A product from the “dirty souf”, Monroe native Ray Lavender is one of the artists for the Black Entertainment Television College Tour, which made a pit stop at Grambling State University last Friday. Lavender discovered his voice at the age of four.
For three years, the down to earth country boy was a part of his local church’s choir and later moved with his father to the “Black Hollywood”- Atlanta. Known for his hot single “Put it Down” feat. T-Pain, Ray Lavender has a new hit single called “We Love” and is looking forward to the road a head of him.
What can we expect from you in the future?
Of course we are going to put an album out and I am going to start doing a lot of acting. They just released the movie No More Games with me, Tommy Ford, D. Woods and Persia White. It is already out at Best Buy, Target and Walmart. And I am slated to play Sam Cooke in his upcoming biopic.
When is your next album going to be released?
We are looking to drop it early next year.
Where did you start singing?
I actually started at home, listening to my mom’s 45 collections: Sam Cooke, Luther Vandross, Motown and Marvin Gaye.
What is going to be your next single?
My next single is going to be “Drop” featuring Cash out and 2 Chainz.
How is the BET College Tour so far?
Amazing, I’ve been on 12 dates so far. I’ve been headlining the tour ever since the beginning and this is something amazing to say you are doing.
Compared to other HBCUs how was your Grambling experience during the BET College Tour?
Well I’m biased because I am from Monroe, Louisiana. So you are going to get Grambling was the best out of me because it was. (laughs) Grambling is the best!