    william ray norwood jr. (born january 17, 1981), known by his stage name ray j, is an american singer, songwriter, record producer and actor. born in mccomb, mississippi and raised in carson, california, he is the brother of recording artist and actress brandy norwood and the first cousin of rapper snoop dogg. ==life and career== ===early life=== william ray norwood jr. was born in mccomb, mississippi to willie norwood and sonja bates-norwood. his older sister brandy is an award-winning, multi-platinum recording artist. early in his life, he moved with his family from mccomb, mississippi to los angeles, california, and in 1989 started appearing in television commercials for different companies. in 1989, at the age of eight, norwood began auditioning for and appearing in television commercials; he played the foster son in the sinbad show, from 1993 to 1994. this period in norwood's life would shape his acting career. according to bradley torreano of allmusic, "his easygoing image and boyish looks appealed to the producers of brandy's television show, moesha, giving him a role on the upn series as dorian "d-money", a role he played from 1999 until the show ended in 2001. ===1995â2006: everything you want, this ain't a game, and raydiation=== he signed to elektra records in 1995 and he began to record his debut album everything you want the same year. "let it go" appeared on the set it off soundtrack. it peaked number 25 in the u.s. and number 11 in 
1981_births 20th-century_American_male_actors 21st-century_American_male_actors African-American_male_actors African-American_musicians African-American_rappers American_hip_hop_singers American_male_child_actors American_male_film_actors American_male_singers American_male_television_actors American_rhythm_and_blues_singers Atlantic_Records_artists Living_people Male_actors_from_California Male_actors_from_Mississippi Musicians_from_California Musicians_from_Mississippi Participants_in_American_reality_television_series People_from_Carson,_California People_from_McComb,_Mississippi Rappers_from_Los_Angeles,_California SRC_Records_artists