JillKidd201
Ray J is particularly lucky for being born to some musician's family through the name Willie Norwood. Willie, a family member of Bo Diddley, is a gospel singer who often exposed his children towards the art of showbiz, including supporting Ray's older sister Brandy who launched a singing career in the age of mere 2. When William Ray Norwood was born on January 17, 1981, his sister has been cultivated to become a performer. Thus when the family which includes mom Sonja Bates-Norwood, moved from Ray's birth town in McComb, M.S. to Carson, California two years later, it was considered a wide open opportunity for the children to spread their wings even wider. Ray only started his career at the chronilogical age of 8, as he auditioned for several commercials. Acting soon became his main interest and he got the opportunity to achieve this when he was cast as comedian Sinbad's son in the Television show. Although the show was eventually canceled in 1996, Ray kept his spirit high by branching to music after inspired by his sister's early success. He recorded several demo tapes that finally landed on the executives' hands of Elektra Records. He was immediately signed in 1995. ...
2 yrs later, Ray was put into Brandy's Television show "Moesha" that garnered success since its launch in 1996 as Dorian Long, the male main character's out-of-wedlock child. Unfortunately the show, too, received a decline in ratings since the fifth season and was eventually canceled after six seasons. Worse, his debut album "Everything You Want" that was released in 1997 did not do well on the market he was dropped for the reason that same year. Sticking it when the going gets tough, within the several years ahead he made guest appearances on several TV series before eventually getting his big burglary 2001. He recorded a protective cover of "Another Day in Paradise" with Brandy which eventually sold moderately well in European countries. This turned out to be a lift for Ray's credibility for when his sophomore effort "This Ain't a Game" was released in June 2001, it peaked at #21 on Billboard Hot 200, fronted through the single "Wait a Minute" featuring Lil' Kim.
Beside promoting his album, Ray also continued his stints in TV series plus nabbing a primary role in an indie movie titled "Envy" in 2005. The third album was then prepared with the aid of Rodney Jerkins, Timbaland and R. Kelly. The third set, aptly called "Raydiation" was dropped in stores on September 27, 2005 and quickly took #48 post on the Top 200 albums chart, selling 18,321 copies in the first week. As his career in music took off, his acting gigs did too. Although uncredited he starred like a DJ within the sequel to "Save the Last Dance" which was released in 2006 and in crime drama "A Day within the Life" alongside Omar Epps in 2007. However his name was suddenly a media attention much more 2007, a tape of him having sex with socialite Kim Kardashian leaked on-line. Kardashian accused him of deliberately putting the tape on the Internet to boost his career but Ray denied this, reasoning that he tapped the intercourse to look at himself perform and take initiatives from it. Post the incident, Ray was quick to prep for the discharge of his fourth album which would afterwards be named "All I Feel".
