I have never watched X-Factor before, but that is where singer-songwriter Arin Ray made is initial debut, and it was that show that served as a learning experience that would subsequently ignite a fire under him to hustle to where he is today. After realizing that nothing was going to be handed to him after the show was over, he started over from the ground up with a humble attitude and persistent work ethic. With writing credits from Chris Brown to John Legend, the Cincinnati native has definitely been able to observe and absorb a lot from the industry and artists around him, and put that knowledge and energy into his debut album Platinum Fire. My favorite track on the project is We Ain’t Homies, featuring LA’s own YG, where Arin tells his version of a familiar tale – releasing dead weight off the bandwagon.