A Family Business
Encyclopedia
A Family Business, sometimes dubbed as Brandy & Ray J: A Family Business, is the debut studio album
by the Norwood
family, the cast of the American reality series Brandy and Ray J: A Family Business
, which airs on the VH1
network in the United States and serves as the soundtrack for the reality show of the same name
. The compilation features previously unreleased content from R&B singer Brandy
, her younger brother Ray J
and their parents Sonja and Willie Norwood
as well as contribution from Brandy's daughter Sy'rai and fellow singers Tasha Scott and Rain Smith the daughter of Sy'Rai Smith's father Robert Smith
.
The album was released on June 10, 2011 on Saguaro Road Records and Time–Life Music in France and on June 13 in the United Kingdom, while it was released on July 26 in the United States and Germany.
and her brother and fellow R&B
singer Ray J
ever since 2005, when Brandy was firstly signed to Ray J's record company Knockout Entertainment
. It was announced that the siblings together with rapper Shorty Mack
, also appears on the album, and other rappers, would form a group called TKO (Tha Knock Out) and release a debut album of the same name in 2006.
Plans eventually fell through though, also because Brandy was involved in a fatal car crash. It wasn't until late 2008 when further news surfaced about a collaboration project between Brandy and Ray J. Billboard
reported that the singers considered releasing an album called R&B, " a nod to the siblings' respective first initials as well as their chosen style of music". Yet again after the commercial failure of Brandy's Human album, this project was postponed. It wasn't until early 2010 when a new VH1
reality show was announced that would star, not only the siblings Ray J and Brandy, but also their parents Willie Norwood
and Sonja Bates-Norwood. In June Ray J
announced that the title of the collaborative album would be named TKO - Trust, Knowledge & Opportunity. Also the label Time-Life
was announced as well as the fact that it was no longer going to be a duet album but more of a "spiritual feel good [family] album". By August 2010 first studio footage of Brandy recording the album was released to the internet. Eventhough Billboard.com
announced Brandy's song "Lifeguard" to be the project's lead single, it was the Brandy, Ray J and Willie Norwood collaboration "Talk To Me" which was released as the album's first single in November 22, 2010. It failed to enter any Billboard chart. Eventhough the album was first announced to be released in March 2011, to coincide with the second season of Brandy and Ray J: A Family Business
, it wasn't until June that the album was available for purchase.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by the Norwood
Norwood
- Australia :* Norwood Secondary College, Secondary School in Ringwood, Victoria.* Norwood, South Australia, suburb of Adelaide**Electoral district of Norwood, a state electoral district in South Australia...
family, the cast of the American reality series Brandy and Ray J: A Family Business
Brandy and Ray J: A Family Business
Brandy and Ray J: A Family Business is an American reality series airing on VH1, and starring Brandy and her younger brother Ray J. The series premiered on April 11, 2010.- Overview :...
, which airs on the VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
network in the United States and serves as the soundtrack for the reality show of the same name
Brandy and Ray J: A Family Business
Brandy and Ray J: A Family Business is an American reality series airing on VH1, and starring Brandy and her younger brother Ray J. The series premiered on April 11, 2010.- Overview :...
. The compilation features previously unreleased content from R&B singer Brandy
Brandy Norwood
Brandy Rayana Norwood , known professionally as Brandy, is an American singer-songwriter, producer, actress, and dancer. In 2009, she introduced her rap alter-ego Bran'Nu....
, her younger brother Ray J
Ray J
William Ray Norwood Jr. , better known by his stage name Ray J, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and actor.-Early life:...
and their parents Sonja and Willie Norwood
Willie Norwood
William Raymond Norwood, Sr. known as Willie Norwood is an American Gospel singer and has been involved in singing since early childhood. His father and mother sang in the church choir...
as well as contribution from Brandy's daughter Sy'rai and fellow singers Tasha Scott and Rain Smith the daughter of Sy'Rai Smith's father Robert Smith
Big Bert
Robert Anthony Smith, professionally known as Big Bert or Robert Anthony, is an American record producer, composer, songwriter and musician, who made his break in the industry when Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins consulted him to join his Darkchild collective in the late 1990s...
.
The album was released on June 10, 2011 on Saguaro Road Records and Time–Life Music in France and on June 13 in the United Kingdom, while it was released on July 26 in the United States and Germany.
Background and development
There have been talks of a collaborative effort between BrandyBrandy Norwood
Brandy Rayana Norwood , known professionally as Brandy, is an American singer-songwriter, producer, actress, and dancer. In 2009, she introduced her rap alter-ego Bran'Nu....
and her brother and fellow R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
singer Ray J
Ray J
William Ray Norwood Jr. , better known by his stage name Ray J, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and actor.-Early life:...
ever since 2005, when Brandy was firstly signed to Ray J's record company Knockout Entertainment
Knockout Entertainment
Knockout Entertainment is singer Ray J's vanity label, founded in 2004. The label specializes in R&B, hip hop, and gospel. Originally released under Sanctuary Records, a press release in December 2007 announced a new partnership with E1 Records....
. It was announced that the siblings together with rapper Shorty Mack
Shorty Mack
Derrelle Owens , better known by his stage name Shorty Mack, is a rapper and actor. He has put an album out under jvc/vertex 96 [hard 2 tame me] appeared on numerous recordings by Ray J, including the Knockout remix of "Formal Invite" and the Smokin' Trees version of "What I Need". Also did he...
, also appears on the album, and other rappers, would form a group called TKO (Tha Knock Out) and release a debut album of the same name in 2006.
Plans eventually fell through though, also because Brandy was involved in a fatal car crash. It wasn't until late 2008 when further news surfaced about a collaboration project between Brandy and Ray J. Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
reported that the singers considered releasing an album called R&B, " a nod to the siblings' respective first initials as well as their chosen style of music". Yet again after the commercial failure of Brandy's Human album, this project was postponed. It wasn't until early 2010 when a new VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
reality show was announced that would star, not only the siblings Ray J and Brandy, but also their parents Willie Norwood
Willie Norwood
William Raymond Norwood, Sr. known as Willie Norwood is an American Gospel singer and has been involved in singing since early childhood. His father and mother sang in the church choir...
and Sonja Bates-Norwood. In June Ray J
Ray J
William Ray Norwood Jr. , better known by his stage name Ray J, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and actor.-Early life:...
announced that the title of the collaborative album would be named TKO - Trust, Knowledge & Opportunity. Also the label Time-Life
Time-Life
Time–Life is a creator and direct marketer of books, music, video/DVD, and multimedia products. Its products are sold throughout North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia through television, print, retail, the Internet, telemarketing, and direct sales....
was announced as well as the fact that it was no longer going to be a duet album but more of a "spiritual feel good [family] album". By August 2010 first studio footage of Brandy recording the album was released to the internet. Eventhough Billboard.com
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
announced Brandy's song "Lifeguard" to be the project's lead single, it was the Brandy, Ray J and Willie Norwood collaboration "Talk To Me" which was released as the album's first single in November 22, 2010. It failed to enter any Billboard chart. Eventhough the album was first announced to be released in March 2011, to coincide with the second season of Brandy and Ray J: A Family Business
Brandy and Ray J: A Family Business
Brandy and Ray J: A Family Business is an American reality series airing on VH1, and starring Brandy and her younger brother Ray J. The series premiered on April 11, 2010.- Overview :...
, it wasn't until June that the album was available for purchase.
Critical reception
Singles
- The first single from the album, "Talk To Me" was released to digital outlets and radio on November 22, 2010. The song is an R&B/pop ballad by the siblings Brandy and Ray J with their father Willie Norwood.
- The dance pop song "Turnin' Me On" by Ray JRay JWilliam Ray Norwood Jr. , better known by his stage name Ray J, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and actor.-Early life:...
was released as the second single on May 3, 2011.
- "Gone" by Tasha ScottTasha ScottTasha Scott is an American actress and singer.Scott acted in several productions in the 1980s and 1990s. She appeared in a number television shows, including Snoops, South Central and The Parent 'Hood, and in movies such as Troop Beverly Hills, Kiss Shot and Camp Cucamonga...
was released as the compilation's third single on July 26, 2011. It also the singer-actress' debut single.
- "Lifeguard" by BrandyBrandyBrandy is a spirit produced by distilling wine. Brandy generally contains 35%–60% alcohol by volume and is typically taken as an after-dinner drink...
was slated to be a single at some point, but its release was cancelled.
Track listing
Release history
| Region | Format | Date | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| France France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... , |
CD Compact Disc The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,... , digital download Music download A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment... |
June 10, 2011 | Rhino Rhino Rhino is a colloquial abbreviation of rhinoceros"Rhino" may also refer to:-Entertainment:* Rhino , a character from the Marvel Comics universe and sometime-foe of Spider-Man... |
| United Kingdom United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... |
|||
| United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
July 26, 2011 | Saguaro Road, Time–Life, Knockout Knockout Entertainment Knockout Entertainment is singer Ray J's vanity label, founded in 2004. The label specializes in R&B, hip hop, and gospel. Originally released under Sanctuary Records, a press release in December 2007 announced a new partnership with E1 Records.... |
|
| Germany Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate... |
External links
- BrandyAndRayJMusic.com — official site