Published: Monday - March 20, 2006
Words by Willow
Ne-Yo (Photo: Def Jam)
Influenced by the "ultimate entertainer" Sammy Davis Jr., Def Jam's newest R&B sensation, Ne-Yo, has quite the story to tell. A tale of heartbreak, healing and a little trickery, In My Own Words gives the listener a visual into the growing pains and joys of a 20-something singer/songwriter who opened his life for our listening pleasure.
Ne-Yo's God given songwriting talent has blessed multi-platinum artists like Mary J. Blige, Beyonce and industry peers like Mario and Marques Houston with success. Writing since he was 16, Ne-Yo's rearing in Las Vegas afforded him the opportunity to witness all the music industry has to offer. No stranger to the biz, Ne-Yo now readies himself for on the street recognition and a very hectic schedule. If Def Jam is preparing itself to be a staple for not only hip-hop greats, but powerful R&B talent, Ne-Yo proves L.A. Reid still knows "it" when he sees/hears it.
Promoting his debut Def Jam release, In My Own Words, Ne-Yo shares with Ballerstatus, where the moniker Ne-Yo came from, Jay-Z's first words and why he had to be "So Sick" in order to be the young man he is today.
Ballerstatus.com: Where did you get the handle Ne-Yo?
Ne-Yo: A producer friend of mine named Big D Evans. He said -- in his opinion -- I see music the ways Neo sees "The Matrix," like in the movie.
Ballerstatus.com: That's creative and it fits you well. How do you feel about R&B being more hip-hop than it's ever been?
Ne-Yo: I don't have any quarrels with hip-hop/R&B. I actually like a lot of the hip-hop/R&B, but I grew up listening to Boyz II Men, Guy and Stevie Wonder -- more traditional R&B and that is why I did my album the way I did it. My album is more traditional; it is not hip-hop driven at all. Like I said, I don't have a quarrel with hip-hop/R&B or the Crunk-N-B; all of these are branches of this big tree that is R&B. I just think that people should not forget about traditional R&B and don't try to replace true R&B with hip-hop/R&B. There is room for all of it, let's not forget where it originally came from.
Ballerstatus.com: When did you know you were supposed to be singing?
Ne-Yo: Basically, since the day I was born. My mom said I basically came out singing. Before I was really talking, she said I was humming melodies. I have always known this was something I was put here to do. Even if I didn't know it would be the way it is for me now, I knew music would be a big part of my life.
Ballerstatus.com: I read somewhere you said, it was time for you to start singing because some of guys you were writing for, weren't singing your songs the way you would sing them yourself or they weren't singing them the way they should be sung.
Ne-Yo: I said that? [laughing] You trying to get me in trouble, I didn't say that.
Ballerstatus.com: Well at least we cleared that up.
Ballerstatus.com: How long have you been writing?
Ne-Yo: I have been writing professionally since I was 16. About seven or eight years you can say.
Ballerstatus.com: When you are writing, is it always from a personal place, or do you have to some times get into character?
Ne-Yo: No, I don't have a set ritual like lighting incense or anything like that. I just write. All of the things I write about are things that happen in my life or people close to me. I write about life in general and I honestly believe as long as there are people on this earth doing the dumb things we do, there be a song to write.
Ballerstatus.com: I like that. I couldn't have said it better myself.
Ballerstatus.com: I can assume your hit single, "So Sick," is a personal experience?
Ne-Yo: You're exactly right. That is true story about the first girl I ever fell in love with and how I completely screwed that up for myself.
Ballerstatus.com: That is very grown man of you taking responsibility for you actions.
Ne-Yo: Yeah, it was my fault that I allowed it to happen.
Ballerstatus.com: What song on In My Own Words is the most personal to you?
Ne-Yo: I would have to say "So Sick." When that happened, it was like major for me. It was the worst pain I'd ever felt at that time. I was 18, and you know, you tend to let your friends influence you more than they should. I was the only dude in my clique who had a girl, so that made me public enemy #1. They convinced me to cheat on her, me being the man that I am, I confessed thinking she would give me the benefit of the doubt. That was not the case at all, she expressed her undying hatred for me and was out. That had me really messed for a long time. "So Sick" was a very therapeutic song for me. It helped me get over how I screwed that up for myself.
Ballerstatus.com: How did you go about getting hooked up with Jay-Z?
Ne-Yo: I actually met him after I got the deal. I was actually signed by L.A. Reid, he didn't sign me. At the time of our meeting, he didn't even say hello, his first words for me were, "Why did you give that song away?" He was talking about the Mario record, no "Hi, welcome to the label," but "Why did you give that song away?" After spending so much time with him lately, I actually have the privilege of calling him a friend and I am with that.
Ballerstatus.com: Speaking of that song, Scott Storch was pretty upset about being snubbed by the Grammys, did you feel the same way?
Ne-Yo: Not at all. Do I agree with Scott's stance? Yes, but this business is all about being out there and good songs get overlooked all the time. I am learning more about the industry as an artist, and if being out there is what it takes, then that is what I have to do. It was unfortunate, but it happens all the time, and this time, it just so happened to Scott and me. I am not going to take the Kanye West route and go nuts about it. It just means we have to make sure these people are paying more attention next time.
Ballerstatus.com: Who is your all-time favorite artist to work with?
Ne-Yo: I would have to say Beyonce. She is phenomenal and the humbling thing about her is she is such a hard worker, I don't think knows exactly how incredible she is. She is ridiculously good at what she does. She makes my job easier.
Ballerstatus.com: Who is your least favorite artist to work with?
Ne-Yo: I didn't get to work with him, but one of the first songs I had placed by the majors was "That Girl," a song they gave to Marques Houston. It wasn't that I didn't like working with him, I just didn't like the way he did it.
Ballerstatus.com: You said you've been singing since birth, so is it safe to say you didn't start in church?
Ne-Yo: No, I didn't. I was influenced by Las Vegas. Living in Vegas, I was exposed to so many different entertainers. When I was about nine years old, my dad bowed out of the race and it was just mom and I. At the time, she worked various odd jobs in the casino and all I heard blaring from the speakers was Tom Jones, Wayne Newton, Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. My mom developed an ear for it and whatever my mom was into, I was into as well. I remember her bringing it home, and as a kid, I was totally taken by it and fell in love with the whole idea of the "Rat Pack." When I was 16, I wanted to be Sammy Davis Jr. and to this day, he is a big inspiration to what it is I do. He is the ultimate entertainer, he did it all from singing, dancing, songwriting; he was a composer and actor, the whole package. That is what I aspire to be.
Ballerstatus.com: You are well on your way. You are making your acting debut here shortly, right?
Ne-Yo: Yeah, I play a club owner named Mick. He owns the club everyone comes to get their party on in the movie "Save the Last Dance 2." I don't have many lines, only about five and one scene a cameo basically, but I am really excited about it. You know, I'm making baby steps, but I am doing a majority of the soundtrack for the movie that'll be out around the middle of the year. There's also a new movie coming out titled "Step Show" that my people have hipped me to that I'll have a larger role in, supporting a new comer named Columbus Short. Their tossing around names like Megan Good, Angela Basset in the casting and that movie should be out towards the end of the year. I am real excited about that.
Ballerstatus.com: Anything you would like to say to your fans or anything new other than your own album you'd like to let your fans know about?
Ne-Yo: Yes, I am very busy right now. I have some songs on the Heather Headly album, working with Ruben Studdard -- just quite a few other artists and of course I want to thank my fans for their continuous support. Lastly, if there is anything they want to know about me, my videos, tour dates ect...they can check out www.neyoworld.com. Also, be looking out for my new clothing line coming out in September called Shimir Urban Couture, an upscale street wear for men and women. As long as they keep cheering me on, I'll keep bringing quality music.
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