Ray J, Suge Knight partner to take over Death Row records

Ray J has joined forces with Suge Knight and his fiancée, Toi-Lin Kelly, to take over Death Row Records, the singer revealed in an exclusive interview with Us Weekly on Wednesday, October 23.

“It’s pretty much, us where we are now, controlling the life rights, and the television rights, and the music rights and everything that has to do with Suge’s likeness for merch and for everything that comes with Suge Knight,” the “Sexy Can I” singer, 38, told Us. “And so, from finances to management to everything, it’s me, myself, it’s Toi.”

Knight, 54, handed over the reins to his Death Row empire, which has produced hits from rap icons like Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur, to Kelly and Ray J while he serves a 28-year prison sentence for voluntary manslaughter.

Suge Knight in court on October 4, 2018 for sentencing after he pleaded no contest to manslaughter, in Los Angeles, California. DAVID MCNEW/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Ray J will be in charge of the music side of the business as well as upcoming scripted projects. Kelly, meanwhile, will have control over his life rights and power of attorney for his medical needs, Knight said in an interview with The Blast published on Tuesday, October 22. Nick Cannon is also in talks for a book deal about the record producer’s life.

Knight and Ray J have been friends for years. The “One Wish” crooner told Us that Knight wanted him to have the job because he’s confident in Ray J’s ability to make the company a success.

Suge Knight’s fiancee, Toi-Lin Kelly, is interviewed in Los Angeles, California. Damian Dovarganes/AP/Shutterstock

“The reason why he trusts me is because of all the consistent stuff that I’ve been doing lately and all of my businesses,” Ray J told Us. “Even going back to running my own label independently and putting out songs like, ‘Sexy Can I’ and ‘One Wish’ under my own label — which is tough to do in an R&B world — then to go ahead and then dominate in reality and produce and create all of the shows that we’re doing now.”

Ray J added that he and his team are currently “looking for the best partners to produce the series, to produce the movie, to produce the documentary.”

The R&B singer is also thriving in his personal life. He and his wife, Princess Love, announced in August that they are expecting their second child. The couple are already parents to 17-month-old daughter, Melody.

With reporting by Travis Cronin