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Exclusive: Ray J Speaks to UrbanBridgez.com

Ray J is an entertainer, business man and ladies man. All proven by the wide range of success he’s had over the last decade. A successful recording artist from the start with his debut single “Let it Go” from his debut album “Everything You Want,” the song also appeared on the soundtrack to “Set it Off.” Ray teamed up with his sister Brandy on the duet of the Phil Collins hit single “Another Day in Paradise” which was a top 10 hit in the UK, as well as many other countries. With the release of “This Ain’t A Game,” Ray returned to the top of the charts with the hit single “Wait A Minute” featuring Lil Kim.

Today Ray J is the #1 independent recording artist in music, having scored two hit projects with total sales of 4 million copies released under his own label Knockout Entertainment. Established in 2005, Ray J flexed his entrepreneurial muscle by producing “Raydiation” it featured the hit single, “One Wish” which collectively sold over 1 million copies without a major record label. In 2008, Ray J released the hit single “Sexy Can I” which sold over 2 million copies. Fueled by the singles success, Ray J released the CD, “All I Feel” that debuted at #1 on the Billboard R&B Album Chart.

Ray J is back on VH1, in For The Love of Ray J 2 every Monday night at 9/8 central. “For The Love of Ray J 2” brings 19 beautiful single ladies to Ray J’s luxurious mansion in the Hollywood Hills. With the help of VH1, Ray J will be able to see firsthand who can handle his fast-paced celebrity lifestyle. From hitting the hottest spots in LA to seeing if they can deal with the pressures of being Ray J’s girl, these women will be put to the test. Every week the ladies will get a chance to convince Ray J that they can keep up with his life in the spotlight and that they will do anything “For The Love of Ray J 2.”

In addition to his huge success as a TV reality star, Ray J recently relaunched his official site rayj.com and it is on it’s way to being one of the hottest new social networking sites online. The site features the latest info on Ray J as well as the latest on urban entertainment news. Viewers are also able to join the site and become members. The site will have upcoming opportunities for members to make money as well, along with some more surprises in the coming weeks. Ray isn’t forgetting about his loyal fanbase in regards to his music, as he is currently working on his next album “Raydiation 2,” which is scheduled for release next year.

In this exclusive interview with UrbanBridgez.com, as apart of our anniversary interview series! Ray J talked to Aries about this season of “For The Love of Ray J 2,” “Raydiation 2,” his new film “Envy,” his family and much more!

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UrbanBridgez.com: What can fans look forward to on this season of For The Love of Ray J?
Ray J: What can they expect, fighting, emotions, just a roller coaster ride. You know and just to witness seeing me make that connection and the chemistry, that’s what they can really look forward to seeing.

UrbanBridgez.com: Do you play a role in the girls that are selected for the show or do you just let VH-1 take care of the casting and you go in blind?
Ray J: Yeah they’re selected by 51 Minds and VH1. So I put my trust in them to find the right girls for me and to see what happens.

UrbanBridgez.com: I know the question about you & Danger is going to be answered in this season of the show, but can you reveal the connection it plays for the new girls?
Ray J: Yeah that’s my peoples, I got alot of love for her. I bring her back, so when she comes back alot of interesting things are said. Things come out, so people gotta tune in to that episode, it’s really a good episode.

UrbanBridgez.com: The single that played at the end of the first episode, is it for Raydiation 2?
Ray J: Umm which one, it’s like a ballad?

UrbanBridgez.com: Yeah that one, during the upcoming previews.
Ray J: You know what, I just made that up. I made it up, then I just laid it for them. I don’t really have a certain home for the record. I might just put it out on the internet and let people have it. Because it’s only like two minutes long.

UrbanBridgez.com: Now let’s talk about Raydiation 2, I’m looking forward to it because Raydiation is my favorite disc by you so far. What direction are you taking with this album?
Ray J: It’s part two of the sound that’s already been there. Passion in R&B, strong ballads, strong concepts, vocally challenging myself. Taking it to the next level as far as my runs, my tone, and the subjects I’m talking on, you know. Just really, real, real R&B! So I’m going to go back to Raydiation, that’s why I named it R2. Because I want people to get that feeling, like they had with “One Wish” and “Melody,” and all of those songs.

UrbanBridgez.com: Who did you work with & plan to work with before you finish?
Ray J: I haven’t really worked with anybody yet. Of course I’m going to get in with Rodney Jerkins, I already started working with Chris Henderson. I just did a hot song with him, so I’m just working. I’ll probably put out a couple of singles and see what happens before I put it out.

UrbanBridgez.com: Envy finally comes out on Tuesday (November 10th), tell me about that film and your roll in it?
Ray J: Well I executive produced it and starred in it. It’s an action film, it’s about the dope game in Detroit. It’s a real street movie, it’s really uncut and raw. So when people see it and anybody that’s ever been to Detroit or just knows about the dope game in any city, they’ll understand the ups and downs that come with that. So that’s what we express and what we showcase in this movie Envy.

UrbanBridgez.com: Dre is always posting video shoots on Twitter, but I never catch what projects the videos are for…
Ray J: Oh Dre Sinatra (laughs).

UrbanBridgez.com: Yeah, when will fans see these videos and what project are they for?
Ray J: Are they music videos? I don’t be in them do I?

UrbanBridgez.com: You were in one I remember, looked like it was filmed in a mansion and you was singing.
Ray J: Oh okay, yeah. You know what Dre1 is my DJ and he’s my computer dude. So anywhere we go or anything we do, people can log onto rayj.com and check it out. Or they can go on my Twitter, so he controls all of that for me if I don’t do it myself. And I got him just posting up stuff for me.

UrbanBridgez.com: What’s the latest with Shorty Mack’s project?
Ray J: Yeah it’s coming out. He got a new song coming out, it just dropped on XM radio. It’s called “I’m Out The Gutta,” it’s hot!

UrbanBridgez.com: Tasha Scott is my chick, so I was very happy to learn she was signed to KnockOut, do you have a plan at this point on how you’re going to market her to the masses as the bomb singer she is?
Ray J: Well you know I got big plans for Tasha! Right now she’s out with her daughter on the Lion King tour. So we just gotta sit down and come up with the right records. Ones that are going to fit her demographic and then try to get some young, young people to get into the music also. Really we just gotta take our time with it and do it right.

UrbanBridgez.com: Tell me about the project you’re working on focused on The Family and what you want viewers to get out of it once it starts airing?
Ray J: Oh yeah, I can’t discuss it yet because I said a little bit about it and then I got in trouble. So I can’t discuss it yet because everything isn’t inked yet, so I gotta make sure I get everything together. With the production team and everybody, then I’ll be back strong to talk about that.

UrbanBridgez.com: The family is not only extremely close, but you all keep the business in the family as well. Why do you think you guys have been so successful doing that when other families have done it and it has ruined their whole family?
Ray J: I don’t know, you know we all love each other. It’s unconditional love, it’s not a joke, it’s not an act. So we’ve always just stuck together and believed in each other. As well as uplift each other and inspire each other. My whole family, my dad with the music, my mom with the business, it’s just real love man. We trust each other in this business, trust is hard to come by. So I definitely keep it loyal with my family. Of course I’ve gotten offers to go here and there and to change up. To do this and that, but I don’t do that, I keep it 100 with my family all day long!

UrbanBridgez.com: I couldn’t do an interview with you without asking about Brandy, I’m sure some starz would cuss me out…
Ray J: (laughs).

UrbanBridgez.com: So with her currently in the studio, what would you say fans have to look forward to with her new album?
Ray J: Yeah the new album is going to be crazy, but she hasn’t really zoned in all the way on the new one. But right now she’s just singing alot and she’s just like creating new runs and new sounds for music and then I think she’s going to release her new album soon. But she’s working with Timbaland, so she’s on the new Timbaland album, so that’s gonna be hot “Shock Value II.” She’s on that rappin and singing.

UrbanBridgez.com: What other projects can fans look forward to from you in the coming year?
Ray J: Ray J Radio, I’m going to start out with about 35 stations. So Ray J Radio and of course I got like three or four other projects coming out on VH1 and BET. So I’m looking forward to that too.

UrbanBridgez.com: Any last words for your fans?
Ray J: I love them, God bless and good night!

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