He was signed with Elektra in 1995 by Darryl Williams. In 1997, he performed in a television special with his sister, but despite the mainstream attention, he was dropped by Elektra soon after. His easygoing image and boyish looks appealed to the producers of Brandy's television show, Moesha, scoring him a role on the popular UPN series starting in 1999. He also started producing, putting together the music for several commercials and a few of the demos for his second record. In 1997 he also released his debut album Everything You Want, recorded the year before, which spawned two singles. "Let It Go" was the lead single of the smash soundtrack for Set It Off (Brandy also appeared on the soundtrack; and her song "Missing You" with Tamia, Chaka Khan and Gladys Knight peaked also at number 25). It peaked number 25 in the U.S. and number 11 in New Zealand. The second single peaked at number 54 on the U.S. R&B chart.
After appearing on the last episode of Moesha in 2001, Norwood stepped back into the studio and recorded "Another Day In Paradise" with Brandy, which was a Top Ten success in Austria, UK, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Belgium, Norway, Ireland, the Netherlands and number 11 in Australia and France. The song was the lead single of the R&B/Hip Hop tribute Urban Renewal, in which he co-produced and performed songs. Norwood also worked with The Neptunes, Rodney Jerkins and Lil' Kim, and several other hitmaking producers and singers for his second studio album This Ain't A Game, a Hip hop-oriented record that featured more of his rapping than his debut. The album was released in 2001, but despite a strong promotional push from new label Atlantic Records, it wasn't a breakthrough success. The lead single "Wait A Minute" appeared in the lower half of the charts in Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Great Britain. The second single did even worse peaking on the R&B/Hip hop chart only.
In 2002 he appeared in the video for his sister's smash-hit "What About Us", which was produced by Jerkins, and was released as her third album, Full Moon's lead single during the first quarter of 2002 (see 2002 in music). While "What About Us?" entered the Top 20 on the majority of the charts it appeared on, it reached the Top 10 in Australia, Denmark, New Zealand, Norway, the Philippines, the UK, and the United States.
After a two year break, Norwood returned to recording studios, adding the finishing touches on his third studio album Raydiation with help from producers such as Rodney Jerkins, Timbaland, and R. Kelly. A joint venture by Sanctuary Records and Ray-J's own label, independent Knockout Entertainment, the album was finally released on September 27, 2005 in North America after several delays, debuting at number forty-eight on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 18,321 copies in the first week. Boosted by the album's lead single "One Wish," a top 20 success in Ireland, New Zealand, the UK, the U.S.. Raydiation eventually sold over 400,000 copies domestically.[2]
In 2005, Norwood joined the cast of UPN's One On One,[3] where he played the character of D-Mack for the final season.
More recently, Knockout Entertainment announced a multi-million dollar album deal with Koch Records and Shaquille O'Neal’s "Deja 34" entertainment company.[2] The first album for this deal is Norwood's upcoming fourth album All I Feel, which featuresThe Game, and remixes with Manny and Gil (MP Productions) among others. It was released on April 1st,2008.[4] The album's first single is "Sexy Can I" featuring rapper Yung Berg peaked at number three on the Top Singles (Hot 100) for six weeks. A video for the track, directed by R. Malcolm Jones, was shot in December 2007
It's Up To You
Ray J Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hey hey hey aayyy hey hey hey aayyy
[Verse 1:]
I got my money up up up up up
Enough to fill your cup cup cup cup cup
I promise to taste, girl you promise to touch
I got a lil' change I'm a spend it girl trust
[Chorus:]
So it's up to you
It's up to you
It's up to you, girlfriend
You gotta choose, girlfriend
It's up to you
It's up to you
It's up to you, girlfriend
You gotta choose, girlfriend
It's up to you
[Verse 2:]
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine
Ten, girl you know that your a dime
Your lookin' so cute
In your birthday suit, and
You make me feel so so good
I make you feel so so good
You want it
I got it
So baby
[Chorus:]
[Verse 3:]
Anything you want girl you know that you can have it
You know that you can have it, just bounce it like a rabbit
Girl anything you want girl you know that you can get it
You know that you can get it, as long as I can hit it
[Chorus:]
[Verse 4:]
I got my money up up up up up
Enough to fill your cup cup cup cup cup
I promise to taste, girl you promise to touch
I got a lil' change I'm a spend it girl trust
So it's up to you
It's up to you
Ain't nothin' to prove, girlfriend
I been there for you, girlfriend
You know what to do
You gotta show how to feel
You gotta show and prove
Baby girl make your move
You that it's up to you
It's up to you
What you wanna do, girlfriend
I'm in love with you, girlfriend
So is my crew
So is my crew
I know it sounds crazy, baby
But you gotta choose baby
I got my money up up up up up
Enough to fill your cup cup cup cup cup
I promise to taste, girl you promise to touch
I got a lil' change I'm a spend it girl trust
So it's up to you (trust me baby)
It's up to you (trust me baby)
It's up to you, girlfriend
You gotta choose, girlfriend
It's up to you
(Girl) It's up to you
It's up to you, girlfriend
You gotta choose, girlfriend
It's up to you
Ray J's "It's Up to You" is a provocative song about a man who has his eyes on a woman and has the means to take her out and show her a good time. The song begins with the chorus, with Ray J singing "It's Up to You" repetitively, leaving no confusion about who has the power in the situation. Ray J then goes on to boast about his wealth, confidently promising to "fill your cup." He invites the woman to make her move and choose what she wants from him, playing on her desire for luxury and material goods.
In the second verse, Ray J counts up to ten, singing "girl you know that you're a dime," emphasizing the woman's physical attractiveness. He then proceeds to describe how good they make each other feel, with the lyrics "You make me feel so good, I make you feel so good." Continuing to sell himself, Ray J asserts that he has everything she could want, and all she has to do is "bounce it like a rabbit."
Ultimately, Ray J reiterates that the decision lies with the woman, but makes it clear that he is ready to take things to the next level, singing "I'm in love with you, girlfriend." The song ends with Ray J repeating the chorus, reminding her that it's her choice.
Line by Line Meaning
I got my money up up up up up
I have accumulated a substantial amount of money
Enough to fill your cup cup cup cup cup
I have enough money to provide for you
I promise to taste, girl you promise to touch
I am willing to give you pleasure and in return, you should reciprocate
I got a lil' change I'm a spend it girl trust
I have some extra money and I am going to use it for us, please trust me
It's up to you
You have the final say, it is your decision to make
You gotta choose, girlfriend
You have to make a choice, my love
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine
Ten, girl you know that your a dime
You are very attractive and valuable to me
Your lookin' so cute
In your birthday suit, and
You make me feel so so good
I make you feel so so good
You are adorable and when naked, I feel ecstatic and I make you feel ecstatic too
Anything you want girl you know that you can have it
You know that you can have it, just bounce it like a rabbit
Girl anything you want girl you know that you can get it
You know that you can get it, as long as I can hit it
You can have whatever you want, and I mean that, just show me what you want and I will provide it; if you let me have sex with you, I will give you anything you ask for
Ain't nothin' to prove, girlfriend
I been there for you, girlfriend
You know what to do
You gotta show how to feel
You gotta show and prove
Baby girl make your move
You don't have to prove anything to me, I have proven that I am there for you; you just need to show your feelings for me, and make your move
What you wanna do, girlfriend
I'm in love with you, girlfriend
So is my crew
I know it sounds crazy, baby
But you gotta choose baby
You need to decide what you want to do; I am in love with you, and so are my friends; I know it sounds crazy, but you need to make a choice
(Girl) It's up to you
Again, it is your decision to make
You gotta choose, girlfriend
It's up to you
Once again, you need to make a decision
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: B Fisher, B Harville
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind