Ray Luv

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Ray Luv
Ray Luv performing at 5th Annual AHSC 1.JPG
Ray Luv in May 2009
Background information
Born
Raymond Tyson [1]

(1972-04-15) April 15, 1972 (age 54) [2]
New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Genres West Coast Hip Hop, Gangsta Rap,
Occupations Rapper, Record Producer, Songwriter
Years active1989–present
Labels Young Black Brotha, Priority Records, Interscope Records, Atlantic Records

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.

Contents

Biography

Raymond Tyson was born on April 15, 1972, in New Orleans, Louisiana, and was raised in Santa Rosa, California. [3] [4]

Career

Early in his career Ray Luv performed alongside Tupac Shakur in the group Strictly Dope, a group based in Santa Rosa, California. [5] 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. [6]

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. [7] Forever Hustlin', released in 1995 by Atlantic Records through the Bay Area label Young Black Brotha, was his major label debut; [7] [8] it reached #21 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart. [9]

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. [10]

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

TitleReleasePeak chart
positions
US
R&B 		US
Heat
Forever Hustlin19952116
Coup d'Etat199829—
A Prince in Exile200235—
Deathwish200440—

Collaboration albums

Compilation albums

Extended plays

Singles

TitleReleasePeak chart
positions		Album
US
Rap
"Last Nite"199416Forever Hustlin'
"Definition of a Hustla"199518
"Still Smokin Indo"21

Guest appearances

TitleReleasePeak chart
positions [11] 		Album
US
Rap
"They Don't Understand" (Mac Dre featuring Ray Luv)19939 Young Black Brotha
"Pimp Shit" (Mac Mall featuring Ray Luv and Mac Dre)18 Illegal Business?
"Born Hustlaz" (Ray Luv & RBL Posse)199424 West Coast Bad Boyz Vol.1
"All About My Fetti" (Young Lay featuring Mac Mall & Ray Luv)199521 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)199627 Untouchable
"Cinnamon Waves" (Shock G featuring Ray Luv)200035

References

  1. ↑ "Ray Luv | Songs". AllMusic . Retrieved April 11, 2020.
  2. ↑ https://music.apple.com/us/artist/ray-luv/74538240
  3. ↑ Harshaw, Pendarvis (October 30, 2024). "20 Years After Mac Dre's Death, the Furly Ghost Still Lingers | KQED". www.kqed.org. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Events Guide, The Press Democrat". The Press Democrat. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  5. ↑ By, Edited; Selvin, Joel (January 12, 1997). "Early Tupac Cuts Coming Out". San Francisco Chronicle . p. PK-41. Retrieved January 27, 2009.{{cite news}}: |first1= has generic name (help)[ dead link ]
  6. ↑ Ray Luv (September 14, 2008). ""2Pac gave me the name Ray Luv" - PUSHIN' THE BAY / PTBTV EXCLUSIVE!". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021.
  7. 1 2 Caples, Garrett (March 16, 2005). "The post-2Pac pack". San Francisco Bay Guardian . Retrieved January 26, 2009.
  8. ↑ Ankeny, Jason. "Ray Luv - Biography". AllMusic . Retrieved January 26, 2009.
  9. ↑ Rowell, Mike; Michel, Sia; Tudor, Silke (April 26, 1995). "Samples". SF Weekly . Archived from the original on June 10, 2011. Retrieved January 26, 2009.
  10. ↑ Jam, Billy (July 20, 1997). "Bay Area Rappers Gather Together In Song". San Francisco Chronicle . p. PK-32. Retrieved January 27, 2009.
  11. ↑ "Hot Rap Songs Chart". Billboard.com. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
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