Arin Ray is keeping it real with his new song “Both of Us,” out via Brand G Enterprises/True Purpose.
On the soulful ballad, produced by Paperboy Fabe, Ray confesses to a prospective partner that he isn’t ready for a relationship. Instead of continuing to lead her into the abyss, he chooses to be transparent about his self-work journey. “I don’t want to ruin both of us / I’m warning you, I’m not the one to trust,” he sings in the chorus.
“Both of Us” is Ray’s first single since releasing his Phases III EP in 2023 via Interscope Records. Speaking on his return, Ray tells Rated R&B, “I’m most excited to finally get music out. It’s been at least two and a half years since I’ve released a single, and that just didn’t sit right with me. So being able to put something out again, reintroduce myself, and remind people that I still do what I do at a high level means everything.”
He continues, “The process to get here wasn’t easy, which makes this moment even more meaningful. I’m genuinely grateful. And when you listen to the record, it speaks for itself. It’s vulnerable, it’s relatable, and the production is top-notch. Overall, I’m just excited to put out a song like this, step back into the world, and show people why I’ve been able to last as long as I have.”
As noted above, Ray’s last project, Phases III, was released nearly three years ago. The project included the popular tracks “Moonlight,” “Wait So Long” and “Tequila.”
In an interview with Rated R&B, Ray said, “[Phases III] was just fun. I was just trying to get some records in and finish some records we thought were cool that we had, and just put them together. I made some new ones along the way. It was dope.”
Before Phases III, the Cincinnati native released his sophomore album, Hello Poison, in 2022. It featured collaborations with Brandy, Ari Lennox, Ty Dolla $ign, D Smoke, VanJess and more.
Stream Arin Ray’s “Both of Us” below.
