Ne-Yo is Shaffer Chimere Smith, an American singer, songwriter, producer and actor from Camden, United States. He is known for contemporary R&B, with work that also spans dance-pop, electro house, electropop, hip hop and hip house. He performs under the stage name Ne-Yo and is signed to Def Jam Records.

Career

Ne-Yo begins his recording career after working primarily as a songwriter. He is known for writing for other artists before establishing himself as a performer, and his songwriting credits include songs for Mary J. Blige, Ruben Studdard, Marques Houston, Faith Evans, Christina Milian, B2K, Nivea, Tyrese, Jamie Foxx, Heather Headley and Mario. He also writes songs associated with Rihanna, Beyoncé, Mario Vazquez and Paula DeAnda, and he is linked in the text to work for Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Britney Spears, Corbin Bleu and Enrique Iglesias.

He leaves a bad deal with Columbia Records and decides to stay focused on songwriting until a friend introduces him to L.A. Reid, who signs him to Def Jam Records. The name Ne-Yo comes from a friend who calls him “Neo”, after the character from The Matrix, and he adapts the ending as a reference to his hip hop background.

Albums and singles

His debut album, In My Own Words, is released in 2006 on Def Jam Recordings. It debuts at number one on the Billboard 200, sells more than 301,000 copies in its first week and is certified platinum. Its second single, “So Sick”, reaches number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

His second album, Because of You, appears in 2007 and becomes a platinum-selling release. The title track is its first single. In 2008 he releases Year of the Gentleman. His fourth album, Libra Scale, includes the singles “Beautiful Monster”, “Champagne Life” and “One in a Million”.

He later changes the title of his fifth studio album from The Cracks in Mr. Perfect to R.E.D., an acronym for “Realising Every Dream”.

Awards and recognition

Ne-Yo wins a Grammy Award for Because of You at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards, taking Best Contemporary R&B Album. The text also describes him as a Grammy Award-winning artist.

Other work and appearances

He opens a recording studio called Carrington House and starts his own label, Compound Entertainment, in 2007. Artists associated with Compound include Paula Campbell, Sixx John and Shanell.

Ne-Yo also appears alongside the Goo Goo Dolls at a fundraising concert for Barack Obama in December 2007. He appears in the song “Deewangi Deewangi” in the Hindi film Om Shanti Om.