Brandy & Ray J: A Family Business- ep 1- "It's time to grow up"

Brandy and Ray J. are both superstars in their own right. Sonia Norwood, their "momager" is now ready for the siblings to step-up and get more involved with the business side of their "brand". Willie Norwood, their dad, has been the vocal coach for both Brandy and Ray J throughout both of their careers. Mom and Dad has focused so much time on their children's careers that they now want to change direction a bit and focus on their marriage as a couple. Brandy has had a more traditional rise to fame as an actress and singer. For Ray-J it's been- let's just say it's been "different". He had the Kim K sex tape, mulit-platinum song "Sexy can I" and "The love of Ray-J shows". His star rose well above his sister's for simply behaving badly.

On this first episode Sonia explains, over dinner, that they need to step-up and know what she knows about the business. Brandy is on-board and focused. Ray-J says he's ready to take over the reigns for him mom but he is a little immature and sometimes doesn't handle things in the best manner. For example, he let's a cousin borrow the Norwood business van and it gets towed. This isn't the first time that something like this has happened and Sonia is pissed. She's the type of mom that can just throw you a look and you know she's not playing. Ray-J also considers himself to be the west coast party king- party for business purposes or so he says. In his defense, when you're in your 20's and have lots of money and no responsibilities I guess you can party like a rock star!

Brandy gets a text from rapper/singer Flo-Rida- of "Get Low" fame- about going to the Grammy's with him as his date. Ray-J isn't too sure about this and feels that Flo-Rida should offer to pay Brandy's way - dress, hair, make-up ect. Brandy wants to take it slow but she sees Flo as a breath of fresh air.

Sonia gets the office renovated and shows Brandy where she'll now work. They have a meeting with Ryan Ramsey, cousin/manager in training. Sonia and Ryan feel that Brandy needs to use her unique voice and come back with some ballads. Brandy is thinking about going a different direction with her alter-ego "Brand-Nu" who is a rapper. We have Beyonce/Sasha Feirce to thank for this alter-ego nonsense. She shares a couple rap verses but Sonia and Ryan aren't  convinced. I'm not either.

Ray-J and Reggie go and pick up the business van that was towed and bring it back to Sonia. Ray-J explains that they have to be more responsible and that Reggie has to face the music with Sonia. Ray-J hopes that he's ready for her wrath. They return the van and promise to never borrow the van again.

Brandy is surrounded by a group of very good friends that she trusts- Shay, Lara and Domo who started out as a fan but became a very close friend.  Over lunch Brandy tells them how she's really nervous about attending the Grammy's with Flo-Rida. Like most women she has trust issues and if she is seen with him at the Grammy's then their relationship is out there for the world to scrutinize.

Brandy is inspired  by all the change that's taking place with the family, her career and maybe her love-life and starts writing and working on her new project. Ray-J is also inspired to keep partying and find the "fattest bootiest broad out there". What?!?

I guess with Ray-J maturity and growth will have to come in baby steps.

Are Brandy and Ray-J ready to take more responsibility?

Can "momager" Sonia really trust her two celebrity kids to take care of their own careers?

We'll just have to wait and see...