When we look back to the spring and summer of 2005, Usher was still clearly the king for male singers under thirty in the R&B genre. While Trey Songz and Bobby Valentino had made names for themselves with their debut albums and Chris Brown’s name was starting, another singer, Ray J, decided it was time to release his third album, “Raydiation.”
The singer took a two-year hiatus to focus on his acting career and decided to return swinging, forming his label in a joint venture with Sanctuary Records for the album. Heavy-hitting producers Rodney Jerkins, Timbaland, R. Kelly, and Rodney Jerkins were enlisted for production duets. After the buzz single “Quit Actin,” featuring R. Kelly and Shorty Mack, failed to catch on in the club, Ray J changed courses and went with a ballad.
The album’s first single was “One Wish,” produced by Jerkins, who also wrote the song with Ray J and his frequent collaborators Fred Jerkins III and LaShawn Daniels. An emotional ballad about one of the singer’s exes, Ray J, starts the song with heartfelt yearning, establishing his emotional path while pleading with his ex to return. The phrase “If I had one wish” recurs throughout the song to represent his longing to rekindle his relationship with his ex. The wish includes a desire for romantic love and a longing to regain their friendship and connection.
The same team contributed to the album’s next single, “What I Need.” The mid-tempo ballad finds Ray J exploring love and regret alongside second chances and personal growth. The song portrays the internal turmoil felt when someone understands how much their partner matters after previously undervaluing them. Vocally, Ray does over sing this heartfelt plea for redemption and newfound love, but the production from Jerkins manages to make it work.
“Let’s Play House” was the album’s third and final single. On the one hand, considering Ray’s age of 24 at the time, the track may come off as corny to some. However, co-writer Rudy Currence and producer Jerkins save the track. The syllables interact with each other in the same way as nursery rhymes. The melody drifts above the guitar riff as a petal gently skims across the water’s surface.
Sadly, outside of the ballads “Blue High Heels” and “Melody,” the rest of the album is pretty forgettable. Mya, Brandy, and Fat Joe all phone in their guest appearances, while “In the Mood” is laughable. Vocally, Ray J was nowhere near Mario or Bobby Usher. He couldn’t hang with Omarion or Chris Brown when dancing, so he was negated to being a C-list R&B star, which Radiation validated despite strong singles.
Final Grade: C
“Raydiation” is available on all streaming platforms.
For this week’s Second Listen Sunday, I want to revisit 2004 and highlight Romeo’s debut solo album, formerly of Immature. Titled “Food for Thought” and released on June 22nd, this project marked the singer’s change of name to Young Rome in an effort to distance himself from the youthful sound of his group, much like his bandmate Marques Houston had done a year earlier.
In the nineties, Hip-Hop reigned supreme, and every label CEO wanted a share of the lucrative R&B market. One strategy was to keep singers on their roster who could deliver catchy hooks, keeping everything in-house and saving money. Bad Boy had Carl Thomas, Death Row had Danny Boy, and Roc-A-Fella had Rell, our featured artist for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday
Growing up in the eighties, I was surrounded by incredibly talented male R&B singers who could deliver unforgettable love songs. Artists like Luther Vandross, Jeffrey Osborne, and Peabo Bryson dominated the airwaves, but Freddie Jackson was another voice that truly deserved recognition.