Ray J calls Mario & Wale the third best singer behind Chris Brown & Usher

Ray J does not shy away from the challenge Mario in a singing battle… despite his opp, not take over the competition too serious.

We caught up with Ray mid-morning on Tuesday in New York, where he made the case for a TMZ After Dark and Brunch Tours in the Big Apple — a move that certainly has nice ring to it.

After all, Ray has become a true Hollywood draw among our bus visitors, so an expansion may be in the offing!!!

Back to the matter at hand…Mario and Ray are currently in an altercation over singing superiority, and Ray demands that some respect be given to his name.

Ray recently tried to crash Wal‘s homecoming stage in Baltimore next to Mario, but he got frozen… so now he also has smoke with the “Lotus Flower Bomb” rapper!

Like Mario, Ray has also seen Brandy’s comments about not taking his craft seriously, but he tells us he’s taking a new path – by having her retrain his vocal cords.

Brandy is currently on tour with Monica and already has to endorse Mario, so Ray has to lock in or he’ll be passed over.