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Revision as of 20:59, 3 September 2012 view sourceClueBot NG (talk | contribs)Bots, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers6,438,732 editsm Reverting possible vandalism by 174.53.162.218 to version by Souldier77. False positive? Report it. Thanks, ClueBot NG. (1193610) (Bot)← Previous edit Revision as of 23:41, 7 September 2012 view source 76.185.247.43 (talk) I deleted the false info on this page, and inserted the truth.Tag: blankingNext edit →
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A flat out loser.
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2010}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Misplaced Pages:WikiProject Musicians -->
| name = Ray J
| image = Ray_J_2011.jpg
| caption = Ray J, Hollywood, CA on December 4, 2011
| image_size =
| alias = Willie Norwood, Jr.
| background = solo_singer
| birth_name = William Ray Norwood Jr.
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1981|1|17}}<ref name="allmusic"/>
| birth_place = ], ]
| origin = ], ], United States
| instrument = Vocals
| genre = ], ], ]
| occupation = Singer, songwriter, actor, record producer, ]
| years_active = 1995&ndash;present
| label = ], ]/Deja 34, E1, ], ]
| associated_acts = ], ], ] ]
| website = {{URL|http://www.rayj.com}}
| notable_instruments =
}}

'''William Ray Norwood Jr.''' (born January 17, 1981),<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web |last=Torreano |first=Bradley |title=Ray J – Biography |work=Allmusic |url={{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p202400|pure_url=yes}} |accessdate=2008-12-05}}</ref> better known by his stage name '''Ray J''', is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and actor.

==Early life==
William Ray Norwood Jr. was born in ] to ] and Sonja Bates-Norwood. His older sister ] is an award-winning, multi-platinum recording artist. His first cousin, ], is a multi-platinum recording rapper.<ref>{{cite news|last=Moss|first=Corey|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1541667/20060925/snoop_dogg.jhtml|title=Snoop Reunites With Dre, Improves Macking Mojo On Blue Carpet|publisher=MTV News|date=September 26, 2006}}</ref>

Early in Ray J's career, he was known for wearing a Pacers headband.

==Music career==
===Everything You Want (1997)===
] in 1995 and recorded his debut album '']'' the next year. "]" appeared on the '']'' soundtrack. It peaked number 25 in the U.S. and number 11 in New Zealand. The second single peaked at number 54 on the ] 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.<ref name="allmusic" />

===This Ain't a Game (2001)===
Ray J recorded "]" with ], which was a Top Ten success in Austria, UK, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Belgium, Norway, Ireland, the Netherlands and number 11 in Australia and France. The song was the lead single of the R&B/Hip Hop tribute '']'', in which he co-produced and performed songs. Norwood also worked with ], ] and ], and several other producers and singers for his second studio album '']''. The album was released in 2001. The lead single "]" peaked at #30 on the U.S. ] chart and #8 on the ] chart. "Formal Invite" followed at #54 on the R&B chart.<ref>{{cite web |url={{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p202400|pure_url=yes}} |title=Ray J > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles |publisher=allmusic |accessdate=2009-03-28}}</ref>

===Raydiation (2005)===

After a two year break, Norwood returned to recording studios, adding the finishing touches on his third studio album '']'' with help from producers such as ], ], ], and Rob Egerton. A joint venture by ] and Ray-J's own label, independent ], 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 "]" was a top 20 success in the US, UK, Ireland, and New Zealand. ''Raydiation'' eventually sold over 400,000 copies domestically.<ref name="one">{{cite web |title=R&B Singer Ray J Readies 2008 Release of ''All I Feel'' |work=Singersroom |url=http://www.singersroom.com/news/entertainment-story-1329.asp |accessdate=2008-01-09}}</ref>

===All I Feel (2008)===
] announced a multi-million dollar album deal with ] and ]'s "Deja 34" entertainment company.<ref name="one" /> The first album for this deal is Ray J's fourth album ''All I Feel'', which features ] and ] among others. It was released on April 1, 2008.<ref></ref> The album's first single is "]" featuring rapper ] 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.<ref name="one" /> J stars in the Black Christmas movie Dark Christmas under the direction from ].<ref></ref>

===A Family Business & Raydiation 2 (2010-present)===
On June 19, 2011, Ray J, along with his sister Brandy and his dad Willie Norwood Sr., released ], which serves as a soundtrack to their hit reality TV show, ], and was released through ]. <ref> http://feedlimmy.com/2011/04/25/brandy-and-ray-j-a-family-business-album-tracklisting-and-details/ </ref> He released a single from the album called "Turnin' Me On". The song will be featured on his upcoming album as well.

Ray J is currently working on his upcoming solo album ] The first single "One Thing Leads To Another" features ]. "Last Wish" is the second single. The song is a sequel to his 2005 smash hit "]" both produced by songwriter/producer ]. The third single is ''Bananaz''.

==Other Ventures==
===Acting career===
Early in his life, he moved with his family from ] to ], 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 "], 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, '']''", giving him a role on the ] series starting in 1999 as Dorian "D-Money".
In 2005, Norwood joined the cast of ]'s '']'',<ref>{{cite web |title=UPN Adds Five Fresh New Faces To Ensemble Comedy "One On One" This Fall |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20050809upn01 |accessdate=2007-03-10}}</ref> 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 ] reality dating show, ]. 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 ] premiered. In 2010, Norwood and his sister ] premiered the ] reality series '']'' along with their parents. 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==
{{Refimprove|section called "Personal Life"|date=August 2011}}
Ray J is the brother of singer ] and first cousin of rapper ].<ref>{{cite news|last=Moss|first=Corey|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1541667/20060925/snoop_dogg.jhtml|title=Snoop Reunites With Dre, Improves Macking Mojo On Blue Carpet|publisher=MTV News|date=September 26, 2006}}</ref> He has dated ], and in February 2007, a ] he made with her in 2003 was made public.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.hiphoppress.com/2007/02/vivid_entertain.html|title= Vivid Entertainment Spends $1-Million To Acquire Notorious Video 'Starring' Sexy Socialite ] And Hip Hop Star Ray J|accessdate= 2008-10-06|author= ]|date= 2007-02-07|publisher= Hip Hop Press}}</ref> Kardashian sued ] for ownership of the tape. In late April 2007, Kardashian dropped the suit and ] with Vivid Entertainment for $5 million.<ref>{{cite news |last=Johnson| first=Richard |title=Happy Ending |publisher = ] | date =2007-05-01 | url =http://www.nypost.com/seven/05012007/gossip/pagesix/happy_ending_pagesix_.htm |accessdate=2008-02-26}}</ref>

==Discography==
{{Main|Ray J discography}}

;Studio albums
* '']'' (1997)
* '']'' (2001)
* '']'' (2005)
* '']'' (2008)
* '']'' (2012)

;Soundtrack albums
* '']'' (2009)

==Filmography==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Film===
* ''] (1994 TV Movie) <ref>{{cite web|title=The Enemy Within (TV 1994)|publisher=IMDB|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109730/|accessdate=16 February 2012}}</ref>
* '']'' (1996)
* '']'' (1996)
* '']'' (1997)
* '']'' (2003)
* '']'' (2008)
* '']'' (2009)

{{col-2}}

===Television===
* '']''
* ''BET Countdown''
* '']'', guest singer
* '']''
* ''Television Ads'' (1989–1993)
* '']'' (1993–1994)
* '']'' (1999–2001)
* '']'' (2005–2006)
* '']'' (2009–2010)
* '']'' (2010–2011)
{{col-end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Misplaced Pages books|Ray J}}
* {{Official website|http://www.rayj.com}}
* {{Myspace|rayj}}
* {{Twitter|rayj}}
* {{IMDb name|id=0005043|name=Ray J}}
*

{{Ray J}}

{{Persondata
|NAME=Ray J
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
|SHORT DESCRIPTION=American singer, songwriter, record producer and actor
|DATE OF BIRTH=January 17, 1981
|PLACE OF BIRTH=], United States
|DATE OF DEATH=
|PLACE OF DEATH=
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ray J}}
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Revision as of 23:41, 7 September 2012

A flat out loser.