Music Lovers! I am very excited! The President Elect has been sworn into office (finally) and is officially the 44th President of the United States of America, President Barrack Hussein Obama. If you have ever listened to a radio, watched TV, surfed the web, read any news material, walked anywhere in the last two months you will know why this event is special to America, Africa and the World. The First African-American in the history of this country to become President,hearing anyone just utter the words “President Barrack Hussein” Obama gives me goose bumps!
For this I had to bring in someone to the Voice of Kelechi Ukoha that is worthy of the event. This gentleman, wow, I think he wants to be the hardest working man in the music industry and if not yet, he is on the fast track to getting there. With no further ado, I bring you Ne-Yo.This R&B singer songwriter, producer, actor, part time rapper was born Shaffer Chimere Smith in Camden, Arkansas (this tickles me because I remember when there was a small rumor that he’s Nigerian because of his middle name, funny!). In any case, Ne-Yo‘s parents, believe it or not, were musicians. He pretty much grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada with his mother after his parents became separated.
The rest became history. By the time I am done here you will get a small glimpse of what I see, the reason he is considered a “True Musician” in my books.
He was part of a quartet in Vegas that was called Envy and they were broken up in 2000. Then he got signed to Columbia, recorded an album and by the time the single was released, he got dropped. That did not stop him. His single “That Girl” that was to be released on that album reached the ear of Marques Houston and he used it on his MH album in 2003 and released it as a single and gave Ne-Yo the credit as the writer. He kept writing for many other artists like Mary J. Blige, B2K, Musiq Soulchild, and even the hit that topped Billboard Top 100’s Let Me Love You that was performed by Mario.
I mean this guy can write for anyone! It really makes sense why he is called Ne-Yo or should I say Neo (like the character from The Matrix movie series).
He later on signed with Def Jam by JayZ and released his debut album with them and sky was the limit. With a voice that takes possession of the mind of any ear it touches, he has been topping the charts with singles like Sexy Love, So Sick and When You’re Mad. The album titled “In my own Words” quickly was certified platinum. Since then he has released 2 more albums and of which one went platinum (Because of You) and the third currently has been certified gold with half a million copies sold.
Ne-Yo still writes for everyone if you ask me, he co-writes with Tor Erik Hermansen at Stargate. He wrote for Celine Dion, Whitney Houston and Beyonce just to count a few. He has performed the Star Spangled Banner at a couple of events, been in two movies working on a third. Ne-Yo actually started a production company which has become a full-pledge record label called Compound Entertainment. Yes, Compound does have artists signed to their label. I saw this dude on Saturday Night live and I started to ask myself “How does he find the time to be in so many places almost simultaneously?” He reminds me of late James Brown (RIP) or Ryan Seacrest, you see them everywhere you turn, scary!
When I start to think of the songs that he took to the top himself and the songs that he wrote for everyone else and think of the way he performs his songs not to mention that someone in Columbia was smart enough to drop him, hmmm…sound familiar, if not read about Alicia Keys in my blog, you understand that he does it because he loves this thing called MUSIC. He is doing big things and I am screaming right now, I know he can hear me, NE-YO! WRITE A SONG FOR SOME UPCOMING NIGERIAN ARTISTS, OR AFRICAN ARTISTS PLEASE! THEY THOUGHT YOU WERE NIGERIAN ANYWAY! Music lovers, you think that was too much? Hahaha!
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Picture courtesy of Exposay
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Bessie K. 01.22.09 at 10:45 AM
I looove Ne-Yo! He has a voice like none other… My first album that I got of his was “Because of You” and is still one of my very favorites! I can listen to that album over and over again. Not to mention, he’s a GREAT performer. He’s one of those musicians that I’d love to see live in concert.
mukungu 01.22.09 at 11:06 AM
Finally , Finally!!!! i love Ne-Yo ,i love all his music and not to mention the man is a genius in the music world , i mean everything he touchs turns into Gold . The guy writes most of his music and for other how cool is that?. NE-YO has become one of my farviote male artist “hands down” .. I have all his albums and i have to say i love to listen to each one of them. All that is left is for me to finally meet him in person or watch him perform. This will be a great birthday gift ..hint hint!!
Melinda Cutajar 01.22.09 at 4:08 PM
Hey there Kaycee. Just have to say thanks for reading my comment and actually writing something about Ne-Yo. He is truly fabulous and now I know a lot more about him.
Remember when you were in London and we were walking out of that Karaoke bar and that drunken girl thought you looked like Ne-Yo…funny stuff?? You have his voice and his style but not sure about the look.
I love Ne-Yo and I have his latest album and even have all my friends wanting to borrow it….its quite annoying because its my favourite one at the moment.
Kelechi Ukoha 01.22.09 at 4:16 PM
Ms Cutajar – I DO NOT LOOK LIKE NE-YO!!! I would like my bank account to look like his though! I am not sure that I sound like him either (I have a bit of a lower range), I would love for him to write for me though. That was funny that they thought I looked like Ne-Yo in London!
Ms. Mukungu – I am glad to put an artist that you like on here. Apparently he is really loved by many. I will see if I can get him to read this so he can grant your b-day wish.
Ms Kaine – You Looooove him huh? Fantastic!
I hope the track I placed here can make him feel “closer” to all of you as you read
Stacie 01.22.09 at 6:26 PM
Well Mr. Kaycee it was very detail in very short length about how he brought a such gift to the music industry.From transformation .”So Sick”, “Because of you”, to “Mad at you”.
Bessie K. 01.24.09 at 6:31 PM
What’s his middle name anyway?
Bessie K. 01.24.09 at 6:42 PM
Ne-Yo will be performing at the NOKIA Theater here in L.A. on Feb. 8th. Tickets went onsale yesterday and they are already sold out!