HaterNation Files #9CVP: Ray J
Yes that Ray J.
“Hey, waitaminute, ain’t that Brandy’s brother??”-Lil Kim circa 2002
Yes…it is.
And he gets unnecessarily hated on for no good reason.
The hate proceeds no longer, for today, the good folks at Jackson G. Tickle’s Offices of Suspended Hateration have decided to embark on a mission that no educated black man has ever fathomed.
Today, Ray J will be defended.
Where to begin?? Hmmmmm….
You know, I’m just going to come out and say it. I’m a fan…well now anyway. Much like the rest of black folks, I was just as big a Ray J hater as anybody else. If you think about, he makes it so easy to do. It almost seemed as if the boy was always trying to hard. Scratch that…he WAS always trying to hard. Granted, he had a hell of a shadow to come from under. Truth be told, he was Brandy’s little brother, perfect little girl next door Brandy, and here he is coming out trying to come off like he’s got some street sense or had some hood in him. Ray J, we don’t believe you, you need more people.
The main case against him was that he was this fake hood dude who tried to hard…and oh yeah, he was just corny. Seriously corny. And you know what, the corny thing is just innate. If you’re a cornball you’re a cornball. See also Nick Cannon. But those first two, the hood problem and his trying to hard, well those are a bit more understanding. So let’s delve into this.
The People Vs. Ray J. Norwood AKA Ray J, Court Docket No. 9CVP
The Honorable Judge Wopner Presiding
Attorney for Ray J: Mr. I. M. Datkneega, Esq., JGT Enterprises
Task: The Impossible
Ladies and gentleman, I stand before you today to do the unthinkable. I stand before you to convince you that a severe malfeasance of justice has occurred in our ranks. We have levied an unnecessary amount of hate at one, Ray J., and today, I shall not be moved nor shall I stand for it any longer.
In fact, we shall overcome the fact that we’ve been hoodwinked, bamboozled, and led astray!
Can I get an Amen?
Amen.
How will I complete this arduous task?? I’ll tell you. I’m going to explain to you all how we have been wrong in our accusations against Mr. Norwood of being a total fake ass nigga. I’m going to show you how he had no choice but to try to hard and come off looking lame in the process. I’m going to show you how his youth and circumstances helped to create the man we see before us today. I’m going to show you how I became a fan, and show you the light to becoming a fan as well. It’s okay to step out of the dark…into the light of prosperity!! Into the light of ubiquity…in fact…Gimme the Light…alright…tonight.
Did young Ray J try to hard at times? Yes he did. But WHY did he? Think about this. You’re older sister is selling millions of records and has a name that everybody knows…before 19. In the family, she is the one people run to hug while you are pushed around at the dinner line at the family reunion. Nobody wants to give you any Kool-Aid, it’s all for your sister. Nobody even knows your name.
Now, imagine if you will, a rubber duck…some blue suede shoes, and a bag of nickels.
What would you do?
I ask again.
What WOULD you do???
You’d act out and do anything in your power to gain notice. In your attempts to get some of the attention your family is bestowing upon their wunderkid daughter, you are forced to do what any other young man screaming for love and adoration would do in LA.
Join a gang.
SAY WHAT????
Yes nigga, Ray J was known to be affiliated with a set of Bloods in Carson, California.
Hmmm…didn’t know that did you?
Did you also know that one phone call can save you 15% or more by switching your car insurance to Geico?
So we have a gangland thug in the family worrying his family all to death in an attempt to get some attention. Well, at some point, he reached out to his family because he was afraid of what might happen to him on the streets. So Ray J did a little dirt on the streets but still hasn’t managed to get from under Brandy’s shadow. He is, for lack of a better term, just Brandy’s little brother. Yet he gets a shot to release an album for that very reason.
And he lays a brick, Everything You Want, but that’s not because he couldn’t sing. It was because he didn’t know who he was at that point. Youthful uncertainty is something we’ve all gone through isn’t it? We all at some point had to search for ourselves which is even harder when you’re life is defined as the younger sibling of a wildly popular, but soon to be hated entity and money making machine.
Then when he gets on Moesha everybody hates on him for playing a pseudo-thug. I always wondered why we tend to spew hate-age at people for playing characters we don’t believe. They are characters…actors. Maybe it was the continued nepotism. I don’t know, but that isn’t his fault. Poor Ray J is just trying to become somebody when nobody thinks he can.
But then he did the unthinkable? What did he do?
Well, he had a hit single with the Lil Kim assisted “Waitaminute” from interesting album It’s Not A Game. And don’t nobody better not act like they weren’t feeling that song. Neptunes on the track, Lil Kim on the mic, and Ray J doing his best horrible singing impression. The problem was the video. Okay, I’ll admit, once again he was trying to hard to seem cool. And that is a problem he’s had, but he’s also been trying to come into his own. People hate for him trying to seem cool and give off this semi “down” persona when truth be told, he’s done his stint in the streets. Little do we know, Ray J has done some dirt.
Because of our continued hate, Ray J ends up further trying to figure out his place by running with Suge Knight.
Yes, that Suge Knight.
Why am I telling you all of this? It’s to illustrate the fact that though we hate on him for his pseudo-thug image, he has at some point done things that would qualify any other individual with some credibility. But no, we blame him for being Brandy’s brother and attempting to come from under her shadow. That is not fair. Yes he’s corny, but that inner cornball comes from trying to prove to us, the masses, that he does have something to offer. All youth’s go through points where they don’t know where they are and lash out and rebel in attempts to find their own personal security.
Ray J is no different. The only problem is, nobody wants to give him any credit because he’s the younger brother of somebody we now equally hate on, Brandy.
Is it his fault that he had to find a way to get noticed? No, it’s not. Ray J was going to be hated on regardless. Nothing he could have done would be good enough. But I’m saying give him a chance. For instance, he just released his third album, Raydiation. And you know what, it’s quality. He seems a little more humbled now than on previous attempts. Even in interviews, he isn’t trying to sound like a thugged out playboy. No, he’s just Ray J and he wants his music to speak for him.
The question is then, can it? What is different?
Well, on his newest album he experiments with his vocals a little bit more. And wouldn’t you know? He can sing. I’m not saying he’s Luther, but he has some vocal range. The songwriting is good enough and the music is downright good. Does he try to hard, well, yes, on a few songs where he has guest appearances from the likes of pissboy R. Kelly, Fat Joe, and other random folks. Yet, the songs where its just him singing…well, it’s some quality. But nobody wants to give him a chance because it’s Ray J.
Ray J went through phases that everybody goes through. And he’s had to grow. Usher and Kanye are some of the cockiest bastards on the planet and have heads bigger than the Goodyear Blimp, yet we purchase their music in droves.
Okay, bad example, their musical track records are good.
Hmm…I can’t make any excuses to purchase the album except to say its quality. There are 8 songs, count’em 8, that are worth having on your iPod. His identity issues are common to us all, yet we hold him to a higher standard because of his sister.
Can a brother grow? I say, can he grow?
Ladies and gentleman, I’m not here today to get you to purchase more Ray J music, I’m here to ask you to give him a chance. He cannot be faulted for going through what any young man or woman goes thru on course to figure himself out. Such is life. Yes he’s corny, but so many teen stars are. See B2K, Omarion, Marques Houston. Ray J has seemingly let go of a lot of that thug like non-sense that he knew wasn’t him, and started to become more of Ray J, a dude who wants to be somebody. He’s turned in a quality album, grown up, and come into his own.
What more can we ask for? All he wants is a chance.
Thank you.
I rest my case.
***For your listening pleasure, I will be adding Ray J’s newest album, Raydiation, to the wjgt radio at 106.3fm, later this evening. ***
September 26th, 2005 13:04
Question: is it a requirement that all corny dudes have a video where they dance in the rain, spinning in circles, with their hand in the air? In my opinion, he seemed like an Usher wannabe in his video. Yes, I am a hater of Ray J (although I do like waitaminute), but I will give his CD a listen and see if I change my mind.
September 26th, 2005 13:15
Oh hell to the naw, Panama! Ray J gets no love…he’s have to be Janet’s brother instead of Brandy’s to get any holler from me. Dude has some talent…but it’s not in front of the camera. I almost teared up when I read your headline today…damn homie, in high school you was the man homie…
Is Ray J’s music that compelling that it has pulled in a usually good-tasted brother into his wrath? We need to perform an exorcism, stat!
September 26th, 2005 14:07
I’m so so so sorry. You have just broken your I agree with almost everything Panama has ever said streak.
No, no and HELL NO. I will not, I repeat WILL NOT give him any props. I liked Wait A Minute (I’m a huge Lil Kim fan) and I admit that… and I even admit that I loved “Formal Invite.” Fine, there, that’s it, I’m done. I head that “One Wish” nonsense yesterday for the first time (I don’t *scratch that* CAN’T listen to radio. Too repetitive and painful. *shudder… in the bad way*) now what was I saying? Oh yes, yes, Ray J, yeah, umm… even a broken clock is right two times a day, I don’t have to now give him props. ANYONE AND EVERYONE can sound like they are worthy of a second listen with the Neptunes giving you tracks and Pharrell producing your shit. Please.
He’s horrible and horrendous.
GUILTY!!! Throw that nigga AND his lawyer into the hole!!!
September 26th, 2005 14:16
Delete that first comment when you get a chance… here’s the entire comment…
I’m so so so sorry. You have just broken your “I agree with almost everything Panama has ever said,” streak.
No, no and HELL NO. I will not, I repeat WILL NOT give him any props. I liked Wait A Minute (I’m a huge Lil Kim fan) and I admit that… and I even admit that I loved “Formal Invite.” Fine, there, that’s it, I’m done. I heard that “One Wish” nonsense yesterday for the first time (I don’t *scratch that* CAN’T listen to radio. Too repetitive and painful. *shudder… in the bad way*) now what was I saying? Oh yes, yes, Ray J, yeah, “One Wish” - awful-rific… he is CLEARLY biting Usher’s “style” if you can call it that. Er-umm… because I hate Usher too. *ducking* And the awkward way he says that “I’ll be okay if I get one” line… like it was really too long, but he shoved the “ok” in there anyway. Deplorable.
Yeah, “Wait A Minute” and “Formal Invite” fine… but even a broken clock is right two times a day, I don’t have to now give him some unwarranted props for sounding good. Shit, who couldn’t have a hit if Pharell was producing and the Neptunes were giving them tracks. *shaking head*
Even with the two hot songs, he’s horrible and horrendous.
GUILTY!!! Throw that nigga AND his lawyer into the hole!!!
September 26th, 2005 14:33
dude…
you my man a hunned grand, but i think you might have to walk this one alone. I followed you on the Omarion joint, but that’s just ’cause the jawn with big boi was that shit and touch sounded like something that shouldn’t have been left on the cutting room floor from Justified. But this…man, i just caint do it.
to me, it’s like if the hip hop dalmations put out an album. it could be classic material…better than late registration (which i still think you have to reconsider), the minstrel show (which i think is overrated), be, jaydilla’s welcome to detroit and the documentary ALL PUT TOGETHER, and it wouldn’t matter…i couldn’t justify listening to the hip hop dalmations. ray j has made such a ridiculous caricature out of his image and life that i cant fuck w/ him, irrespective of his music’s quality.
September 26th, 2005 14:59
mmm…
…ok…
I got it!
Panama Muhffukkin’ has officially become…
“THE MAN”
‘cuz only “THE MAN” can even remotely try to pass off Willie Ray Norwood Jr. as a reformed thug turned crooner!
you’re killin’ me with Ray J/Blood affiliation. that’s gotta be the funniest shit i’ve ever heard. LOL, LOl, Lol, lol, lo, l…hey. waitaminute…dammit man! even People magazine is gettin’ on the Ray J promo push.
People Magazine, Oct. 3, 2005 edition, p. 125:
“I had a little bit of fame, but I didn’t know how to take it,” says Ray J, now 24. At 13 he started hanging out with members of the Bloods gang but never officially joined.
Adds Brandy, 26:”I knew he was hangin out with those kind of people. But I didn’t know how deep it was.”
the quality of journalism at People magazine has fallen off tremendously. whatever happened to those hard hitting anecdotes on the world’s sexiest people?
what the fuck!? next you gon’ tell me Omarion and Marques Houston are street dancers by day and deliverin’ kilos of coke by night.
“The force is strong in Panama it is…great fear in him I sense…”
September 26th, 2005 15:33
Okay, now really…for all of the hate that folks are laying down on my man Willie Ray (which is one black ass name if you ask me), I’m just saying that we tend to hate for no good reason.
Everybody is a Bobby Brown knockoff nowadays. Who could be considered to be a Michael Jackson knockoff.
Hell, the next things folks are gonna tell me is that Puffy ISN’T in the Greatest Rappers of All Time Top 10!
September 27th, 2005 00:41
I always like your taste in music so I’ll get the album from you when I get a minute. if I liked that damned Omarion album you suggested, I can like this one.
September 27th, 2005 00:45
I hate to say it but I don’t know if I can ride with you on this one Panama. I guess you are ONLY askin’ us to give him a chance BUT I will NEVER walk into a record store in broad daylight, walk up to the counter in my cool boy stroll and present the clerk with a Ray J cd and tell ‘em, ‚ÄúI don’t even need a bag…imma pump this as soon as I get in the car.‚Äù Uh-um. Not gon’ be able to do it. You can’t even ask a bootlegger if they got that new Ray J without being looked at as an utterly tasteless individual.
September 27th, 2005 05:35
In the immortal words of some dayum body “HELLUS NO-US!!!!”
Why do we spit haterade on people who we don’t find believeable?? We spew haterade on folks like that because we KNOW……that they SHOULD KNOW better than to take a role that nobody’s going to believe! We spew haterade on folks like that because we know…..that they know …….that we know …….that they are just not thug material. Furthermore, we feel that that shyt insults our intelligence - or what little intelligence we have left!!! ….. and passing Ray J off as a thug???? Sheeiiittt, if that’s the case then why don’t we just go all out??? Recast THE WIRE and have Tevin Campbell play Russell “Stringer” Bell while we’re at it?…………….Shoot, someone should have taken that lil boy aside and told him some things. Including how to man up because that Ginuwine mustache he has going on is NOT cute! ~ Ms. Blaize ( You really tried on this one but……*Shaking my head and KRACKIN’ UP!!!*)
September 27th, 2005 10:17
@Ms. Blaize: You’re saying Tevin Campbell COULDN’T play Stringer???? I totally see Tevin Campbell in that roll. THEN, we could have Ray J come thru as Avon. Somebody needs to call HBO stat!!!
Off tha fo’ reely tho, I ain’t saying no where that Ray J is the end all be all of great singers or the most talented. However, i seriously doubt that admitting that the boy has had a good song or two will totally ruin anybody’s credibility. If you are on the stand as an expert witness and the defense lawyer says, “Have you ever listened to a song by Ray J?” and you respond “Yes…” the testimony will still stand.
One of my boys called me yesterday and was mad that he liked even a song by Marques Houston. I don’t understand that. If it’s good…so be it.
In fact, I’m gonna start a support group: Folks Who Can’t Believe They Like Shit That Is Supposed To Be Wack But Surprisingly Isn’t. FWCBTLSTISTBWBSI, Inc.
September 27th, 2005 11:24
You make a listenable argument. But I don’t know if I can get over it. I mean, it’s Ray J. The mere thought of him, and his muppet-esque sister make me giggle.
September 27th, 2005 22:10
Um…I kinda like “One Wish”. You ain’t haveta convince me…. *ducking tomatoes and rotten eggs*
September 28th, 2005 01:40
fuque dat, the negro is guilty!
*submits the video for “One Wish” as ALL the evidence that is needed*
October 1st, 2005 23:27
Laughing at X’s comment! Ha… I can’t believe it Panama… youo devoted an entire blog to Ray freakin J… I think I’ve seen it all
*whispers* Have his A&R folks dangled you from a balcony or something? *Humming* oooh waitamiiiinute… LOL
October 1st, 2005 23:31
On second thought… it’s good you stuck up for the brotha… He needs some love… Even if he’s only Brandy with a mustache
October 4th, 2005 20:23
Bloods in Carson?! Not in D.A. That’s news to me….but wait didn’t they live in the Patch? Hmmm….
For the record, yea I loved that “Wait A Minute” song.
This is comedy. Lemme keep reading…
October 8th, 2005 11:43
I was listening to the hater radio, also known as The Wendy Williams Show, and she was saying that Ray J tried stepping to Halle Berry. Now, as a man, my natural hate kicks. I mean, what could the dude have to offer Halle freakin’ Berry. Ray J money? No nigga, stop, and I remember you did a show with Sinbad. Could you offer her Moesha money? No, she makes more making a single movie than Brandy’s top selling albums. You got as much of a chance I have, and I’m just a silly negro from upstate NY.
Ray J is as ridiculous as Common selling hats for more than 30 dollars.