older sister Brandy is a multi-platinum recording artist, and his father Willie Norwood is a well known gospel-singer. from Rochester MN. His first cousin, Snoop Dogg, is a multi-platinum recording rapper .

Music career

Everything You Wanted (1997)

Elektra Records in 1995 and recorded his debut album Everything You Want the next year. "Let It Go" appeared on the Set It Off soundtrack. It peaked number 25 in the U.S. and number 11 in New Zealand. The second single peaked at number 54 on the U.S. R&B; chart. In 1997, he was dropped from the label. He produced, putting together the music for several commercials and a few of the demos for his second record.

Raydiation (2005)

After a two year break, Norwood returned to recording studios, adding the finishing touches on his third studio album Raydiation with help from producers such as Rodney Jerkins, Timbaland, R. Kelly, and Rob Egerton. A joint venture by Sanctuary Records and Ray-J's own label, independent Knockout Entertainment, the album was finally released on September 27, 2005 in North America after several delays, debuting at number forty-eight on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 18,321 copies in the first week. The album's lead single "One Wish" was a top 20 success in the US, UK, Ireland, and New Zealand. Raydiation eventually sold over 400,000 copies domestically.

All I Feel (2008)

Knockout Entertainment announced a multi-million dollar album deal with Koch Records and Shaquille O'Neal's "Deja 34" entertainment company. The album's first single is "Sexy Can I" featuring rapper Yung Berg peaked at number three on the Top Singles (Hot 100) for six weeks. A video for the track, directed by R. Malcolm Jones, was shot in December 2007.

Raydiation 2 (2010-present)

Ray J is currently working with his sister Brandy Norwood on their collaboration album Trust, Knowledge & Opportunity & his upcoming solo album Raydiation 2 with his first single "Last Wish" The sequel to his 2005 smash hit "One Wish" both produced by hit maker Rodney Jerkins.

Other Ventures

Acting career

Early in his life, he moved with his family from McComb, Mississippi to Carson, California, and in 1989 started appearing in television commercials for different companies. In 1989, at the age of eight, Norwood began auditioning for and appearing in television commercials; he played the foster son in "The Sinbad Show, from 1993-1994. This period in Norwood's life would shape his acting career to come. According to Bradley Torreano of allmusic, "his easygoing image and boyish looks appealed to the producers of Brandy's television show, Moesha", giving him a role on the UPN series starting in 1999 as Dorian "D-Money". In 2005, Norwood joined the cast of UPN's One On One, where he played the character of D-Mack for the final season. On both shows, Ray's character was related to Brandy's (cousin/half-brother on Moesha, brother on One on One).

Reality Television

In 2009, Norwood starred in his own VH1 reality dating show, For the Love of Ray J. The show premiered on February 2, 2009. For his show on March 24, 2009 he released the soundtrack/studio album called For The Love Of Ray J. On November 2, 2009, the show's second season premiered. In 2010, Norwood and his sister Brandy Norwood premiered the VH1 reality series along with their parents. He also played the role of Roberto in the movie Christmas At Water's edge in 2004.The show debuted in April 2010 and chronicled the backstage happenings of both siblings, while taking a bigger role in their family's management and production company, R&B; Productions.

Personal life

Ray J dated Kim Kardashian in 2006. Ray J is the brother of singer Brandy Norwood and first cousin of rapper Snoop Dogg

Sex tape

In February 2007, a pornographic home video he made with Kim Kardashian was leaked. Kardashian sued Vivid Entertainment for ownership of the tape. In late April 2007, Kardashian dropped the suit and settled with Vivid Entertainment for $5 million.

Discography

;Studio albums

Everything You Want (1997)

This Ain't a Game (2001)

Raydiation (2005)

All I Feel (2008)

Raydiation 2 (2011)

;Soundtrack albums

For the Love of Ray J (2009)

Filmography

Film

Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored (1996)

Mars Attacks! (1996)

Steel (1997)

Christmas at Water's Edge (2003)

Envy (2008)

A Day in the Life (2009)

Television

Black Sash

BET Countdown

All That, guest singer

Wild N Out

Television Ads (1989–1993)

The Sinbad Show (1993–1994)

Moesha (1999–2001)

One on One (2005–2006)

For the Love of Ray J (2009–2010)

(2010–present)

References

External links

On Set of Ray J’s Video Last Wish

Category:1981 births Category:Living people Category:Actors from California Category:Actors from Mississippi Category:African American film actors Category:African American musicians Category:African American rappers Category:African American television actors Category:American male singers Category:American rhythm and blues singers Category:American child actors Category:Atlantic Records artists Category:Musicians from California Category:Musicians from Mississippi Category:Participants in American reality television series Category:People from Los Angeles County, California Category:People from McComb, Mississippi Category:Rappers from Los Angeles, California