Arin Ray’s career in the music industry, characterized by his smooth vocals and heartfelt lyrics, has established him as a rising star in the realm of R&B and soul. With a net worth estimated between $100,000 to $1 million in 2024, according to Idol Net Worth, Ray’s journey from a promising talent on a reality TV show to a respected artist in his own right is a testament to his talent, perseverance, and the evolving nature of his musical endeavors. His ability to blend classic R&B influences with contemporary sounds has garnered him a dedicated fan base and critical acclaim, setting the stage for a promising career trajectory.
Ray first came into the public eye as a contestant on the reality TV show The X Factor USA, where his performances captured the attention of both the judges and the audience. While he did not win the competition, the experience provided him with a platform to launch his music career. Since then, Ray has worked diligently to hone his craft, writing and producing music that speaks to love, growth, and self-discovery complexities. His debut album and subsequent singles and collaborations showcase his versatility as an artist and his commitment to authenticity in his music.
Breaking Through: From Reality TV To Recording Artist
NAPA, CALIFORNIA – JULY 30: Arin Ray poses for a portrait backstage during the. Blue Note Jazz Festival at Silverado Resort and Spa on July 30, 2023 also in Napa, California. (Photo by Richard Bord/Getty Images)
The transition from reality TV contestant to a recording artist is fraught with challenges, yet Arin Ray has navigated this path with resilience and determination. His post-show career has been marked by a series of strategic choices, including collaborations with established artists and producers, which have helped him carve out his own niche within the R&B genre. Ray’s dedication to developing his sound and voice as an artist has been instrumental in his growth, earning him recognition within the music industry as a promising talent to watch.
Musical Evolution & Artistic Identity
LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 18: Arin Ray performs at Electric Ballroom on December 18, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Joseph Okpako/WireImage)
Arin Ray’s music reflects a deep understanding and appreciation of R&B’s rich history while also incorporating elements of pop, hip-hop, and soul to create a sound that is uniquely his. This fusion of styles has allowed him to reach a diverse audience, bridging the gap between traditional R&B lovers and fans of contemporary music. Ray’s ability to write and produce his own music has given him a level of creative control evident in his work’s authenticity and emotional depth.
Navigating The Industry: Challenges & Triumphs
Arin Ray at the “Soul Train Awards” 2023 on November 19, 2023 in Los Angeles, California (Photo by Elyse Jankowski/Billboard via Getty Images)
The journey to establishing a career in the music industry is filled with obstacles, but Arin Ray’s trajectory demonstrates the importance of perseverance and self-belief. Despite the initial exposure from The X Factor USA, Ray has had to build his career from the ground up, facing the challenges of staying relevant in a rapidly changing musical landscape. His success thus far reflects his talent, hard work, and the strategic choices he has made in terms of collaborations, production, and brand building.
Arin Ray has dropped his much-anticipated single, “Wait So Long.” Released via Interscope Records, the track delves into the realms of fear and frustration that often accompany a lover’s hesitation to express their true feelings. It’s the initial glimpse into what fans can expect from Ray’s forthcoming Phases III EP, slated for release on Oct. 20. “Wait So Long” is undoubtedly destined for a prime spot on the setlist for Ray’s upcoming Phases Tour.
“Why would you wait so long? Say what you want, say what you need,” Ray sings. “Why would you take so long to say what you like about me?”
Mark your calendars and get ready to be captivated by Arin Ray’s soulful melodies and emotionally resonant lyrics. This single offers a taste of the musical journey that awaits when the Phases III EP officially arrives. Don’t miss the chance to witness these songs come to life on the Phases Tour. Check out the tour dates below for more details.
In case you missed the news, Blxst has a new album out. It’s called Before You Go, and it continues his streak of winning rap&B-style West Coast love songs. You’d be forgiven if you didn’t notice the release; Blxst is a pretty low-key guy, releasing his music independently in partnership with Red Bull Music. To catch the latecomers up to speed, though, Blxst’s kept up a steady stream of smooth singles, including “About You,” “Sometimes” with Zacari, “Every Good Girl,” “Never Was Wrong,” and now, “Be Forreal,” for which he released a bittersweet video today.
The video follows the overall theme of the album; Blxst is in love and loves it, but he’s also got a dream to chase. You just can’t have it all. In the video, this plays out via a string of opulent shopping sprees for his boo, resulting in a brand new car with a bow on it, an armload of shopping bags, and sultry nights in with his paramour. It culminates, however, in her waking up alone to note on her pillow while Blxst boards a plane to the tune of another Before You Go cut, “Fake Love In LA” featuring Arin Ray.
Next month, Blxst will continue promoting his new album with a 46-date tour around the globe with stops in the UK, Germany, and Australia in addition to the usual coast-to-coast US venues. Check out his “Be Forreal” video above and stream the full album here.
D Smoke, a two-time GRAMMY nominee, collaborates with R&B musician Agnez Mo on a remix of her hit “Patience” and Arin Ray’s new comeback single “The Mood.”
The “Patience” Remix, which was first released in February, has a heartfelt lyric from D Smoke about self-control and acceptance through a breakup. The song and music video are a continuation of the Indonesian artist’s prior collaborations with artists such as French Montana, Juicy J, and Steve Aoki.
With his new sensuous video “The Mood” featuring D Smoke, Arin Ray triumphantly returns to the scene. Ray has a night of sexual escapades with the visuals starring lady, directed by Arin and Whipalo. As she feasted on his dulcet lyrics and unending kisses, he satisfies her appetite. D Smoke slithers his way into the song with steely wordplay despite not being in the video,” rapping: “While Arin feasts on the apple of his eye, D Smoke slithers his way into the song with steely wordplay despite not appearing in the video,” rapping: “Wrapped in her legs, she got me mummy’ed up.”
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Blxst is approaching his career the right way. After earning attention for himself in his hometown of Los Angeles and its surrounding areas, the West Coast crooner stepped out on his own for the first time with his 2020 debut project No Love Lost. The eight-song effort, which was later extended to 13 thanks to a deluxe reissue, was the perfect curtain-opening moment he needed to make himself a name recognized across the country. Blxst secured that the following year when he was enlisted as a member of the 2021 XXL Freshman Class.
That same year, Blxst reconnected with his frequent collaborator Bino Rideaux for a sequel to their 2019 EP. Both Blxst and Bino had seen their careers grow exponentially since 2019’s Sixtape so it was only right that they used their brighter spotlight for Sixtape 2. A common theme in Blxst’s career is taking advantage of strong moments to boost his own stock, and after collaborations with Nas, Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross, Buddy, YG, Mozzy, and more, he’s back with a new body of work now that a new set of eyes are on him.
Fresh off the release of his 13-track project Before You Go, we caught up with Blxst to discuss the project, his growth, and more.
After the success of No Love Lost, when did you realize it was time to go back to the drawing board for a new body of work?
I think it was slowly but surely. I was traveling a lot last year so I know it was that time, but I was trying to find that balance between being on the road and still being creative, which was a challenge but we knocked it out. We managed to make it happen.
What were some of the things that helped you find this balance and successfully work on this project as you were on the road?
Everything bro. Managing time away from the family, self-care, even all the way down to working with a personal trainer and making sure physical was right. It was finding a balance for me, that’s pretty much where I was at with it. I feel like that kind of bled into my music, my different experiences, that’s what Before You Go was compiled of.
You’re in a much different spot than you were before No Love Lost. You’ve worked with a lot of new names like Nas, Snoop Dogg, Kehlani, Rick Ross, and more. Has your established position made things easier for you? And how do you keep that initial hustle alive?
It’s crazy. I feel like I’ve built a crazy momentum and I’m just capitalizing on it right now especially following up with another body of work. No Love Lost was my first body of work and this one is my first full-length body of work, so I’m excited to see the responses from that, especially coming off a crazy feature run, like you said, with Nas, Snoop Dogg, Kehlani, Rick Ross, it’s been crazy.
Before You Go seems to have that “no hard feelings” attitude that No Love Lost has. In your opinion, in what ways are the projects similar, and what sets them apart?
Yeah, I think this one is an elevated version of No Love Lost. Like you said, it was no hard feelings, but for this one, it’s more unapologetic. This is me, love me or hate me, but before you go, this is the message I gotta tell you. Whether you want to come on this journey with me or not, that’s your choice. For my fans, to my relationships, to everything: before you go, this is what I gotta tell you.
Before we dive into the project, I like how you and Bino took a moment during the rises in your respective careers to lace another project with Sixtape 2. How has y’all relationship improved since the first Sixtape with all that’s happened in your careers?
Man, it’s crazy just to see the trajectory of where we both started to where we are now. Just off the collaborations from Sixtape alone, I feel like that was my door for people knowing who I am individually. I think I just made sure I was well-rounded. I didn’t want to be stuck as a producer as well, so I made it an intention to go hard as a solo artist. Respect to Bino as well for giving me that platform. I think it’s a mutual respect overall.
What was your muse or influences for Before You Go?
I think just my day-to-day experiences: traveling, managing family time, personal time, and self-care. That’s pretty much what I pulled my inspiration from, those challenges, those hurdles I was facing, and facing that transition of also becoming an executive outside of just being an artist. Looking at success from a different perspective. I think I had a mind shift over this past year from the success of No Love Lost. You’ll hear that in the music, you’ll hear the growth for sure.
I want to talk about the music on the project, starting with some of the features. How was it to work with Arin Ray on “Fake Love”? It’s been a while since I’ve heard from him and it’s great to see that y’all connected for one.
I’ve been listening to Arin Ray for a minute. That Platinum Fire album he dropped, that’s my go-to when I’m on the airplane. This was before I was even Blxst, so double back and be able to work with him, I think that was a full-circle moment for me.
A couple of songs later we have “Couldn’t Wait For It,” your second record with Rick Ross. How validating it is for you to have a star like Ross who wants to work with you more than once, in addition to the other big names you’ve collaborated with?
That’s legendary, I can’t make this sh*t up. It don’t get no more co-sign or stamp than that, that’s the biggest. That’s inspiration, especially as I’m aspiring to be an entrepreneur like he is as well, outside of being an artist, I think that was a dope realization for me that he f*ck with me in that light.
“Still Omw” is one of my favorite records because it’s the epitome of “the job’s not done yet” in terms of what you want for your career. With that, what is peak success for you and when would you feel like you’ve completed your job as an artist and creative overall?
Man, I think ultimately, I feel like I’m still fresh to everything. I got a foot in the door, but at this point, I gotta show my consistency. Also, I got to make it a point to make sure everybody else around me is equally or more successful than I am, whether that be putting other artists on from my city. It’s a lot more to do and I feel like it’s a long way to go, but I feel like I’m on the right track.
What song on this project do you feel speaks the most to where you’re at in your career?
I think you hit it right on the nail with “Still Omw.” It speaks on where I started, what I’m doing right now, and my aspirations for where I want to be. I want to be that executive in the next five years where I could sit back and not be so obligated to do things outside of just being a creative in general. That’s what I’m leaning towards, but that song is close to my heart for sure.
After listening to this album, it’s safe to say that Blxst has still not made one bad song yet, how often does that saying come into mind when you create?
I ain’t gonna lie, saying that was like a gift and a curse because now it’s like people are waiting for me f*ck up you know? I like to challenge myself and hold myself up to a standard where I can always be the best version of myself. So yeah, that line always comes to mind whenever I’m making something cause I’m like damn now I can’t f*ck up (laughs).
With this project, want do you want people to keep in mind as they listen?
I just want them to grow with me. This is the journey, I’m learning as I go, but I’m still not stopping the creative process as far as people knowing what’s going on in my day to day or what I’ve been experiencing. A lot of times, I be second-guessing myself still, but I want people to see that I’m human as well. It’s cool to second guess yourself as long as you face your fears. It’s cool to be scared, but you still gotta face your fears.
Before You Go is out now via Red Bull Records and Evgle. You can stream it here.
