October 17, 2005 @ 12:00 am

Men in R&B Part I: Ray J

by: Kevin R. Scott

At first it all seems inconceivable for someone who most fans of R&B haven’t even mentally registered as a serious artist. I know I didn’t really think of Ray J as anything other than Brandy’s brother. Most of his public life has been in connection to his big sister. His television show appearances, music video cameos, even his most popular single from 2001’s This Ain’t A Game, “Wait A Minute Remix” featuring Lil’ Kim chumps him as being just Brandy’s brother. It’s been four years since the release of This Ain’t a Game and in that time a few things have happened. Ray J is a little older and if he is going to continue to release music and pursue acting, then I hope these years off have served him well. And I mean well enough so that his being on my entertainment radar isn’t a continued waste of time. After getting his feet wet on BET, one of the first times we’ve seen him in the mainstream without a direct connection to his sister, Raydiation is released on KnockOut Entertainment/Sanctuary. KnockOut, a family funded entertainment company (re: Brandy put up the money), lists Ray J as CEO. It sounds fishy but I guess Sonja Bates-Norwood has no qualms ghost working… I mean Ray J is her son. She is the operations, management, P.R., stage mom Svengali behind all things Brandy and Ray J.

Excerpt from "Thank Yous" in Raydiation's liner notes.

Raydiation is an ambitious, misguided, but very well produced autobiographical collection of songs that are all likeable simply because Ray J has shifted himself. When the tracks are produced by Rodney Jerkins it sounds like standard DarkChild fare. When Timbaland is in the booth, Ray J could have been any of the mediocre artists that have bit the Timbaland/Missy Elliot bullet. None of these first class producers help Ray J create an organic sound. When Timbaland worked with Justin Timberlake, the ingenious “Cry Me A River” was born. When Rodney Jerkins is really in the zone, production like Brandy’s Full Moon happens. However, when Ray J produces himself or when he uses in-house producers, he’s good. He’s very good. There are a couple standout tracks like “Blue High Heels” where Ray J is in the booth and there is a major difference in the final product. The tracks he produces for himself are much more convincing simply because it’s a purer expression. He’s not being a pimp, he’s not being a rapper, nor is he some thugged out west-sider but rather, a singer - a matured young man that you aren’t so prone to clown or make fun of. These new developments from Ray J: hosting on BET, running a company, releasing Raydiation, topped off with him landing a new role on One on One (UPN) as a believable hip hop obsessed college student, show signs that Brandy’s brother is growing up and becoming his own man. Ironically, that was probably his “one wish” all along, seeing as in the early days, sources say that everyone thought Ray J was going to be the real star in the family. He seems to be working to solidify his own separate identity and do things his way. It worked for Usher. All in all, I ain’t mad. I mean, if I had a famous sister, please believe that my professional life would be nepotism run amuck too. Since Raydiation is a musical improvement for Ray J, I say we give him a hall pass as he grows out of Brandy’s shadow. In the meantime we can turn our attention to Solange Knowles who is poised for this very same journey. “One Wish” is the first single from Raydiation (Watch Video).

Kevin R. Scott is a Harlem resident, freelance writer and music critic with a penchant for the newest, hottest, freshest and dopest. He's a mad man for anything R&B. You can find him blogging at www.kevinrscott.com.

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Article tags: Ray J, Brandy, Rodney Jerkins, Darkchild, Timbaland, Missy Elliott 

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