Ray J and Brandy: All About the Famous Siblings' Brother-Sister Bond

'Descendants: Rise of Red' star Brandy and her brother, Ray J, have supported each other through thick and thin

Brandy and Ray J have retained a close family bond over the years.

Sonja and Willie Norwood welcomed their first child, daughter Brandy Rayana Norwood, on Feb 11, 1979. The couple went on to welcome their second child, son William Ray Norwood Jr. (a.k.a. Ray J), on Jan. 17, 1981. While the siblings were born in McComb, Miss., they were raised in Carson, Calif., and both followed in their dad’s footsteps by pursuing careers as musicians and finding commercial success as singers.

Despite their close relationship as siblings throughout their lives and careers, fans of both artists often don’t realize that the siblings are related, including Jack Harlow, who only learned in May 2022 that Ray J was Brandy’s brother.

While Brandy and Ray J had separate music careers in the 1990s and 2000s, the siblings mutually encouraged each other and even starred together in a reality TV show, Brandy & Ray J: A Family Business, from 2010 to 2011. Throughout the course of their fame, they’ve had their own struggles in their personal lives, but their love for each other hasn’t faltered.

In an October 2020 interview on the Tamron Hall Show, Brandy shared about her younger brother, "He’s my best friend and I absolutely love him and I just support him in everything that he does.”

Here’s everything to know about Brandy and Ray J’s sibling relationship.

They're successful singers

In 1993, Brandy released her self-titled debut album before gaining notoriety for her performance on the sitcom Moesha, which ran for six seasons between 1996 and 2001, as well as her role in 1997’s Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella.

She went on to win a Grammy for her 1998 song “The Boy Is Mine” with Monica from her album Never Say Never, taking home the award for best R&B performance by a duo or group with vocal. Brandy released several more albums, including 2002’s Full Moon, 2004’s Afrodisiac and her seventh studio album in 2023, Christmas With Brandy.

Ray J made a name for himself in the 2000s with several big singles, including 2005’s “One Wish,” which became a Top 20 Billboard Hot 100 hit. Three years later, he released his Billboard Top 10 album All I Feel, featuring the popular single “Sexy Can I.”

Even with his success as a performer, Brandy found a moment to keep her younger brother humble when he participated in a June 2022 Verzuz battle between Omarion and Mario. During the battle, Ray J gave a subpar performance, and his sister let him know it.

“Bro, Pops told me that you didn't drink none of the tea I made for you," Brandy wrote in the comments of an Instagram video her brother reposted from the battle. "He also told me that you were talking all day when I specifically said NO TALKING and only drink water and the special tea I made for you at 4 in the freaking morning."

"We are gonna have a serious conversation," she quipped.

They starred in a reality TV show together

Brandy traded in scripted TV for reality TV in 2010 with the premiere of Brandy & Ray J: A Family Business. The VH1 series, which ran for two seasons, followed the lives of the siblings as they navigated the ins and outs of the family business as musicians and lived their day-to-day lives in Hollywood.

In an April 2010 interview with Rap-Up TV, Ray J revealed that he initially pitched the idea for the reality TV show to his family, noting that it took time to “get them to come on board and want to do it.”

Prior to their joint project, Brandy appeared in the 2002 series Brandy: Special Delivery, which documented her preparation to become a mother while working on an album. Ray J also starred in two seasons of the reality dating show For the Love of Ray J from 2009 to 2010.

Related: All About Brandy's Daughter Sy'rai Smith

Though they may have had experiences with reality TV before their joint show, Brandy said the project was “different than anything we’ve ever done,” adding that it gave fans an opportunity to see the brother-sister duo together.

“You get a chance to see the dynamic of business and personal intertwined,” she explained. “It’s relatable, inspiring, dramatic. It’s all in one, and we’ve never done anything like this before.”

She even shared that their family had “gotten a lot closer because of this show." Brandy explained, "We have our ups and downs, but it’s hardly ever any downs with me and Ray, hardly ever. I’m crazy about him.”

They are both parents

Brandy and Ray J have started families of their own.

Brandy welcomed her first and only child, daughter Sy'rai Smith, on June 16, 2002, with her ex, music producer Robert Smith.

The singer largely kept her daughter out of the spotlight when she was younger, telling Parade in June 2010 the decision was “strictly because her father and I felt it was best for her to have as much of a normal life as possible.”

Related: Ray J's 2 Kids: All About Daughter Melody and Son Epik

Ray J shares two children with his estranged wife, Princess Love: daughter Melody and son Epik.

As an aunt, Brandy has shown love to her brother’s kids, including a sweet post celebrating her nephew’s 2nd birthday. At the time, she wished Epik a happy birthday on social media, writing that he had “brought so much unspeakable joy to our family.”

Ray J has a tattoo of Brandy

Ray J cemented his tight bond with his sister in July 2022 when he got a "gothic" tattoo of Brandy’s face on his leg. At the time, he said he had big plans for his full leg tattoo but “had to start with my best friend.”

A few weeks later, Brandy responded to her brother’s grand gesture during an interview with TMZ, sharing that she “didn’t understand it at first” before adding, “But then he explained it to me and showed me the tattoo artist's whole page and it was amazing."

Nearly two years after he got the ink, Ray J addressed the backlash he received for the design he got to represent his sister, explaining on a June 2024 episode of the Club Shay Shay podcast that it “went viral the wrong way.”

“I think the tattoo was not it ... for the world,” he added.

Brandy is "overprotective" of her brother

While Brandy prefers to keep her private life largely out of the spotlight, she told PEOPLE Now in May 2020 that she wished that her brother followed her lead.

At the time, she said she was “very overprotective” over Ray J and didn’t “necessarily agree” with some of the aspects of his life that he shared publicly.

"I would rather him keep a lot of his life private, but he is in the public eye and on reality TV, so sometimes it can get tough,” she added. “I just let him know that I'm here for him in any way that I can be. Being in the public eye myself, I can relate to some of the things that he goes through so I just try to be as much of a support system as I can be."

Brandy’s “overprotective” nature toward her brother has also been expressed through her encouragement of him over the years. In a June 2012 issue of Ebony magazine, She shared that she was “pissed off about some of the things” she had heard about her brother and that he was “misunderstood,” Vibe reported.

In January 2022, she posted a heartwarming tribute to her brother to mark his birthday, calling him a “genius that can do it all” in the caption of her Instagram post. She shared more compliments about her brother, writing in part, "I love you so much and I am so proud to be your sister. You are growing, healing, and focusing everyday on making a safe space for all of us."

Brandy and Ray J try to stay in touch

Over the years, Brandy and Ray J have often been spotted side-by-side while attending red carpet events and collaborating on projects.

However, in June 2024, Ray J explained on the Club Shay Shay podcast that they aren't as close as they used to be. When asked what happened between the siblings, Ray J didn't share details but explained that his sister’s “goals since the beginning have been totally different” from his.

Despite exploring different paths, Brandy still expresses her appreciation for her sibling. "Happy Birthday Brother! So grateful for your life. You mean so much to me. I love you @rayj," she captioned a throwback photo in September 2023.

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