About this episode
Ray J joins Shannon Sharpe for an engaging episode of Club Shay Shay, sharing an in-depth look into his multifaceted life and career. Ray J opens up about his upbringing, moving from Mississippi to Compton, and the challenges he faced, including his father driving him from Carson to Hollywood auditions and his dislike for choir rehearsals. He reflects on getting into trouble, joining a gang, and the influence of his sister Brandy’s big break with her first album. Ray J talks about his relationship with Brandy, the dynamics of their sibling bond, and a memorable incident when he got a tattoo of her, which upset her. Despite never wanting to be in show business, he acknowledges that being Brandy’s brother always helped him. He shares his early realization of Pharrell Williams’ talent and working with various A-list celebrities as a child. He reminisces about being spoiled as a kid, receiving a Cadillac at 14, and his experiences with his cousin, Snoop Dogg. He discusses attending private school after getting jumped at public school and his mother managing both his and Brandy’s careers. Ray J delves into the growing distance between him and Brandy due to his actions, and his encounters with Michael Jackson, facilitated by Brandy. Ray J addresses Vince Staples’ comments about him being a top 5 West Coast rapper, shares his top 5 West Coast artists, and discusses the current state of West Coast rap with artists like YG and Kendrick Lamar. He gives his take on the Kendrick vs. Drake and Chris Brown vs. Quavo beef and his diss song with Chris Brown aimed at Kanye West.Ray J candidly talks about his need for reality shows to assess his personal growth, feeling blackballed in the industry, and the process of Shaq investing $1.5M into his music. He explains why he became an independent artist, what he wishes he knew as a younger artist, and his admiration for Chris Brown’s career. Finally, Ray J discusses the artists he regrets signing, the reasons RSVP didn’t work out as a group, and the regret over unfulfilled dreams. Join Shannon Sharpe and Ray J for an episode filled with introspection, humor, and raw honesty about the highs and lows of his journey in the entertainment industry. #Volume See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.