R&B singer Tyrese Gibson has an interesting story to tell about how Kim Kardashian and Ray J’s sexual escapades created his classic song, “How You Gonna Act Like That.”
The singer discussed the 2002 hit during an appearance on “The Kenny Burns Show.” He connected the song’s inspiration to his time living with Kim Kardashian and her then-husband, Damon Thomas.
“You know, I lived with Damon and Kim when I worked on that album,” Tyrese said. “I lived with them for three years.”
The song appeared on Tyrese’s 2002 album, “I Wanna Go There.” Thomas, a producer and songwriter, received a co-writing credit.
During the interview, host Kenny Burns asked Tyrese about what he witnessed while living with the couple.
“I’ll leave it at this: When everything happened with Ray J, I was there,” Tyrese said. “I seen all of it.”
Burns then sought clarification about Tyrese’s comments. He asked whether the singer meant he witnessed the filming of Kardashian’s sex tape with R&B singer Ray J.
R&B Singer Tyrese Reveals That “How You Gonna Act Like That” Was Inspired By Kim Kardashian & Ray J’s Sex Tape Situation
“No, no, no,” Tyrese responded. “Meaning like, I was there whenever that sex tape happened.”
“Damon was my brother,” he added. “I was literally at the crib. Everything happened in real time and I was there.”
The conversation then returned to “How You Gonna Act Like That.” Burns noted the song’s inclusion on Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 Greatest R&B Songs of the 21st Century.
The track ranked No. 51 on the list.
“I never knew that,” Tyrese said before explaining his connection to the song’s central theme.
“It was inspired by wondering, how did she act like that while she was with Damon?” he said.
Kardashian and Thomas filed for divorce in 2003. Kardashian later dated Ray J, with their relationship receiving intense public attention.
The sex tape involving Kardashian and Ray J was reportedly filmed in 2003. It was released publicly in 2007.
For Tyrese, the story behind “How You Gonna Act Like That” adds another layer to a song that became a defining moment in his R&B career.
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