Lisa Raye McCoy McCoy was born in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of a businessman and professional model. She is the half sister of rap artist Da Brat. McCoy attended Thornridge High School and Kenwood Academy before attending Eastern Illinois University before pursuing an acting career.
She has a daughter named Kai from a previous relationship. In April 2006, McCoy married Premier Michael Misick. He was later accused of raping an American woman, reportedly a friend of LisaRaye's, after a party on the island of Providenciales. He has since been acquitted. He was also rumored to have had a relationship with current 106 & Park co-host Rocsi while married to LisaRaye. In August 2008, Premier Misick released a statement announcing that he and McCoy were getting a divorce.
Before acting, McCoy began her career as a model doing fashion shows in churches and high schools in her native home Chicago. She made her acting debut as the lead in Reasons, an independent film directed by Monty Ross. She also had the lead role in another film as Diamond in The Players Club, directed and written by Ice Cube.; and has film credits in The Wood, opposite Omar Epps, Rhapsody, All About You, and Go for Broke. In 2003, McCoy starred as Neesee James in the UPN/ CW sitcom All of Us. She played Robert Sr.'s (Duane Martin) ex-wife and the mother of their 6-year-old son, Bobby, Jr. The series ended in 2007.
In 2005, she launched two fashion lines: Luxe & Romance, a lingerie line that was introduced during New York's Fashion Week, and Xraye, a jeans line for women.
In addition to acting, McCoy has also appeared in several music videos including Tupac Shakur's "Toss It Up", Calvin Richardson's "True Love," Sisqó's "Incomplete", Lil Jon and Ice Cube's "Roll Call" Video clip, and Ludacris' "Number 1 Spot." McCoy also recorded the single "Would You?" with rapper Benzino. Also, LisaRaye was in Ginuwine's video, "Last Chance" in May 2009. She is credited as LisaRaye in the beginning of the video. She was also in the videos "I Don't Wanna See" and " I Really Want to Sex Your Body," by Link (singer), "Never Be The Same Again" by Ghostface Killah & Carl Thomas (singer). More videos she has been in are "Ooohhhwwweee" by Master P, "Unpredictable" by Jamie Foxx, "Download" by Lil' Kim, "Slip N' Slide by Danny Boy (singer), & "Are You in the Mood" by Teddy & Dru Down. She also had a cameo in Seven (singer)'s music video "Girls" & Jaheim's music video "Back Tight Wit You"
LisaRaye is currently starring in her own reality show on TV One, "LisaRaye: The Real McCoy" along with her 21-year old daughter Kai.
She will star in and have a leading role in a film called Single Ladies through Queen Latifah's production company. Here’s how VH1 describes the TV show: “Single Ladies is a comedic drama about a Val, Keisha, and April – three best friends with different philosophies on sex and relationships. Val (Stacey Dash) is an ambitious aspiring fashion mogul who wants to find a true partner. Keisha (LisaRaye McCoy), on the other hand, is a former video dancer just looking for a rich man to keep her in style. April (Charity Shea) has supposedly found the perfect man and the perfect marriage – but is learning that marriage isn’t necessarily a happy ending. Single Ladies is a modern, sexy series set in the world of Atlanta fashion, music, and celebrity that will constantly explore which woman has the right approach to relationships.”
