Ray J might not try so hard to be hard if it weren’t for two things. There’s the instant association with his sister Brandy and, more pertinently, the modern R&B prerequisite (with rare exception) that necessitates the macho-and-musclebound image. His third album in eight years, Raydiation, isn’t any less derivative than Everything You Want and This Ain’t a Game. He rarely deviates from copping his moves off R. Kelly — who writes and produces “Quit Actin’” — and Usher. The highlights are passable. Lead single “One Wish,” one of several tracks written and produced by Rodney Jerkins, managed to put a sizable ding on the charts. If Ray J plans on maintaining his every-four-years release schedule, he might as well spend less time soaking up his influences and more time developing some individuality. – Andy Kellman
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