Ne-Yo Biography

Summary

"Shaffer Chimere Smith" (born October 18, 1979), better known by his stage name "Ne-Yo", is an American pop and R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, dancer, actor and occasional rapper. He is an Afro-Asian; he is mixed from his African American father and a mother of African American and Chinese American descent.

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, selling nearly 2 million copies in the US and 4 million worldwide. During the same week, Ne-Yo's Stargate-produced second single 'So Sick' reached number one on the "Billboard" Hot 100 chart. Ne-Yo is as famous for his songwriting as for his singing, writing such songs as Rihanna's top ten hit 'Unfaithful' and number-one hit 'Take a Bow', 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 written songs for Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Britney Spears, Corbin Bleu, and Enrique Iglesias for their upcoming albums. 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.

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.

In December 2007, Ne-Yo and the Goo Goo Dolls performed at a fund raising concert for presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama. He is also collaborating with Lindsay Lohan on her new material, having already finished 'Bossy', a pre-single for her new album Spirit in the Dark.

Ne-Yo has also collaborated with Ciara on new material for her new album "Fantasy Ride". The single 'Supernatural' was recently produced, and he worked on additional singles as well.

Since his debut, Ne-Yo has amassed seven top ten songs on the "Billboard" Hot 100 and two number-one albums on the Billboard 200. Ne-Yo has also amassed a catalogue of chart-topping songs that he has written for other artists. He recently released a single entitled 'Miss Independent'. The music video featured Trey Songz, Gabrielle Union, Lauren London, Keri Hilson, and America's Next Top Model's Monique from a previous season.

More recently Ne-Yo is known to have collaborated with American singer Anastacia and co-written and produced the single 'I Can Feel You' from her upcoming album "Heavy Rotation". His latest reported venture is with controvertial and media loving industrial-metal star Marilyn Manson, after professing in an interview a desire to work with him.

Ne-Yo gets his name from a producer he once worked with, Big D Evans. It was given to him because he sees music as Neo sees the matrix.

Ne-Yo is set to star in, executive produce and write the soundtrack for the film "Venice Beach".

Reckless Driving

Ne-Yo was arrested for reckless driving on February 19, 2008 at 3:40 AM, while cruising through Cobb County, Georgia. He was driving at 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 2, 2008, after he pleaded guilty to driving without a license and pleaded no contest to the reckless driving charge.

Ne-Yo must also perform for the Boys and Girls Club and attend a defensive driving class. He was fined $1,000.