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William Ray Norwood Jr. (born January 17, 1981), known professionally as Ray J, is an American 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.
Ray J's 1997 debut single, "Let It Go", was released by EastWest Records for the soundtrack to the F. Gary Gray film, Set It Off. Both moderate hits, the song peaked within the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 and additionally served as lead single for Ray J's debut studio 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" (featuring Lil' Kim), the album became his first to enter the Billboard 200–at number 21. His 2005 single, "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), 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 talked about his previous affair with Kardashian.
In January 2017, he competed in the nineteenth season of the British reality television series Celebrity Big Brother. In his entrepreneurial career, he launched the technology company Raytroniks in 2016, as well as the Raycon line of direct-to-consumer headphones in 2017.
Ray J recorded "Another Day in Paradise" with Brandy Norwood, which was a Top Ten success in Austria, UK, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Belgium, Norway, Ireland, and the Netherlands, and number 11 in Australia and France. The song was the lead single of the R&B/Hip Hop tribute Urban Renewal, in which he co-produced and performed songs. Norwood also worked with the Neptunes, Rodney Jerkins and Lil' Kim, and several other producers and singers for his second studio album This Ain't a Game. The album was recorded over 18 months, and was released on June 26, 2001, with Atlantic Records. The lead single "Wait a Minute" peaked at #30 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart and #8 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. "Formal Invite" followed at #54 on the R&B chart.
After a two-year break, Norwood returned to recording studios, adding the finishing touches on his third studio album Raydiation with help from producers such as Rodney Jerkins, Timbaland, R. Kelly, and Rob Egerton. A joint venture by Sanctuary Records and Ray-J's own label, independent Knockout Entertainment, 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 "One Wish" was a top 20 success in the US, UK, Ireland, and New Zealand. Raydiation eventually sold over 400,000 copies domestically.
In 2005, Norwood joined the cast of UPN's One on One, where he played the character D-Mack for the final season. On both shows, Ray's character was related to Brandy's character (cousin/half-brother on Moesha, brother on One on One).
Knockout Entertainment announced a multimillion-dollar album deal with Koch Records and Shaquille O'Neal's "Deja 34" entertainment company. The first album for this deal is Ray J's fourth album All I Feel, which features The Game and Hitmaka among others. It was released on April 1, 2008. The album's first single is "Sexy Can I" featuring rapper Yung Berg 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. J starred in the Black Christmas movie Dark Christmas under the direction from Deon Taylor.
In 2009, Norwood starred in his own VH1 reality dating show, For the Love of Ray J. 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 second season premiered. In 2010, Norwood and his sister Brandy Norwood premiered the VH1 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.
On June 19, 2011, Ray J, along with his sister Brandy and his father Willie Norwood Sr., released A Family Business, which serves as a soundtrack to their hit reality TV show, , and was released through Time-Life Music. He released a single from the album called "Turnin' Me On". The song will be featured on his upcoming album as well.
Ray J and Houston became very close in the last years of her life, leading to speculation of a romantic relationship between the singers. However, Ray J stated that he and Houston were friends, and that they had never dated. On May 21, 2012, Ray J was found in his hotel room, unable to get out of bed and was rushed to a hospital by ambulance. The day before, he was said to have had a confrontation at the 2012 Billboard Music Awards when Whitney Houston's sister-in-law Pat Houston called security on him when she saw Ray J was seated next to Bobbi Kristina Brown, Whitney's daughter. Ray J went to the Beverly Hilton on August 1, 2012, for a panel during the TVOne portion of the 2012 Summer Television Critics Association tour. It was his first time there since Houston's death.
He competed with his sister on the FOX reality cooking series My Kitchen Rules.
On January 3, 2017, Ray J took part as a "new star" housemate on season 19 of Celebrity Big Brother. He walked off the show after a week. He also threatened legal action after his exit from the show.
On March 15, 2020, Ray J and Princess Love took part in The Conversation on Zeus Network. In May 2020, Love filed for divorce.
On January 28, 2026, Ray J revealed on social media that he was suffering from severe heart failure as a result of heavy binge drinking and drug abuse (such as Adderall) and was not expecting to live more than a year; he was diagnosed after a recent hospitalization for pneumonia. He said that Brandy was paying for his medical treatment. Ray J Reveals He Has A Year To Live Due To “Black” Heart Caused By Alcohol, Drug Use: “I Curved My Time Here
In January 2022, Ray J visited Donald Trump at his Mar-A-Lago residence to discuss job creation. Ray J went on to say, "I've always admired and respected Trump's business acumen... job creation, encouraging small business development and how Information Technology plays an important role in the future of our economy." Despite not endorsing a candidate, Ray J has intimated his support for Trump.
On May 30, 2014, Ray J was at a bar of the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California when a woman accused him of inappropriately touching her posterior. Police were called and deemed the touching incidental but he was asked to leave by the hotel staff. Ray J became angered because he contends he spent tens of thousands of dollars at the hotel over the last year. At some point, he allegedly became belligerent and according to the police, spat at an officer and kicked out a police car window in the process of being arrested. The charges against him included vandalism, resisting arrest and battery against a police officer. Ray J posted $20,000 bail and was released. The Los Angeles County district attorney on July 21, 2014, filed charges against Ray J and a police spokesman said his initial hearing would take place on July 25.
On July 22, 2014, prosecutors stated the arrest had turned into four criminal charges. He was charged with sexual battery, vandalism of a police car, battery against a police officer and resisting arrest. They claimed he willfully touched the woman's "intimate part" for the "specific purpose of sexual arousal, sexual gratification and sexual abuse." On August 19, Ray J pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charges.
He was stopped by two police officers on August 6, 2014, in the San Fernando Valley. The officers claimed he was using his cell phone while driving, Ray J insisted that he was struggling to connect his Bluetooth. He was given a warning about texting and driving. The officers reportedly wanted him to step out of his vehicle, which he did, but Ray J claims they simply wanted to take a couple of photographs with him. The LAPD began an internal affairs investigation into the encounter with the two officers.
On November 27, 2025, Ray J was arrested and booked in a Los Angeles-area jail after allegedly making a criminal threat to his estranged wife in his home. The heated argument was captured on his public livestream. He was released on a $50,000 bail.
| 1993 | Rhythm & Jam | Himself/Host | Main Host |
| 1993–1994 | The Sinbad Show | L.J. Beckley | Main Cast |
| 1997 | All That | Himself | Episode: "Ray J" |
| Soul Train | Himself | Episode: "Lil' Kim/Levert/Ray J" | |
| 1999 | Clayton | Episode: "Part 1 & 2" | |
| 1999–2001 | Moesha | Dorian 'D-Money' Long | Main Cast: Season 5-6 |
| 2001 | Top of the Pops | Himself | Episode: "Episode #38.23" |
| The Proud Family | Mega (voice) | Episode: "EZ Jackster" | |
| 2002 | Intimate Portrait | Himself | Episode: "Brandy Norwood" |
| 2003 | Black Sash | Bryan Lanier | Main Cast |
| 2004 | Punk'd | Himself | Episode: "Episode #3.6" |
| 2005 | 106 & Park | Himself/Guest Host | Episode: "August 22, 2005" |
| Cover Art | Himself | Episode: "Ray J: Clocks" | |
| Soul Train | Himself | Episode: "Ray J/Ebony Eyez" | |
| 2005–2006 | One on One | Darrell "D-Mack" McGinty | Main Cast: Season 5 |
| 2006 | Shark | Rapper | Episode: "Love Triangle" |
| It's Showtime at the Apollo | Himself | Episode: "Ray J" | |
| 2008 | BET's Top 25 Countdown | Himself | Episode: "Top 25 Heartaches" |
| SBC Blue Room | Himself | Episode: "Ray J" | |
| Access Granted | Himself | Episode: "Brandy 'Right Here (Departed)'" | |
| It's Showtime at the Apollo | Himself | Episode: "Ray J & Yung Berg" | |
| 2009 | Sporty O | Episode: "Ima Star" | |
| The Great Debate | Himself | Episode: "The Bonus Hour & Part 1-5" | |
| 2009–2010 | For the Love of Ray J | Himself | Main Cast |
| 2010–2011 | Himself | Main Cast | |
| 2011 | Famous Food | Himself | Episode: "Then We'll See Who's the MVP" |
| 2011–2012 | Video Hustler | Himself | Recurring Cast |
| 2013 | Ridiculousness | Himself | Episode: "Ray J" |
| 2013–2014 | The Rickey Smiley Show | Kenny | Recurring Cast: Season 2-3 |
| 2014 | Himself | Episode: "The Sex Tape" | |
| Funniest Wins | Himself | Episode: "Roasted" | |
| David Tutera's Celebrations | Himself | Episode: "Brandy and Ray J's Family Feud" | |
| Total Divas | Himself | Episode: "Red and Gold" | |
| 2014–2019 | Himself | Main Cast: Season 1-6 | |
| 2015–2018 | Love & Hip Hop | Himself | Guest Cast: Season 5 & 9 |
| 2016 | Driven to Love | Himself/Host | Main Host |
| Notorious | Himself | Episode: "The Burn Book" | |
| Leave It to Stevie | Himself | Episode: "Southern Discomfort" | |
| 2017 | Celebrity Big Brother | Himself/Contestant | Main Contestant : Season 19 |
| My Kitchen Rules | Himself/Contestant | Main Contestant | |
| The Real | Himself/Guest Co-Host | Episode: "Ray J/T-Pain/Should I Text My Ex?" | |
| 2017–2019 | Hip Hop Squares | Himself/Contestant | Recurring Contestant |
| 2018 | Unsung Hollywood | Himself | Episode: "Ray J" |
| 2019 | Himself | Episode: "Family Matters" | |
| Himself | Recurring Cast: Season 8 | ||
| Love & Listings | Himself | Episode: "Can't We All Just Get a Loan?" | |
| 2020 | The Conversation | Himself | Episode: "Ray J & Princess Part 1-3" |
| Insecure | Rufus | Episode: "Lowkey Feelin' Myself" | |
| Pump | Sean Ford | Main Cast | |
| 2020–2022 | The Talk | Himself/Guest Co-Host | Guest Co-Host: Season 10, Recurring Co-Host: Season 12 |
| 2021 | Good Looking Out | Himself/Host | Main Host |
| Love & Hip Hop: Secrets Unlocked | Himself | Episode: "Day Ones" & "Holy Heartaches" | |
| Himself | Main Cast | ||
| 2022–2023 | Himself | Main Cast: Season 1-2 | |
| 2023–2024 | Ms. Pat Settles It | Himself/Juror | Main Juror |
| 2024 | Himself | Episode: "Coyotes" |
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