Who is Ray J? Celebrity Big Brother star who made a sex tape with Kim Kardashian
The rapper is best known for his sex tape with Kim Kardashian but what else has he done?
RAY J is best known for his relationship with Kim Kardashian and that now-infamous sex tape they made.
But there is more to him than being a former lover of the reality TV queen - here's what we know...
Who is Ray J?
He was born William Ray Norwood Jr. in January 1981 in Mississippi to gospel singer father Willie Norwood and mother Sonja Bates-Norwood.
When he was young, he moved with his parents and older sister Brandy, the award-winning singer and actress, to California.
He is also the cousin of rapper Snoop Dogg.
After he and his family moved to California, he landed some TV commercials at the age of eight.
He then played foster son L.J. Beckley in the sitcom The Sinbad Show, starring stand-up comedian David Adkins, from 1993 to 1994.
He then joined the cast of the sitcom Moesha, which starred his sister Brandy in the lead role.
When did Ray J get into music?
In 1995, when he was just 14 he signed to Elektra Records and recorded and released his debut album called Everything You Want, which peaked at number 25 in the charts.
He was dropped from the label two years later and became a producer for the toy company Mattel, putting music together for several TV commercials.
In 2001, he and Brandy recorded a version of Phil Collins’ Another Day in Paradise which was a Top Ten hit across Europe. He also that year released a second album, This Ain't A Game, through Atlantic Records which to this day has only sold 300,000 copies.
His third album was released in 2003 and its single One Wish was a top 20 success. His fourth album All I Feel sold the same amount as his second.
What is his connection to Kim Kardashian?
Ray J made headlines in 2007 when a sex tape he had made with his then-girlfriend Kim Kardashian went public.
The couple dated from 2003 to 2006.
She sued Vivid Entertainment who put the tape out and called it Kim K Superstar but eventually dropped the suit and took a $5 million settlement.
Recently, Kim admitted that she was under the influence of ecstasy when she decided to film the sex tape with her then boyfriend.
He was also reportedly linked to Whitney Houston but has claimed they were nothing more than friends.
Ray J is now married to Princess Love with whom he stars on VH1 reality show Love and Hip Hop Hollywood.
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What happened to Ray J in the Celebrity Big Brother house?
Ray J was on Celebrity Big Brother in January 2017.
During his time in the house, Ray J talked about his relationship and THAT sex tape with Kim Kardashian.
Early in the series, he told fellow housemate Stacy Francis he feels guilty for the tragic feud between her and Whitney Houston just before the iconic singer's death.
But he sensationally quit the reality show during the first week.
However, the Love & Hip Hop star was left outraged when he claims he wasn’t allowed back into the house after leaving for emergency dental work after just eight days.
His sudden departure and inability to get back onto the show meant Ray J didn’t receive his £250k paycheck – and now the star is taking legal action.