Blink and you'll miss the grinning Willie Ray Norwood Jr. whizzing by in his Lamborghini. The man about town known as Ray J, 27, is all smiles now—he has a hit single, "Sexy Can I," off his new CD All I Am—but last year was a trying one. His sister Brandy, 29, was involved in a car crash that killed another driver, and a sex tape of him with his ex Kim Kardashian, 27, was leaked. "Because I was the guy, people pointed the finger toward me," he says. "I was thinking, 'Career is over.' But I moved on." Indeed, he returned to making music—and charming ladies like Whitney Houston, 44 ("We like singing, music, movies. We just watched The Pursuit of Happyness"), and current flame Lil' Kim, 33. What's his appeal? "I'm honest and I take control," he says. "But I definitely respect them."

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The Women in His Life
"I supported her through her hard times, like she was there for me through my hard times"

"We talk about anything. She laughs at my jokes. I laugh at hers. It's cool, honest"

"We've seen each other once or twice [post sex tape]. It was very tense. But I wish her the best"

"We've been on romantic dates, sipped expensive champagne. Our relationship is solid"

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