Ne-Yo
Although Ne-Yo claimed to be "so sick" of love songs, begging for them to leave him alone in his 2006 debut single, since then he has thrived by wooing women with his silky smooth voice and touching their hearts with his piercing lyrics. Next Friday, the artiste hopes to capture the hearts of Jamaican women on International Night One of Reggae Sumfest.
Set to share the stage with Keri Hilson, Jazmine Sullivan and others, no other act that night is more versed in love than Ne-Yo, whose catalogue includes Because Of You, Do You, Sexy Love, Closer and the female anthem Miss Independent. Born Shaffer Chimere Smith, the American, who is now signed to Def Jam Records, started off as a songwriter with his first hit being Let Me Love You for Mario in 2004. In 2006, he released the album In My Own Words, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 charts in its first week of release. During the same period, Ne-Yo's second single, So Sick, became the number one song on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Clear roads
Since then, it's been clear roads for the star who continued with hits of his own and who wrote songs such as Rihanna's Unfaithful and her number-one hit Take a Bow, Paula DeAnda's Walk Away (Remember Me) and Beyoncé's Billboard Hot 100 number-one single Irreplaceable. More recently, Ne-Yo's writing credits can be found on Jamie Foxx's and Mary J. Blige's latest albums, Unpredictable and The Breakthrough, respectively.
Back in 2006, Ne-Yo, still wet behind the ears, made his first appearance in Jamaica for Blink Live in Kingston. Now, the artiste returns with a wider range of songs, a new album titled The Year of the Gentleman, which reflects his smooth, lady-friendly personality, and is anticipating his performance for Reggae Sumfest.
In a telephone interview with The Gleaner he commented, "The people were lovely, man, it felt like they appreciated what I was doing and I appreciate the love they were giving me. You know, what I like most about the Jamaican audience is that it's very honest. If they don't like what you're doing they gonna let you know, you can't (give half) when you come to Jamaica, you have to go there and give 200 per cent. You gotta get out there and give people a show, and that's what I'm all about anyway."
Currently in Europe on tour with fellow Sumfest performer Keri Hilson, Ne-Yo says he can't wait to leave the rainy weather for Jamaica's signature rays. For Sumfest, Ne-Yo says there's a possibility he and Hilson will perform their collaboration Knock You Down, which also features rapper Kanye West. He said about his upcoming performance, "I would get up there and do what I do. I'm a get up there and, like I said, give my 200 per cent, make sure those people are entertained, because that's what it's about, no lip-syncing, it's all real singing, a real band and we gonna make sure everybody has fun. That's what the goal is."
Knowing his limitations
Ne-Yo says with time he has got more comfortable in his musical skin, knowing his limitations and sticking to his strengths. One of his strengths, it seems, is acting, as seen in Save the Last Dance 2 in 2006 and later with Stomp the Yard in 2007. The artiste just finished shooting the movie Red Tails, the story of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first African-American pilots to fly in a combat squadron during World War II. He will also be working on his next album which will be out in 2010, as well working with his own artistes, such as Lisa Tucker. He also will be recording and writing songs for Rihanna, Jennifer Hudson and Chris Brown.
Outside of those artistes, Ne-yo says he would love to work with Alicia Keys and John Legend, and maybe do a touch of reggae music.
"I'd love to get in the studio with a reggae artiste and see what would come from that. I've never tried anything with that particular style of music so I would love to see what that would be ... I do listen to reggae music. I can't sit here and name you any artiste because I've been overseas and it's a lot of techno and house music, but I do enjoy reggae music," he said.
Ne-Yo says one of the most memorable experiences in his career was this year's BET awards where, alongside Jamie Foxx, he performed I'll Be There to honour the late great King of Pop - Michael Jackson.