Ray Luv

Raymond Tyson, better known by his stage name Ray Luv, is an American Bay Area rapper from Santa Rosa, California, United States, who is best known for his contribution to the Bay Area hip hop scene in the mid-1990s.

Ray Luv
Ray Luv in May 2009
Ray Luv in May 2009
Background information
Birth nameRaymond Tyson[1]
Born (1972-04-15) April 15, 1972
New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
GenresWest Coast Hip Hop, Gangsta Rap,
Occupation(s)Rapper, Record Producer, Songwriter
Years active1989–present
LabelsYoung Black Brotha, Priority Records, Interscope Records, Atlantic Records

Biography

Raymond Tyson was born on April 15, 1972, in New Orleans, Louisiana, and was raised in Santa Rosa, California.

Career

Early in his career Ray Luv performed alongside Tupac Shakur in the group Strictly Dope, a group based in Santa Rosa, California.[2] In 1991, Ray was signed to the independent label Young Black Brotha Records by fellow friends Mac Dre and Mac Mall. Ray Luv has stated that he got his name from Tupac Shakur.[3]

His first extended play Who Can Be Trusted? was released in 1993 by Young Black Brotha "Get Your Money On" from Trusted was popular on local radio at the time. That next year, Luv was featured on the Above The Rim soundtrack.[4] Forever Hustlin', released in 1995 by Interscope Records through the Bay Area label Young Black Brotha, was his major label debut;[4][5] it reached #21 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart.[6]

One of Ray Luv's biggest singles "Last Nite", music video was directed by Tupac Shakur in 1994. He was longtime friends with Tupac and fellow Bay Area rappers, Mac Dre and Mac Mall.

In 1997, Luv contributed to the Bay Area rap compilation, Best of Da Bay: A Series of Slaps, from Young Black Brotha.[7]

Ray Luv is co-owner of the bay area favorite online video series Pushin' The Bay TV, alongside the show's host Emcee T, a rapper who is also from Santa Rosa, California

Discography

Studio albums
Title Release Peak chart
positions
US
R&B		 US
Heat
Forever Hustlin 1995 21 16
Coup d'Etat 1998 29 —
A Prince in Exile 2002 35 —
Deathwish 2004 40 —

Collaboration albums
  • Population Control with Crimeseen (2006)

Compilation albums
  • Black Wall Street with JT the Bigga Figga & Mac Mall (2003)

Extended plays
  • Who Can Be Trusted? (1993)

Singles
Title Release Peak chart
positions		 Album
US
Rap
"Last Nite" 1994 16 Forever Hustlin'
"Definition of a Hustla" 1995 18
"Still Smokin Indo" 21

Guest appearances
Title Release Peak chart
positions[8]		 Album
US
Rap
"They Don't Understand" (Mac Dre featuring Ray Luv) 1993 9 Young Black Brotha
"Pimp Shit" (Mac Mall featuring Ray Luv and Mac Dre) 18 Illegal Business?
"Born Hustlaz" (Ray Luv & RBL Posse) 1994 24 West Coast Bad Boyz Vol.1
"All About My Fetti" (Young Lay featuring Mac Mall & Ray Luv) 1995 21 New Jersey Drive, Vol. 1, Black 'N Dangerous
"Bay Area Playaz" (Mac Dre featuring Ray Luv, Mac Mall, Master P, Too Short, Young Lay) 11 Dwellin' in tha Labb
"Pimp or Die " (Mac Mall featuring Ray Luv and Young Lay) 1996 27 Untouchable
"Cinnamon Waves" (Shock G featuring Ray Luv) 2000 35

References
  1. "Ray Luv | Songs". AllMusic. Retrieved 2020-04-11.
  2. By, Edited; Selvin, Joel (January 12, 1997). "Early Tupac Cuts Coming Out". San Francisco Chronicle. p. PK-41. Retrieved 2009-01-27. {{cite news}}: |first1= has generic name (help)
  3. Ray Luv (2008-09-14). ""2Pac gave me the name Ray Luv" - PUSHIN' THE BAY / PTBTV EXCLUSIVE!". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-13.
  4. Caples, Garrett (2005-03-16). "The post-2Pac pack". San Francisco Bay Guardian. Retrieved 2009-01-26.
  5. Ankeny, Jason. "Ray Luv - Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2009-01-26.
  6. Rowell, Mike; Michel, Sia; Tudor, Silke (1995-04-26). "Samples". SF Weekly. Retrieved 2009-01-26.
  7. Jam, Billy (1997-07-20). "Bay Area Rappers Gather Together In Song". San Francisco Chronicle. p. PK-32. Retrieved 2009-01-27.
  8. "Hot Rap Songs Chart". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2020-04-11.
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