Shaffer Chimere Smith Shaffer Chimere Smith

By: Reuben DutchBy: Reuben Dutch

BackgroundBackground

Real name Shaffer Chimere SmithReal name Shaffer Chimere Smith Born: October 18, 1979Born: October 18, 1979 Origin: Los Angeles, CaliforniaOrigin: Los Angeles, California Genre: Pop, R&BGenre: Pop, R&B Songwriter, actor, rapper Songwriter, actor, rapper Years active: 1999-presentYears active: 1999-present Labels: Def JamLabels: Def Jam

Early StartEarly Start Shaffer Chimere SmithShaffer Chimere Smith (born October 18, 1979), better known by his (born October 18, 1979), better known by his

stage name stage name Ne-YoNe-Yo, is an American pop and R&B singer-songwriter, , is an American pop and R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, actor, and occasional rapper. Since his debut, Ne-Yo record producer, actor, and occasional rapper. Since his debut, Ne-Yo has five top ten songs on the has five top ten songs on the BillboardBillboard Hot 100 as a lead artist and two Hot 100 as a lead artist and two number-one albums on the number-one albums on the BillboardBillboard 200. Ne-Yo has also amassed a 200. Ne-Yo has also amassed a catalog of chart-topping songs that he has written for other artists.catalog of chart-topping songs that he has written for other artists.

Ne-Yo broke into the recording industry as a songwriter, penning the Ne-Yo broke into the recording industry as a songwriter, penning the hit "Let Me Love You" for singer Mario. The single's successful release hit "Let Me Love You" for singer Mario. The single's successful release in the United States prompted an informal meeting between Ne-Yo and in the United States prompted an informal meeting between Ne-Yo and Def Jam label head to signing a recording contract. He released in Def Jam label head to signing a recording contract. He released in 2006 his debut album, 2006 his debut album, In My Own WordsIn My Own Words, which contained the US , which contained the US number-one hit "So Sick".number-one hit "So Sick".

Song WritesSong Writes Ne-Yo frequently co-writes with Tor Erik Hermansen and Mikkel S. Eriksen of Ne-Yo frequently co-writes with Tor Erik Hermansen and Mikkel S. Eriksen of

the Norwegian production team Star gate. Ne-Yo met them in a hallway at the Norwegian production team Star gate. Ne-Yo met them in a hallway at Sony Music Studios in New York, and having known the team produces R&B Sony Music Studios in New York, and having known the team produces R&B records, he decided to collaborate with them. The collective's early works were records, he decided to collaborate with them. The collective's early works were tracks off tracks off In My Own WordsIn My Own Words including "So Sick". including "So Sick".

Aside from working on his own album, Ne-Yo also collaborates with several Aside from working on his own album, Ne-Yo also collaborates with several other artist. His works include: Rihanna's top-ten single "Unfaithful" and later other artist. His works include: Rihanna's top-ten single "Unfaithful" and later her number-one hit "Take a Bow" in 2008, Mario Vazquez's "Gallery", Paula her number-one hit "Take a Bow" in 2008, Mario Vazquez's "Gallery", Paula DeAnda's "Walk Away (Remember Me)", and Beyoncé Knowles' DeAnda's "Walk Away (Remember Me)", and Beyoncé Knowles' BillboardBillboard Hot Hot 100 number-one single "Irreplaceable", which stayed on the chart for ten 100 number-one single "Irreplaceable", which stayed on the chart for ten consecutive weeks.consecutive weeks.

Ne-Yo has also written songs for Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Corbin Bleu, Ne-Yo has also written songs for Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Corbin Bleu, and Enrique Iglesias. He also collaborated with Lindsay Lohan on her new and Enrique Iglesias. He also collaborated with Lindsay Lohan on her new material, having already finished "Bossy", a pre-single for her new album material, having already finished "Bossy", a pre-single for her new album Spirit Spirit in the Darkin the Dark. Ne-Yo confirmed that he has been contacted by producer will.i.am . Ne-Yo confirmed that he has been contacted by producer will.i.am to work on Michael Jackson's upcoming albumto work on Michael Jackson's upcoming album

DebutDebut Ne-Yo emerged into the recording industry as member of the Las Vegas-based quartet Ne-Yo emerged into the recording industry as member of the Las Vegas-based quartet

Envy. After the group disbanded in 2000, Ne-Yo was signed to Columbia Records, but, Envy. After the group disbanded in 2000, Ne-Yo was signed to Columbia Records, but, after recording his first album, was dropped from the label before he could even release after recording his first album, was dropped from the label before he could even release it. American singer Marques Houston happened to hear one of Ne-Yo's tracks, "That it. American singer Marques Houston happened to hear one of Ne-Yo's tracks, "That Girl", which was supposed to be the latter's debut single off his then-unreleased album. Girl", which was supposed to be the latter's debut single off his then-unreleased album. Houston rerecorded "That Girl" and released it as a single to his 2003 album Houston rerecorded "That Girl" and released it as a single to his 2003 album MHMH. The . The release of the song led to Ne-Yo being recognized as a songwriter that has led to his release of the song led to Ne-Yo being recognized as a songwriter that has led to his decision to continue writing songs for other artists.decision to continue writing songs for other artists.

For the next two years, in his teenage years, Ne-Yo continued writing songs, some of For the next two years, in his teenage years, Ne-Yo continued writing songs, some of which have not been officially released. He contributed songs to American singer Teedra which have not been officially released. He contributed songs to American singer Teedra Moses's 2004 album Moses's 2004 album Complex SimplicityComplex Simplicity, Christina Milian's , Christina Milian's It's About TimeIt's About Time, and the , and the American boy band Youngstown, but all of which failed to give Ne-Yo much attention American boy band Youngstown, but all of which failed to give Ne-Yo much attention from the mainstream. Ne-Yo has also contributed songs to American singer Mary J. from the mainstream. Ne-Yo has also contributed songs to American singer Mary J. Blige, B2K, Faith Evans and Musiq, among others.Blige, B2K, Faith Evans and Musiq, among others.

Ne-Yo broke into the industry after "Let Me Love You", a song he wrote for American Ne-Yo broke into the industry after "Let Me Love You", a song he wrote for American singer Mario, reached number-one on the singer Mario, reached number-one on the BillboardBillboard Hot 100, and later stayed on the top Hot 100, and later stayed on the top spot for nine weeks, becoming one of the most-played songs in the United States. After spot for nine weeks, becoming one of the most-played songs in the United States. After the successful release, Tina Davis, former A&R representative for Def Jam Recordings, the successful release, Tina Davis, former A&R representative for Def Jam Recordings, arranged an informal meeting with label head L.A. Reid. Originally, Ne-Yo was not arranged an informal meeting with label head L.A. Reid. Originally, Ne-Yo was not seeking a new contract, but, after he had performed to them, he was signed by American seeking a new contract, but, after he had performed to them, he was signed by American hip hop artist Jay-Z, then-CEO of Def Jam.hip hop artist Jay-Z, then-CEO of Def Jam.

BibliographyBibliography

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ne-Yohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ne-Yo