William Ray Norwood, Jr. (born January 17, 1981), better known by his stage… Read Full Bio ↴William Ray Norwood, Jr. (born January 17, 1981), better known by his stage name Ray J, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, and rapper. He is the son of gospel singer Willie Norwood and the younger brother of Contemporary R&B singer Brandy.

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

Where You At
Ray J Lyrics

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here you at? (I got it)
Where you at? (I got it)
Where you at? (I got it)
All my nigga's makin' money

Where you at? (where you at?)
Where you at? (where you at?)
Where you at? (where you at?)

All my bitches makin' money
Where you at?

My cherry red shirt and my Anaheim fitted (in my)
My cherry red shirt and my Anaheim fitted (in my)
My cherry red shirt and my Anaheim fitted
Nigga throwin' up the beat, baby came to get with it

Soon as I got a meal, I got a zone
Got a couple cribs, all brand new homes
Smokin' and poppin' pills, it's how we goin'
My cherry red shirt in the club gettin' loaded

Bitch I'm a baller, but I ain't hopin'
I'm up the courts in a view so movin'
And we can confirm that (with the whole west coast)
'Cause my nigga DJ Quik brought this beat funk music

Where you at? (I got it)
Where you at? (I got it)
Where you at? (I got it)
All my nigga's makin' money
Where you at? (where you at?)
Where you at? (where you at?)
Where you at? (where you at?)
All my bitches makin' money
Where you at?
My cherry red shirt and my Anaheim fitted (in my)
My cherry red shirt and my Anaheim fitted (in my)
My cherry red shirt and my Anaheim fitted
Nigga throwin' up the beat, baby came to get with it

I'm in cherry red Chucks, Anaheim fitted
Brim low, drive by, tell 'em Anaheim did it
Game the banger, part time slinger
Half time hustler put soap on a hanger

Let it damp out, khaki suit flamin' like a camp out
Game on the track I'll blow the f**kin' amps out
Game bang while I drive, pull this six tramp out
X-Games in the hood bring the f**kin' ramps out
(where you at?)

Gameboys on the block, 'til they see the Vans out
Three dollar X pills, call that shit a handout
She know that sex sells so she got her ass out
But we ain't buyin' nothin' but Patron, bitch pass out (where you at?)

Where I'm at in the hood on D's
5 years after I was in the hood on Keys
Rockin' that 80's hat, like where the haze at
Red rag in my right pocket and I stay strapped

Where you at? (I got it)
Where you at? (I got it)
Where you at? (I got it)
All my nigga's makin' money

Where you at? (where you at?)
Where you at? (where you at?)
Where you at? (where you at?)
All my bitches makin' money
Where you at?

My cherry red shirt and my Anaheim fitted (in my)
My cherry red shirt and my Anaheim fitted (in my)
My cherry red shirt and my Anaheim fitted
Nigga throwin' up the beat, baby came to get with it

Where you at? (I got it)
Where you at? (I got it)
Where you at? (I got it)
All my nigga's makin' money

Where you at? (where you at?)
Where you at? (where you at?)
Where you at? (where you at?)
All my bitches makin' money
Where you at?

My cherry red shirt and my Anaheim fitted (in my)
My cherry red shirt and my Anaheim fitted (in my)

My cherry red shirt and my Anaheim fitted
Nigga throwin' up the beat, baby came to get with it

Overall Meaning

In Ray J's "Where You At," the rapper is posing a confident and braggadocious question to his audience, asking them where they are and noting his success throughout the song. He highlights his success, boasting about his money, homes, and questionable habits like smoking and popping pills. In contrast, he also mentions what he perceives as success among women, referring to them as bitches and indicating that they are making money like his male friends.

The recurring theme of this song is success, power, and control. Ray J emphasizes his extended and diverse social circle, with both male and female friends reportedly making money. He indicates that he is proud of his neighborhood and his city, specifically referencing Anaheim with his fitted cap. Furthermore, he sings about several different items of clothing, where they were purchased, and when he wears them. He also raps about his location, his car, and suggesting that he carries a firearm, some of which suggest his wealth, while others may signify the lifestyle that many Los Angeles rappers emulate.

This song shows Ray J's affinity for materialism and the more superficial aspects of wealth and success. However, it also highlights a competitive edge and a desire for control, suggesting that he is comfortable with his social and financial status but still working to maintain or increase it.

Line by Line Meaning

Where you at? (I got it)
Asking someone where they are, implying that the singer knows where they are and has ownership over the situation.

All my nigga's makin' money
All of the singer's male friends are earning money at the moment.

Where you at? (where you at?)
Repeated question asking someone where they are.

All my bitches makin' money
All of the artist's female acquaintances are making money currently.

My cherry red shirt and my Anaheim fitted (in my)
The artist is wearing a cherry red shirt and a fitted cap with the Anaheim logo on it.

Nigga throwin' up the beat, baby came to get with it
Someone is playing their music loudly and the singer's acquaintance came over to join the party.

Soon as I got a meal, I got a zone
As soon as the singer had a substantial amount of money, they invested in a neighborhood.

Got a couple cribs, all brand new homes
The artist owns a few properties and they are all new homes.

Smokin' and poppin' pills, it's how we goin'
The artist and their friends are smoking marijuana and taking pills as a way to have fun.

Bitch I'm a baller, but I ain't hopin'
The artist has money and is doing well but they aren't relying on any one else to provide for them.

I'm up the courts in a view so movin'
The singer can be found at the basketball court, where they are active and involved in the game.

'Cause my nigga DJ Quik brought this beat funk music
The artist credits DJ Quik for creating the music that is playing.

I'm in cherry red Chucks, Anaheim fitted
The singer is wearing red converse shoes and a cap with the Anaheim logo.

Game the banger, part time slinger
The singer is skilled at playing games, but they also sell drugs on a part-time basis.

Half time hustler put soap on a hanger
The singer is involved in illegal activities but they are also frugal and resourceful.

Let it damp out, khaki suit flamin' like a camp out
They are letting something dry out and their khaki suit is wrinkled as if it's been worn during a long camping trip.

Game on the track I'll blow the f**kin' amps out
The artist will turn up the volume of their music so loud that they will blow out the artists in their stereo system.

Red rag in my right pocket and I stay strapped
The singer is carrying a red bandana in their right pocket, and they are always armed and ready for conflict.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ERIC BARRIER, MICHAEL LOUIS DIAMOND, WILLIAM GRIFFIN, ADAM KEEFE HOROVITZ, RICK RUBIN, ADAM NATHANIEL YAUCH, S. CULLINS, JOHN W. DAVIS, ALI SHAHEED JONES-MUHAMMAD, MALIK IZAAK TAYLOR, JAMES BROWN, CHARLES A. BOBBIT, BOBBY BYRD

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