Ne Yo extracted from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia

Ne-Yo
Ne-Yo on MuchMusic's MuchOnDemand (Photo courtesy of Robin Wong.)
Background information
Birth name	Shaffer Chimere Smith
Born	October 18, 1982(1982-10-18) Camden, Arkansas, United States
Origin	Los Angeles, California, United States
Genre(s)	R&B
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter, record producer, rapper, dancer, actor
Years active	1999–present
Label(s)	Def Jam
Associated acts	Beyoncé, Fabolous, Jay-Z, Mario, Rihanna
Website	Official site

Shaffer Chimere Smith (October 18, 1982), ^[1] better known by his stage name Ne-Yo, is an American R&B and pop singer-songwriter and occasional rapper. He is of Afro-Asian (African American and Chinese American) heritage.

Contents 1 Music career 2 Arrest 3 Discography 4 Awards/nominations 5 Filmography 6 TV Appearances 7 Notes 8 References 9 External links 9.1 Interviews

Music career

Ne-Yo's debut album, In My Own Words, was released in early 2006 through Def Jam Recordings, and debuted at number one on Billboard 200, selling over 301,000 copies in the first week and certified platinum.^[2] During the same week, Ne-Yo's Stargate-produced second single "So Sick" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.^[2][3] Ne-Yo is as famous for his songwriting as for his singing, writing such songs as Rihanna's top ten hit "Unfaithful", Mario's "Let Me Love You", Mario Vazquez's "Gallery", Paula DeAnda's "Walk Away (Remember Me)", and Beyoncé's Billboard Hot 100 ten-week number-one hit "Irreplaceable".

His second album, Because of You, was released on May 1, 2007. The first single from the platinum-selling album was "Because of You". He has also said that he has written songs for Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Britney Spears, Corbin Bleu, and Enrique Iglesias for their upcoming albums.^[4] Smith also has stated that he will write songs for Craig David, Usher, Chris Brown, Jennifer Hudson, Leona Lewis, and he recently confirmed that he has been contacted by producer will.i.am to work on Michael Jackson's upcoming album.^[5]

Ne-Yo opened a recording studio called Carrington House and started his own label, Compound Entertainment, in 2007; Paula Campbell, Sixx John, and Shanell are now associated with Compound.^[6]

In December 2007, Ne-Yo and the Goo Goo Dolls performed at a fund raising concert for presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama. It has also been confirmed that he will be collaborating with Lindsay Lohan on new material.^[7]. Ne-Yo is also collaborating with Ciara on material for her new album "Fantasy Ride", which is due out in November. The single "Supernatural" was recently produced, and he is working on additional singles as well.

Arrest

He was arrested for reckless driving on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 at 3:40 AM, while cruising through Cobb County, Georgia. He was doing over 100 mph in his 2006 Range Rover and did not have a valid license. It was stated that he was doing about 105 mph, 50 mph over the speed limit. According to the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, the Grammy winner and songwriter was sentenced to 24 hours community service by a judge on Monday, June 2nd, 2008, after he pleaded guilty to driving without a license and pleaded no contest to the reckless driving charge.

Ne-Yo also has to perform for the Boys and Girls Club and attend a defensive driving class. He was fined $1,000.^[8]

Discography

Main article: Ne-Yo discography

• 2006: In My Own Words
• 2007: Because of You
• 2008: Year of the Gentleman

Awards/nominations

• American Music Awards
  • 2007, Favorite R&B/Soul Male Artist (nominated)
  • 2006, Favorite R&B/Soul Male Artist (nominated)

• BET Awards
  • 2008, Best R&B Male Artist (nominated)
  • 2007, Best R&B Male Artist (won)
  • 2007, Viewer's Choice: "Because of You" (nominated)
  • 2006, Best New Artist (nominated)
  • 2006, Best R&B Male Artist (nominated)
  • 2006, Viewer's Choice: "So Sick" (nominated)

• Dirty Awards
  • 2007, I Am Nearly An A-Lister (won)

• Grammy Awards
  • 2008, Record of the Year: "Irreplaceable" (performed by Beyonce Knowles) (nominated as producer)
  • 2008, Best Male R&B Vocal Performance: "Because of You" (nominated)
  • 2008, Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group: "Hate That I Love You" (nominated)
  • 2008, Best Contemporary R&B Album: Because of You (won)
  • 2008, Best R&B Song: "Hate That I Love You" (nominated)
  • 2007, Best Contemporary R&B Album: In My Own Words (nominated)
  • 2007, Best Male R&B Vocal Performance: So Sick (nominated)

• MOBO Awards
  • 2007, Best Song: "Because of You" (won)
  • 2007, Best R&B: (won)
  • 2006, Best Song: "So Sick" (nominated)
  • 2006, Best International Male: (nominated)
  • 2006, Best R&B Act: (Nominated)

• Soul Train Music Awards
• * 2007, Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist: Sexy Love (won)
  • 2007, Best R&B/Soul Male Single: Sexy Love (nominated)

Filmography

• 2007: Save the Last Dance 2
• 2007: Stomp The Yard

TV Appearances

• 2008: Las Vegas

Notes

• ^  Montgomery, James (March 2, 2006). "Hawthorne Heights' Anti-Ne-Yo Campaign 'A Joke,' Label Claims ". MTVnews.com
• ^  Source for UK release date of "Stay".

References

External links

• Official Site
• Ne-Yo at MySpace
• Ne-Yo at the Internet Movie Database

Interviews

• Stomp the Yard Interview
• Ne-Yo interview at britishhiphop.co.uk
• Ne-Yo Explains in an Interview All About His Son

v • d • e Ne-Yo Albums In My Own Words · Because of You · Year of the Gentleman Singles "Stay" · "So Sick" · "When You're Mad" · "Sexy Love" · "Because of You" · "Do You" · "Can We Chill" · "Go On Girl" · "Closer" · "Stop This World" Featured singles "Back Like That" · "Sexual Healing" · "Make Me Better" · "Hate That I Love You" · "Bust It Baby Pt. 2" · "Finer Things" Related articles Discography