Ray J has been crafting his grown-man persona as of late. The reality television star, who got his start acting on the sitcom, 'Sinbad,' in the early '90s, is gearing up to release his new opus 'Raydiation 2,' and the second season of the VH1 show 'Brandy & Ray J: A Family Business.'

Instead of cranking out party tunes or looking for love on television, the 29-year-old is serious about creating heartfelt R&B ballads and working on his relationships with his family. The co-star and director of the best-selling porn DVD , 'Kim K Superstar,' doesn't like to talk about his ex-girlfriend Kim Kardashian -- but here's to trying.

BlackVoices.com attempted to get Ray J to answer our 20 Questions.

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BlackVoices: Do you miss doing 'For the Love of Ray J' or are you happy it's over?
Ray J: I'm happy that I feel like I've advanced into the 'Family Business' show. I'm happy that I did 'For the Love of Ray J' and was able to turn it into 'The Family Business.'

BV: Do you keep up with (show winner) Miss Berry? Everything got real messy on the reunion special?
Ray J: Yeah. We talk every now and then, and we're friends. We just both wanted different things, as far as the timing of the show. But she's really cool, and a lot of girls on the show were really cool people.

BV: Did you really think you could find love on that show, or was it just for fun and an easy way to get with a lot of women?
Ray J: When shooting the show, cameras are around 24/7, and you don't sleep with all the women because producers keep them separate, so it's not as wild and crazy as it might seem, but it is still stressful. I believe that anything is possible, and if you dream big anything can happen. So finding a girl on TV -- I thought it could happen, but I found out it wasn't the way that it was going to happen for me. I didn't come on the show wanting to get married, but I did go in thinking maybe I will find a girl that's hella cool and who knows what can happen down the line.

BV: In terms of Kim Kardashian, are you all cordial? Do you all see each other hanging out? You all have mutual friends... [Ray J's PR rep interrupts the interview saying, 'Excuse me, Bridget, I'm just going to jump in. We're just going to try to avoid anything that has to do with KK.']

BV: Oh, Ray J doesn't even want to talk about whether or not they are cool? [PR Rep: 'We're just going to try and avoid that topic.']

BV: Why are you attracted to older women?
Ray J: I don't know. I love older women. I love just the qualities in an older woman and the experience that they have. An older woman knows what she wants, and to me, they know what a man wants more than a younger woman. So that's what attracts me to them.

BV: Speaking of older women, do you keep up with Whitney Houston?
Ray J: We are still friends. That's my people. I love her to death. I've just been working, and she's been working, but we haven't been able to talk like we used to.

BV: Do you watch other reality shows besides your own?
Ray J: I was watching 'The Bad Girls Club.' I really don't watch a lot of TV. I watch movies, but I was changing through the channels, and you know if you see people fighting on TV, you're going to stop and watch it. I caught that a couple of times, but I had to turn it because I had flashbacks.

BV: You're currently shooting another season of your reality show 'The Family Business,' but do you think you'll ever do another sitcom again?
Ray J: I would like that. We're shooting the show right now. They're filming while I'm on the phone with you, but I think reality is the new sitcom. You don't see as many sitcoms on television at this point like you did in the past on the CW or other networks. I think this is where television is going, and I want to keep creating television shows because a lot of people don't know I created 'Family Business.'

BV: What's it like shooting the new season? It's so different from 'For the Love of Ray J.'
Ray J: It's much better for me. I didn't create 'For the Love of Ray J.' It was a good experience, but I feel like 'The Family Business' has much more substance to it, and I'm much more proud. The new season has a lot to do with my relationships and the connection and disconnect between Brandy and myself, and it's a lot more intense and deeper than season one.

BV: You've been rooting for your sister on 'Dancing With the Stars.' We see you there every week cheering her on. Do you think she has a shot to win it?
Ray J: I am happy to be there for her. I feel like she is an inspiration, and just watching her dance in front of all of those people, that alone takes a lot of courage and heart. I hope that she wins and really believes that she can win.

BV: Who has surprised you on the 'Dancing With the Stars' besides your sister?
Ray J: I like Kyle [Massey]. He's real cool and I love his energy. We laugh and joke on the sidelines. It's crazy that I'm gong to say this, but I really like Bristol Palin. We got a chance to kick it -- her family and my family, and I got attached to the whole Palin family. I'm rooting for Bristol, but I'm for Brandy all the way.

BV: What's the feel of your new album 'Raydiation 2'?
Ray J: On my last project, I was independent, so I shaped it to have a hip-hop sound, and I wasn't vocally challenging myself because I was at a stage in my life where I just wanted to have fun. But now with what I'm going through in my life, it's a much more honest album for me. It's a whole lot different.

BV: Tell us about your single 'Last Wish.' When I first saw the name of it, I was confused because your big hit was 'One Wish.' You're doing a lot of wishing. Was that intentional?
Ray J: Everything was destiny. I didn't know I was going to call the album 'Raydiation 2,' and I didn't know that I was going to like a song called 'Last Wish.' Just the emotions and what I was going through with my relationship led me to that song. It's a real R&B album, and I just wanted to take it back and bring it to the future at the same time.

BV: Remembering that Lil' Kim line back in the day, "Wait a minute, ain't that Brandy's brother?" Do you think you've gotten over that hump.
Ray J: I always looked at Bran as the person who helped me achieve my goals and dreams, and I feel like right now, I'm at a better place and people know my name. At first, it wasn't like that, but I think things are changing a little bit.

BV: Going back to relationships, you're not upset with people who have become famous after being involved with you?
Ray J: Upset. Naw. I'm not upset about nothing.

BV: Do you see how that can be interpreted as you being upset since you don't want to comment on the simple question about Kim Kardashian? I haven't mentioned the sex tape at all.
Ray J: If they did an interview on that side, they would do the same thing. (PR Rep interrupts once again, stating: "We just want to keep it focused on 'Raydiation 2' and the reality shows and everything real positive going on right now.')

BV: Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
Ray J: I just want to keep grinding. I just want to stay in the game, and I just want to keep taking care of my family and growing as an artist and a person. I just want to stay on a positive note.

BV: Anything else you want to chat about?
Ray J: I'm mad we couldn't touch on what you wanted to touch on, but I've already touched on that. I would love to elaborate more, but my hands have already experienced that, and I had to put that to rest. You know what I mean?

BV: Have you ever considered writing a book? You should.
Ray J: I need to go through more things to fill it up. I got a long way to go. I'm just getting started.



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• Kim Kardashian and Ray J to Release Sex Tape (March 2007)
• Brandy Joins Dancing With the Stars
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