Listen to Ne-yo on Batanga

At the tender age of twenty-two, the lyrical and musical talent that Ne-Yo posses are far beyond his years. Born into a family of musicians from Arkansas, Shaffer C. Smith a.k.a. Ne-Yo was raised in a single parent home by his mother. In hopes of a better opportunity, Ne-Yo's mother relocated the family to Las Vegas Nevada; where Ne-Yo would discover his passion. The singer/songwriter, penned on the biggest radio records of history (189.5 million listeners in one week) Billboards #1 R&B chart for several weeks, the words on "Let Me Love You" touch your heart and makes you feel good in your soul. Written with Scott Storch and Kam Houf and performed by the R&B artist Mario, "Let Me Love You" is just a glimpse into the mind of a true writer. "It's a great song, and I'm really happy to have wrote it," he says." A master in the art of storytelling, Ne-Yo began writing at an early age. A vivid imagination and creative energy has allowed Ne-Yo to write songs for multi-platinum artists such as Mary J. Blige B2K, Faith Evans and Musiq. When asked about writing number one hits for other artists, simply put, Ne-Yo said, "I feel there is always room for good music. I want to reach people's soul with my lyrics thru whatever vessel God chooses." Set to release his debut album on Def Jam Recordings, this dynamic entertainer is ready to deliver. Infusing pop melodies to rich, soulful production the album is sure to score with fans and critics alike. Relying on mostly his own in-house crew Compound, Ne-Yo creates both a unique sound and sentiment for his records. Songs like the first single "Stay" (featuring Peedi Crack) exemplify Ne-Yo's nuanced, layered vocals and sample free production. "So Sick", a beautiful track in which he laments hearing love songs on the radio due to the feelings they conjure, reveals his voice to be clean and almost elated, but rich and weathered at the same time. But true to his charismatic character, the album shows many sides of Ne-Yo and even finds him lighter, more playful, even coy, on "When You're Mad." Sure cello hits move the track as Ne-Yo floats above, telling his woman that she's even more beautiful when she's mad. With the album in the chamber, ready to go, Ne-Yo now just has to prepare himself for the stardom that is sure to follow. "The toughest part has been getting used to being known," he confesses, "I've always been the writer, the guy in the background, but being the actual artist is a whole new experience for me." Citing Prince, Marvin Gaye, The Rat Pack, and Stevie Wonder in his list of favorite entertainers, Ne-Yo's album invokes a nostalgic feeling, a renaissance if you will. Whether it's the bedroom or the dance floor, Ne-Yo's songs are filled with passion and intense energy that pulls (you into the music) and puts you into a zone. Ne-Yo is taking the music industry by storm, as he graces and challenges popular music with his writing & vocal talents. Much more than today's male singer, Ne-Yo is a rare artist; expressing creativity thru drawings, paintings, martial arts and song. He is distinguished by youthful energy with in-depth lyrics that touch the soul. Ne-Yo is honored and ecstatic to be apart of the Def Jam brand, which produces some of the best R&B and hip-hop artists in the world.