Ray J

Singer, songwriter, actor, and entrepreneur are just a few words to describe R&B sensation Ray J. With over a million albums sold, coveted roles on hit sitcoms, his own entertainment company and record label, Ray J has positioned himself as a contemporary renaissance man, one of today’s hottest entertainers, and a Hollywood ladies’ man.

Born Willie Ray Norwood, Jr. on January 17, 1981, in McComb, Mississippi, Ray J has matured right before our eyes as an actor and singer. In 1993, while older sister Brandy was making her mark in the music arena, at age 12, Ray J nabbed the role of LJ on comedian Sinbad’s hit sitcom Sinbad. A few years later, Ray J continued to build his acting chops, making appearances on various television sitcoms, including Moesha and One on One with Kyla Pratt. Independent film roles followed, but it was not too long before Ray J would turn to his first true love — music — and offer the world a string of soul-stirring chart-topping hits.

In 1997, Ray J released his first album, Ev’rything You Want (Elektra) and followed up with 2002’s This Ain’t a Game (Atlantic), which showcased Ray J’s trendsetting instincts, considering he was among the first to collaborate with legendary production duo The Neptunes. Ray J’s second album also featured the catchy and dynamic single “Wait A Minute,” an international club favorite and collaboration with superstar rapper Lil’ Kim.

But it wasn’t until 2005 when Ray J founded and developed Knockout Entertainment, independently released his third album entitled Raydiation, and his career began to take off. Reemerging as an independent artist helped Ray J score his biggest hit single, “One Wish.” The galvanizing ballad, produced by mega-producer Rodney Jerkins, earned Ray J a BMI award and his first #1 single on the Billboard R&B charts, pushing Raydiation over the 400,000 sales mark — a phenomenal achievement for an independent release.

In the spring of 2008, Ray J released his most successful album to date, All I Feel, a collection of ballads and up-tempo songs that showcase Ray J’s versatility, including the chart-topping “Sexy Can I” with newcomer Yung Berg. The single went double platinum, reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 list, and became the fastest growing record in Koch Entertainment’s distribution history.

With a solid music career under his belt, Ray J continues to dabble in television. After a string of successful hosting gigs on BET, in 2009, Ray J will make a splash in the reality realm, with his own dating series on VH1 called For the Love of Ray J. The reality show will showcase Ray J’s affinity for luxury and his lavish lifestyle as he searches for his ideal woman.

Ray J’s highly anticipated fifth album, tentatively called Raydiation 2, will be released in the summer of 2010.

Singer, songwriter, actor, and entrepreneur are just a few words to describe R&B sensation Ray J. With over a million albums sold, coveted roles on hit sitcoms, his own entertainment company and record label, Ray J has positioned himself as a contemporary renaissance man, one of today’s hottest entertainers, and a Hollywood ladies’ man.

Born Willie Ray Norwood, Jr. on January 17, 1981, in McComb, Mississippi, Ray J has matured right before our eyes as an actor and singer. In 1993, while older sister Brandy was making her mark in the music arena, at age 12, Ray J nabbed the role of LJ on comedian Sinbad’s hit sitcom Sinbad. A few years later, Ray J continued to build his acting chops, making appearances on various television sitcoms, including Moesha and One on One with Kyla Pratt. Independent film roles followed, but it was not too long before Ray J would turn to his first true love — music — and offer the world a string of soul-stirring chart-topping hits.

In 1997, Ray J released his first album, Ev’rything You Want (Elektra) and followed up with 2002’s This Ain’t a Game (Atlantic), which showcased Ray J’s trendsetting instincts, considering he was among the first to collaborate with legendary production duo The Neptunes. Ray J’s second album also featured the catchy and dynamic single “Wait A Minute,” an international club favorite and collaboration with superstar rapper Lil’ Kim.

But it wasn’t until 2005 when Ray J founded and developed Knockout Entertainment, independently released his third album entitled Raydiation, and his career began to take off. Reemerging as an independent artist helped Ray J score his biggest hit single, “One Wish.” The galvanizing ballad, produced by mega-producer Rodney Jerkins, earned Ray J a BMI award and his first #1 single on the Billboard R&B charts, pushing Raydiation over the 400,000 sales mark — a phenomenal achievement for an independent release.

In the spring of 2008, Ray J released his most successful album to date, All I Feel, a collection of ballads and up-tempo songs that showcase Ray J’s versatility, including the chart-topping “Sexy Can I” with newcomer Yung Berg. The single went double platinum, reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 list, and became the fastest growing record in Koch Entertainment’s distribution history.

With a solid music career under his belt, Ray J continues to dabble in television. After a string of successful hosting gigs on BET, in 2009, Ray J will make a splash in the reality realm, with his own dating series on VH1 called For the Love of Ray J. The reality show will showcase Ray J’s affinity for luxury and his lavish lifestyle as he searches for his ideal woman.

Ray J’s highly anticipated fifth album, tentatively called Raydiation 2, will be released in the summer of 2010.