Prelude to a Legacy 10.16.09: Ne-Yo

Posted by Fred Richani on 10.16.2009

The Year of the Gentleman and beyond.......



Ne-Yo is a great artist. He has countless hits, collaborated with hip-hop's heavyweights, and truly made a name for himself in the music industry as a whole. What the casual fan may not realize is just how much talent Ne-Yo actually possesses beyond the microphone. In fact, he didn't even break into the music industry as a singer! Interesting revelation? Not for those that have been following the soon to be 30-year-old from the beginning.

Born October 18, 1979, Shaffer Smith was raised in Camden, Arkansas by his mother and father, who were both musicians. I think it's safe to say even as a child, he was heavily influenced by music. Sadly, things weren't always jolly in the household. While still a child, Smith's parents separated. That's never an easy thing to go through as a kid or at any age for that matter. When his parents separated, Smith shacked up with his mom at her new place in Las Vegas, Nevada. His mother didn't relocate to Vegas simply for the sights or to get away from her husband, but also due to feeling that the one of the few cities that never sleeps had a lot more opportunities to offer than Arkansas (sorry, Bill Clinton).

As I foreshadowed, Smith was into music at a very young age. He had a knack for writing and the gift of the gab, when it came to singing. He knew he had talent. Cultivating it and making money would be another story. After a few years of making demos, Smith thought he would emerge to super stardom via the Vegas-based quartet named Envy. Unfortunately for Smith, the group would shortly disband in 2000. So much for the fame and fortune, right?

Well, where there's a will, there's a way. As a solo artist, going by the name of Ne-Yo, he would sign a deal with Columbia Records in 2001. The name "Ne-Yo" originated as a nickname from producer Big D Evans because he felt that Smith saw music like Neo saw the world in The Matrix. Once again, if Ne-Yo didn't have bad luck, he wouldn't have any at all, as he was dropped by Columbia—before he could even release his debut album. So let's see....Columbia has not only dropped OneRepublic in the past (as mentioned in my interview with bassist Brent Kutzle), but Ne-Yo....I bet they're regretting those decisions right now. Just a hunch, though.

Luckily, Ne-Yo did have some fortune in his favor in 2003, when Marques Houston ("Roger" from the show Sister, Sister for all you old school sitcom fans) rerecorded the track "That Girl." The song was originally intended to be released on Ne-Yo's album, but since it was permanently shelved, Houston rerecorded it. The result was success. The single's popularity may not have gotten people to take notice of Ne-Yo's singing ability, but something far greater for an artist that has a good voice—the power of the pen.
Almost overnight, Ne-Yo's life changed, going from an unknown to a sought after talent. Over the next two years, he would pen songs for Youngstown, Christina Milian, B2K, among others. However, his truly big break was the success of his song "Let Me Love You", performed by R&B singer Mario. The song stayed on top of the Billboard charts for nine weeks in 2004, solidifying Ne-Yo's status the premiere writer in the game.



With his bank account filled with "A Milli", Ne-Yo had something to fall back on in the event his solo career never panned out. Thankfully, it eventually did pan out through a second chance via Def Jam Recordings in 2005. In early 2006, Ne-Yo released his first album In My Own Words. It was an original album by R&B standards not just because of the quality of music, but more so the fact that it was written...well, IN HIS OWN WORDS. In My Own Words attributed it's Platinum status through singles such as "Sexy Love" and the number one hit "So Sick."



And I'm so sick of love songs
So tired of tears
So done with wishing you were still here
Said I'm so sick of love songs so sad and slow
So why can't I turn off the radio?

If you've been through a bad break up or two, I dare you to tell me you can't relate to those lyrics! In fact, that's what has made Ne-Yo so popular—being able to relate to people though his own words of love, heartbreak, happiness, sorrow, and a myriad of other feelings we go through in every walk of life.



Not to be outdone by his debut, Ne-Yo put out his second album Because of You in 2007, seeing similar results: critical acclaim, hit singles, and yes—a Platinum plaque. The album was one of the best R&B records to come in awhile, if not ever. It even won Best Contemporary R&B Album at the 2008 Grammy Awards! And who says Jim Jones is the only one in hip-hop allowed to be ballin'? The two biggest and most recognizable singles from the album were "Because of You" and "Go on Girl."

Because Of You- Ne-YoUploaded by chanmany. - Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.

In September 2008, Ne-Yo released his most recent album Year of The Gentleman and arguably his greatest work thus far. At least in my opinion. Call me biased, but that was one of the best albums I've ever heard. Heck, I would have given it the Grammy for Album of the Year! To me, it showed fans and critics that Ne-Yo has evolved as a writer, singer, and entertainer as a whole. The lead single "Closer" utilized European-House music sounds that made for an upbeat track that got the clubs poppin'. "Miss Independent was an ode to women that do their thing without the help of a man. Yet again, as with Ne-Yo's previous albums, Year of The Gentleman was certified Platinum by 2009. The best aspect of the album, you wonder? The fact that Ne-Yo carried it all himself with no guest stars.

When I listen to Ne-Yo, I try to hear as much of his stuff as possible. He is the Michael Jordan of R&B right now in a sense, since he can do it all—write, sing, and produce. Remember one thing too. He didn't have to go back to singing. The dude already had a million in the bank from songwriting. Good thing for us he decided to re-pursue his once failed dream and made it into a greater reality than anyone could have ever imagined. 2008 may have been the year of the gentleman. Something tells me that gentleman's got a lot more years left in him.