Cool!
- Lip-synching.
Omarion.
(this guy pulls no punches!)
- Amerie.
Legs!
- B.E.T.
Black Entertainment Television.
- Luther Vandross.
Legend.
- Choose one: iPod or Radio Station.
Ipod.
- Songwriting or Singing?
Songwriting.
- Ballads or up-tempo songs?
Ballads.
- Best New Artist or Album of the Year?
Album of the Year.
- Making the Band or American Idol?
Making the Band.
- How did you get the name Ne-yo?
My name came from a producer friend of mine. His name is Big D Evans. He did stuff like Tupac’s “Brenda’s Got A Baby.”
- Going from background to foreground, how has the transition been?
It’s been a difficult transition. I’ve never been the dude to care about name brand clothes [or] aviator lenses. I never gave a damn about any of that stuff, but it’s been a fight between my management, Jay and L.A.. As an artist you gotta look like a million bucks every time you walk out of the house and it’s hard. Like I tell everyone I am slowly but surely learning to love it.
- Moving from songwriter to singer is huge. What happened to make you say you are uniquely qualified to sing these songs?
I honestly believe it’s that I have something to say. And no one is going to be able to say it the way that I do. I don’t feel that anyone else can deliver the messages in these songs the way that I can.
- I hear that you write, sing, arrange, etc. What song on this album is pure evidence of that?
My second single “So Sick” is a true to life song. It’s about a relationship I was in.
- Have you ever worked under someone you thought was less talented than you? No names.
Yes. It was real interesting to say the least. And the person was real mouthy and had an attitude and real stank about every. I was thinking, ‘You ain’t gonna sing this song as good as me anyway.’ But you have to remain professional. I’m not the dude that’s gonna bark at someone in the studio. ‘You’re singing my song.’
- Did Mario sing “Let Me Love You” the way you thought he should?
Mario sang “Let Me Love You” better than I than I expected him to.
- How do you feel about the current state of men in R&B?
With Luther passing, that was definitely a great loss for the R&B community. I honestly feel that there aren’t a lot of people doing R&B the way that it used to be like Jodeci and Guy and Boyz II Men. No one is doing it like that anymore.
- What was the last CD you actually bought?
Mariah Carey’s Emancipation of Mimi. There’s a lot of really good songs on there.
- Give us a one line bio?
Ne-Yo is quality R&B music.
- Music artists seem you be getting younger and younger. The music world seems adore its legends, how do feel about artists like Diana Ross being dropped from a label or artist like Patti and her transitions with Def Jam?
People aren’t doing music for the love of it anymore. A lot of people do this because there is money to be made and fast. That tends to be the motivating factor. They think people aren’t gonna feel a Diana Ross because she is older and no one is gonna buy her music.
- If you could do a mash up, who would you choose to work with?
Prince of course.
Read more vibe.com online exclusives.
Comments
1.
COOLBOY1 says:
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WELL NE-YO YOU MIGHT BE GOOD BUT NO GOOD TO COMPARE YOU WITH MY BOY MARIO..
(HONESTLY YOU ARE GOOD AND ROCKING BUT MARIO IS MORE BETTER THAN YOU ARE AND YOU CAN SEE HE IS TAKING IT ALL MORE MATURED AND REAL AND JUST LIKE THE BIGGEST RAND MEN R KELLY AND TYRESE) HE IS NOTHING LIKE THEM YET BUT JUST VERY SOON..
December 18, 2008 at 12:46 am
2.
crazzyfuzzy says:
view profile
i really luvs everything by ne-yo esp. singin on stage.infact u hav a great stage performance.am ur no 1 fan in ghana.keep it up
December 10, 2007 at 3:15 pm
3.
SPARKY SANGUINE says:
i am a big an of ne-yo's work and have actually managed to buy both albums but i think it is quite imperative that he does tour sometime soon coz not many people out there know howgood he is.get some cash, do a world tour then sit back and watch the money pile up.plus i would like to do a song with you coz i believe that i can also entertain through music.
November 8, 2007 at 12:50 am
4.
crystal carpenter says:
i love all of your songs espcially say it
November 1, 2007 at 12:18 pm
5.
macy deaville says:
You r so fine you just dont know
October 12, 2007 at 9:43 pm
6.
Amea says:
I don't understand. Ne_yo seems like a good person and I don't know why people would spread rumors about him to anyone. He might like to keep things personal to himself because people might mix that he says to other up and then we have a problem with people sayin stuff that don't make no since!!!!!
September 25, 2007 at 4:01 pm
7.
Alicia says:
Is it true you are taken
July 12, 2007 at 8:37 am
8.
Q says:
IM SAD TO HEAR THAT NE-YO IS NOW UNAVAILABLE-HOPE THAT LIFE IS GOOD AND YOUR HAPPY IN LIFE-IM A BIG FAN N WOULD LOVE TO MEET ME ONE DAY-LOVE YA-EMAIL ME IF U EMAIL YOUR FANS!?
July 6, 2007 at 10:49 am
9.
nicole aka nikki says:
wat up you and chris brown iz my best male singerz i gat all of neyo cds and all of chris brown cds. All yall hoes and bicthes dat think neyo is gay yall can go to hell. motherf***ers if yall got something to say call me at 804-218-2912.
June 28, 2007 at 1:25 pm
10.
cupcake says:
I LOOOVE Ne-Yo and any1 who thinking u gay, UNNU GO SUCK UNNU MADA. HOLLA
June 16, 2007 at 6:29 pm
11.
raven says:
Shaffer Smith Aka Ne-yo i knew for a fact that u were not gay and that anybody who thought u were just some HATERS
June 14, 2007 at 7:42 pm
12.
Micheline Craig says:
With talent and style like Ne-yo....true R&B will never be lost...........
June 8, 2007 at 1:56 am
13.
Chris Brown says:
Yo Ladies, This Your Boy Chris Brown. I Wanna Clear Something About My Singing Partner And Entertainment Brother Here. He's Not Gay, And All That Extra Stuff Is What We In The Business Call Jealousy! If You Wanna Clear Things Up, Call Me, Ya Boy, Chris Breezy At 51*-485-4786 ..... You Have To Guess What Number Is The Star ;)
June 1, 2007 at 4:45 am
14.
Nicole Hindsman says:
I love Ne-Yo's new CD!!!
May 28, 2007 at 9:49 pm
15.
lisa says:
heyyyyyyyy this is lisa she said thatx u have a kool music like 50 cent yo u have the cd kool its so sexy i love it lolz so how many u have of this cuz i like it cuz i want one so love yea bye now
May 28, 2007 at 11:04 am
16.
alanna says:
heyyyyyyyyyyy sup neyo u dun f**ken sexy every body like u hahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahhhaha lolz what is your msn cuz i have msn yea i do so see yea byee love yea
May 28, 2007 at 10:56 am
17.
sade tucker says:
Ne-Yo,you are truely right about R&B music not being the same anymore.I recently read an interview you had in Vibe magazine.You said that everyone sings about the same things and that is so true.But your music is so wonderful.Especially your song "Because Of You." I love your voice and the songs you write.Keep believeing in yourself and be happy. I love you.
May 27, 2007 at 12:57 pm
18.
Sharmaine Cunningham says:
Ne-yo, I saw you at Big Boi's Backstage Breakfast here in Cali, and since then I listen to your CDs everytime I get in the car and when I unwind after a long days work. I feelin your style and the way sing about real situations you've been through. It's so much better when a person sings from experience. I have both albums and I love them and I know it's a bit early to say this but I can't wait for the next one :-). But keep up the excellent work, I know your moms and your special lady, whoever she may be, are proud. I have sooo many questions for you, but I know your busy, so I'll just say good luck with everything; music, love, and your fam.
One luv
Sharmaine in Cali
May 18, 2007 at 6:42 pm
19.
Ka$h says:
I like neyo alot and i read the article in the vibe about him being gay!They only say things like this because they can't say nothing about his music. So they had to try and find summin' bad 2 say bout him. I love his album also...Get $ haters keep hating cuz u making him famous!!
May 13, 2007 at 1:48 pm
20.
bianca n emma xx says:
omg we love u so mch u r a wkd singer we love ur song becoz of u it is wkd cant belive were talkin 2 neyo love u sooooooooo mch bianca n emma ur biggest fans xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
May 12, 2007 at 9:17 pm
21.
Tumelo says:
u r just so fine. u got tha voice, the looks and the body.
Erbody here in England loves ya!!!!
May 2, 2007 at 8:05 am
22.
Dani shepherd says:
Your music is like magic, your kiss to me's unreal, this mesage i want to take to show you how i feel, when you sing my heart melts if you know what i mean, your the nicest most genuine guy ive seen, and through everything i always look uop to you, because your amazing and i wish you loved me too. Neyo your my world so special and so kind, neyo your an angel, and everything else on my mind, and this girl you are with shes so lucky, im just gutted babe you never chose me.
April 23, 2007 at 6:17 am
23.
Danni Shepherd says:
i dont think neyo is gay hes a pure gorgeous babe and he knows it but so what if he is i know he would break my heart but so what i love him and i love him wether hes gay or not. His music touches my heart like an angel!
April 19, 2007 at 6:14 am
24.
ne-yo says:
hey ppl ne-yo ere thanks 4 all the nice comments ie. im sexy lol iv all ready got a gf called ***** ****** so sorry ladies love you all
April 13, 2007 at 10:05 am
25.
corey the kid says:
yo wat up neyo u mah dog im touched by ur singing but wat r those people talkin bout wat picture
April 10, 2007 at 8:53 am
26.
Tristian says:
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April 3, 2007 at 9:04 am
27.
Jessica says:
Hi Neyo! This your number one fan Jessica. I just want to let you know that I love you, and I am behind you 100%!!
April 1, 2007 at 10:08 am
28.
ryry says:
you r just too hot n my style,kan i be 4 real!pliz stay!ya dig?
March 16, 2007 at 5:32 am
29.
lady_saint says:
nobody messes with my ne-yo...hes a 100% pure hottie...aeit!!! love you,your music,your songs...you got attitude man...
March 15, 2007 at 7:19 pm
30.
Amy says:
NE-YO IS SOOOO SEXY HE MY #1 MAN!!!
March 8, 2007 at 7:05 pm
31.
David Kitavi says:
the gossip police music house
January 25, 2007 at 7:35 am
32.
Ne-yo's Sexy Ladi says:
Wats up Ne-yo dis is Ms.Tranice Im 22 straight outta Cali jus wanted 2 say God Bless You doin it big yo momz gotta b PROUD!anyway but yea Ma bestfriend is Jalise she sent me the pic u two took I believe at six-Flags well thats koo! everytyme I see u I cry ppl say so many things about u but they can kiss our ass cuz Ima back u up 200% percent well gotta go Love u Shaffer peace....
January 11, 2007 at 11:43 am
33.
ne-yo's babe says:
ne-yo man,r u really gay?just say the truth!
January 10, 2007 at 12:38 pm
34.
Angela says:
i luv u Ne-Yo n i saw da pic 2 n i think u gotta big 1 2 lol im serious
January 8, 2007 at 6:18 pm
35.
ashley says:
i saw the whole picture and i think u got a big di#k
December 29, 2006 at 2:49 pm
36.
Marcia says:
I love you Ne-yo!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 28, 2006 at 2:30 pm
37.
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December 17, 2006 at 4:13 pm
38.
Jasmine says:
Ne-yo I know that your not gay b/c you is cute......
December 6, 2006 at 1:06 pm
39.
michael edwards says:
are you gay?
December 2, 2006 at 8:36 pm