Ray J, the multi-platinum artist, entrepreneur, and seriously un-serious and pop culture icon, has seemingly lived a thousand different lives over his career and has given us countless contributions to pop culture—chief among them being the Kardashians’ fame.
Yet it weren’t for the now infamous (or famous, depending on who you ask) sex tape of him and then-girlfriend Kim Kardashian being “leaked” online—Ray J feels the fashion world, the beauty world, the influencer world, and the way we view and value celebs would not be where it is today. Hell, even Onlyfans wouldn’t have come into existence, according to Ray J.
“How different would we all be?” he asked on his latest interview on Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay podcast. “How different would this whole fucking thing be? How different would this industry be? Everything would be different. There might not be any OnlyFans and all the things like that. All the opportunities like that. Probably more people would be going to college.”
In light of this train of thought, it got us thinking: what other accolades in pop culture has Ray J accrued?
His Own TV Network
Back in March 2024, Ray announced the upcoming launch of his own television platform, Tronix Network. According to Forbes, he invested $1.5 million and is already optimistic about its success.
“I was just like, ‘OK, I think we have enough POCs [proofs of concept]. I think we know what to do. We just have to now put all of our money up and go for what we believe in.’ So, eventually, that’s what I did, and that’s a pretty scary thing,” he explained in an interview with Forbes.
Though the launch is forthcoming, Ray told the outlet that it plans to premiere seven to eight shows, dropping new episodes bi-weekly on Mondays.
Raycon Global
Back in 2017, he launched his wireless audio product line of headphones and earbuds call Raycons to massive success. After reportedly earning $300 million in profits, Ray shockingly sold his shares and parted ways with the company to pursue Tronix.
Owning Suge Knights Life Rights—Well, Kind Of
In news that shocked damn-near everyone, back in 2019, Ray J was announced as the owner of the life rights to Death Row Records founder Suge Knight. However, that shock was somewhat short lived after Knight came back out to clarify that his fiancée was actually overseeing his life rights. Ray J was just in charge of overseeing Death Row for the time being—that is until Hasbro and subsequently Snoop Dogg became the new owners.
Breathing New Life Into The Breakfast Club
Though it’s hard to imagine now, there was a time when The Breakfast Club almost died and faded off into oblivion. But thanks to a viral interview with Ray J back in 2011, he helped revive the show, catapulting it into the social media and pop culture stratosphere of relevance. The show has remained a staple stop for notable celebs and influential figures ever since.
Reality TV Fame
Coming in on the heels of success of VH1's “Flavor of Love,” “For the Love of Ray J” was met with astronomical support and similar success. It created yet another canon event in the world of reality TV, Black culture and pop culture at-large, giving precent and shape to what fans have come to know and love about reality dating shows.
Being Brandy Norwood’s Brother
Do I really need to say more?
While he may often be one of the internet’s favorite person to joke on, there really is a lot to be said—and arguably a lot of credit to be given to Ray J at the end of the day.