Editing Ray J (section)

{{Short description|American singer (born 1981)}}
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{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Ray J
| image              = Ray J 2011.jpg
| caption            = Norwood in 2011
| alias              = 
| birth_name         = William Ray Norwood Jr.
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1981|1|17}}<ref name="allmusic"/>
| birth_place        = [[McComb, Mississippi]], U.S.
| death_date         = 
| death_place        = 
| years_active       = 1989–present
| spouse             = {{marriage|Princess Love|2016}}
| partner            = [[Kim Kardashian]] (2002–2006)
| works              = {{hlist|[[Ray J discography|Discography]]|[[#Filmography|filmography]]}}
| children           = 2
| father             = [[Willie Norwood]]
| relatives          = [[Brandy Norwood]] (sister)
| occupation         = {{flatlist|
* Singer
* songwriter
* rapper
* television presenter
* actor
* entrepreneur
}}
| television         = {{plainlist|
* ''[[For the Love of Ray J]]''
* ''[[Brandy & Ray J: A Family Business]]''
* ''[[Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood]]''
}}
| website            = {{URL|rayj.com}}
| module             = {{Infobox musical artist
| embed = yes
| background = solo_singer
| genre = [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ray-j-mn0000405142|title = Ray J Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More| website=[[AllMusic]] }}</ref>
| instrument = Vocals
| label = {{flatlist|
* TMG
* [[Entertainment One Music|E1]]
* [[Knockout Entertainment|Knockout]]
* Deja 34
* [[Epic Records|Epic]]
* [[Koch Entertainment|Koch]]
* [[Sanctuary Records|Sanctuary]]
* [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]]
* [[Elektra Records|Elektra]]
* [[EastWest Records|EastWest]]
}}
}}
}}

'''William Ray Norwood Jr.''' (born January 17, 1981),<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web |last=Torreano |first=Bradley |title=Ray J&nbsp;– Biography |work=Allmusic |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=ray-j-mn0000405142|pure_url=yes}} |access-date=December 5, 2008}}</ref> known professionally as '''Ray J''', is an American [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]] singer, songwriter, television presenter, and actor. Born in [[McComb, Mississippi]] and raised in [[Carson, California]], he is the younger brother of singer and actress [[Brandy Norwood|Brandy]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://herdsay.com/ray-j/ |title=Ray J, Biography |publisher=HERDsay.com |access-date=September 29, 2014}}</ref>

Ray J's 1997 debut single, "[[Let It Go (Ray J song)|Let It Go]]", was released by [[EastWest Records]] for the soundtrack to the [[F. Gary Gray]] film, ''[[Set It Off (film)|Set It Off]]''. Both moderate hits, the song peaked within the top 40 of the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] and additionally served as lead single for Ray J's debut studio album, ''[[Everything You Want (Ray J album)|Everything You Want]]'' (1997), which entered the [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums]] chart. He then signed with [[Atlantic Records]] to release his second album, ''[[This Ain't a Game]]'' (2002). Led by his second top 40 single, "[[Wait a Minute (Ray J song)|Wait a Minute]]" (featuring [[Lil' Kim]]), the album became his first to enter the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]]–at number 21. His 2005 single, "[[One Wish (Ray J song)|One Wish]]", peaked at number 11 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and preceded his third album, ''[[Raydiation]]'' (2005), which commercially trailed the success of both the song and his previous album. The albums were each met with mixed critical reception.

In 2007, he co-starred in the controversial adult film, ''[[Kim Kardashian, Superstar]]'', opposite then-relatively unknown actress [[Kim Kardashian]]. This foresaw the release of his fourth album, ''[[All I Feel]]'' (2008), which was critically panned, but yielded his furthest commercial success and peaked at number seven on the ''Billboard'' 200; it also spawned the single "[[Sexy Can I]]" (featuring [[Hitmaka|Yung Berg]]), which peaked at number three on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and remains his highest—charting song. Released independently, his 2013 single, "[[I Hit It First]]" (featuring [[Bobby Brackins]]), peaked at number 51 on the chart, providing a brief period of resurgence as it discomfited his previous affair with Kardashian.

In January 2017, he competed in the [[Celebrity Big Brother 19|nineteenth season]] of the British reality television series ''[[Celebrity Big Brother (UK TV series)|Celebrity Big Brother]]''. In his entrepreneurial career, he launched the technology company [[#Other ventures|Raytroniks]] in 2016, as well as the Raycon line of direct-to-consumer [[headphones|earbuds]] in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.blackenterprise.com/ray-j-financial-hardships-tronix-network/|title=RAY J REVEALS FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS WHILE LAUNCHING HIS TRONIX TELEVISION NETWORK|website=Blackenterprise.com|date=March 29, 2024 }}</ref>