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Aggressive. Focused. Determined. Observant. Confident. Driven. Approachable. Hungry. Altruistic. Street-smart. Real. Most of us would agree these are the main characteristics that embody true hustler spirit – or, what makes a true hustler.When you think of a hustler, you probably get many different images in your mind. You might picture a slick-talking gangster dressed to the T, the kid on the corner with the “hook-up†on anything you need or a group of guys in a bad rap video. You may also think of the new, young entrepreneurs, exported from inner-city neighborhoods to southern suburbs with the drive and the know-how to flourish financially in these growing meccas. If you think of the latter, then you already know Ray the Hustler.As a kid in the Bronx, young Ray was the only child of a single mom who worked hard to support him. He was a talented basketball player and a natural survivor who learned early how to maneuver his way through the streets. Both academically and street smart, Ray was able to use his connections and basketball fame to make a name for himself in his unfriendly neighborhood. When the streets outweighed the books on his scale of priorities, his mother decided to move them to New Jersey, where he completed his last year of high school before entering Morgan State University the following year on a basketball scholarship.With the birth of his son prompting him to return to New Jersey, Ray went home and, while holding his new baby, decided he would accept an offer from Red Zone Entertainment and pursue a career in the music industry. He worked with producer Tricky Stewart as an artist and assistant. While at Red Zone, he was featured on the albums of rapper Sole and R&B singer Blu Cantrell, both of which went gold. Ray also put his writing skills to work and wrote the first single, “Woof,†for R&B group Prophet Jones.After meeting Mark Edwards, manager of street baller and And1 Basketball sensation Hot Sauce, Ray the Hustler became involved in coordinating street ball events. He held games at various colleges throughout the U.S. and boasts the highest recorded audience attendance for a street ball game held independently with over 6,500 attendees, earning him a write-up in Slam Magazine. Through his connections, Ray the Hustler was able to pool the best-of-the-best in street ballers with players such as Bone Collector, Hot Sauce, High Octane, Baby Shaq, White Chocolate, and Pat Da Roc whom he continues to work with today.Following this venture, his entrepreneurial spirit continued into the realm of artist management and Ray the Hustler groomed and managed rapper, Kesan. He was able to lock down an appearance for his artist on the album of R&B singer Ginuwine and on BET’s 106th & Park.True hustlers keep it moving and like the hustler he is, Ray kept it moving all the way to Atlanta, GA, which he decided would be his new home. In Atlanta, he signed Kesan to Up Front Entertainment/ Konvict Music, which also houses rapper Akon and C.E.O/Choreographer Devyne Stephens. It was while working on this album in Atlanta that Ray the Hustler learned about, auditioned and was selected for BET’s “Apprentice-style†reality show, The Ultimate Hustler, presented by Roc-A-Fella Records/Dash Music Group CEO, Damon Dash.Since gaining public popularity on the show, Ray the Hustler has continued to thrive as an entrepreneur and producer. Presently he is working with producer Nitti of Playmaker Music and producer Focus of A-Fam Records with artists K.I.G and D.Y.C., two groups he manages and produces. He continues to delve into the world of street ball and presents an annual “Rucker-style†basketball tournament in Atlanta, beginning summer of 2008. Wearing many hats, this hustler is also an actor with movie and television prospects ahead.The ability to engage multiple endeavors completes a true hustler – Ray the Hustler.
