He’s back telling the truth with "Non-Fiction" album debuts in 2015 for Ne-Yo

Ne-Yo's new album "Non-Fiction" (2015) in stores now

Hello my fabulous readers you rock!!!!!!! I have made it to over 90,000 pageviews!!!!!! Thank you so much!!!!! My timing was excellent I was just listening last night (Jan. 25) to DJ Funk Master Flex’s show on Hot 97 New York’s radio station I often do late at night I listen to Power 105.1 “DJ Self’s Late Night Mix” on the radio at night and other radio stations. It’s always been something to help me fall asleep sometimes plus I love catching up on music.  So I am listening to a voice and recognize his voice right away. It was Ne-Yo. He was doing a live interview with Flex.  I love Ne-Yo as an artist and I have seen him in concert about 7 years ago in 2008 at Madison Square Garden. 

So I knew instantly I need to write about him he’s been busy of course plus he always has a great music and a positive message for women.

Attending the American Music Awards 

Shaffer Chimere Smith better known to all of us as the multi-talented, songwriter, producer, actor, and singer, “Ne-Yo” his name from “The Matrix film series” meaning “The One” because he sees music the way Neo saw the Matrix.. He is certainly the one when it comes to the music he has made over the years. Over the years since Ne-Yo first debuted in 2006 with “In my own words” I have always been a fan of his music, he continues to evolve, to grow as an artist. He has a special way of connecting to his female audience, finding a way to educate his male audience as well with his song lyrics. Ne-Yo has crossover in dance, pop, hip-hop, R&B, and soul with a large melting pot of audiences.  

            Now as a fan of his music I wanted to do a brief little biography so you know more about this musician, songwriter, and producer. He grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada, worked hard in a small group, found a way to get into studios working towards producing, writing songs, he went through some challenges but managed one day to write a song that would be a hit song for him. He worked his way into the industry it never came as easily as he had planned but luckily one of the most difficult things he experienced helped him write a song that would catapult him into becoming one of R&B’s biggest musicians. He wrote “So Sick” a song everyone around the world has come to relate to post-break up and you are reminiscing about that special person you have just broken up with at that time.  Ne-Yo had a lot of songs on his debut album that really show the versatility of an artist. He can write a song that would make you think and reflect, make you feel the beat, make you want to dance, and even make you want to be with that special someone all over again. He can connect to the audience on a human, natural, intellectual, and emotional level.   

            So let’s go back in time a bit and we’ll move to the future….In early 2006 he released his album and “When You’re Mad”  and “Sexy Love” (one of my personal favorites) exploded on the radio. One of my favorite music videos at the end of the video he’s with his “lady love” and his friends are banging on the front of his apartment door hilarious. He also released “Stay with me” (Music) it was not as successful as “So Sick” but it was some of his best music, you can see he really had a gift, and was extremely talented.   

            In 2007, his sophomore album took off when he really tapped into his skills with “Because of You” which was the titled album and he had a few hit songs on the album, “Do You” (another personal favorite I still listen to this song).  I remember I was in college when this album came out I was just getting ready to graduate actually I played this album a lot definitely. His other singles fell below the Top 20 Billboard but he still made it on.  2008, was Ne-Yo’s break out year this is when I think his fans saw he really could break into any genre of music. He noticed while he was in music industry, how rappers and singers were changing. He noticed the quality of music and men we’re not really being gentlemen anymore. There was a lack of gentlemen. Women being courted, appreciated, respected, or adored. He came out with one of my personal favorite songs I still love it and the message for women. He really showed what women needed and wanted to hear as well. Ne-Yo dropped “Miss Independent”, an anthem for women who we’re acting like “bosses” as he states, showing they could take care of themselves, and still be sexy and attractive to men. I loved this song it came out a great time I just started working professionally and let me tell you talk about a boost of confidence. That’s what Ne-Yo does for women, he makes them remember to appreciate and value themselves in his song lyrics.  He started a music and fashion movement for men and they learned (some of them) to pull up the baggy jeans, t-shirts, wife beaters, and hats. They learned to dress up more, learned to be gentlemen, and give men a classic view of how to appreciate women. Similar to have Frank Sinatra or Sammy Davis Jr., or “The Rat Pack” would have treated their women. He released “Mad” which was #11, and “Closer” which was #7 on the Billboard Charts. Closer took Ne-Yo into the pop dance audience. The introduction of the song, the instruments, and everything in the song made audiences appeal and grow to love Ne-Yo’s music as well.  He also appeared in “Stomp The Yard” as well.

In the mean time 2008-2010 he took some time to focus on his music, producing writing songs for artists like, Celine Dion, New Kids on the Block, Beyonce, Mariah Carey, and many more. He also focused on his latest projects and his family as well. He released an album internationally in Japan in 2009 with the best of his hit songs. Then in 2010, he returned to the state focusing on his next album, “Libra Scale” which had two different meanings, one him sharing the sign Libra, but also a man having to choose between love, fortune, fame, power, and success. He released “Champagne Life” and “One in a Million” (I love this song used to wake up to it for a few days on my alarm clock). He released Libra Scale on November 22, 2010. Throughout his hard work he did find love and a greater appreciation when his firstborn little girl came into the world, Madelyn Grace Smith on November 12, 2010, and a year later his son, Mason Evan Smith was born on October 9, 2011. He was on top of the world. A year later he began shooting the film, “Red Tails” which came out the following spring, and he released “Give Me Everything” featuring Nayer & Pitbull and debuted at number 1 on the billboard charts.  He took off like a rocket and continued collaborating with many artists. He began working on new music and in 2012, he earned the David Starlight award for “Songwriter’s of Hall of Fame”. In 2013, he collaborated with David Guetta on “Work Hard”. He took some time out to focus on his music and worked on a few other songs in 2014, he worked on “Money Can’t Buy”, and then released “She Knows” featuring Juicy J from “Three Six Mafia”.  Now, that he has released “Non-Fiction” a love letter to his fans with songs about their experiences, things his fans have shared with him over the years, and what he  has discussed with them over the years.  Love his music and looking forward to hearing about songs that always come from a real and relatable place and experience. So will you go get this hitmaker’s album. I hope you will. Keep up the great work, and hope you will listen to more of his music.  Please Visit http://www.neyothegentleman.com  for more information on concerts, appearances, and more.