Entertainment, Music - Air Force Times

Ne-Yo keeps tunes coming

Ne-Yo already was making a name for himself as a songwriter before last year’s debut album, “In My Own Words,” made him a star. He hopes his second, “Because of You,” proves he’s no fluke.

“If your second album doesn’t do as well or better than your first, you’re written off as lucky,” says Ne-Yo (aka Shaffer Smith).

With the title song already heating up “Billboard’s” charts, chances are good that the new album — which made its debut last week at No. 1 on the “Billboard” 200, selling 251,000 copies — can match its Grammy-nominated, platinum predecessor. The smooth crooner’s profile is much higher this time around, after three hit singles, songs he has written for Beyonci and Mary J. Blige, and a starring role in “Stomp the Yard.”

As with his first album, “Because of You” draws heavily on his own experiences in relationships, but he has expanded his musical palette for a richer sound. Throughout the album, he references such influences as Stevie Wonder and Lionel Richie. “Because of You” is the kind of song Michael Jackson might have done, while edgier tunes hint at “trying to find my inner Prince.”

“I try some things that people are not used to hearing from me,” the Las Vegas-raised singer says. “I don’t want people thinking this is ‘In My Own Words II.’ It’s a totally new Ne-Yo.”

Lots of things have changed for Ne-Yo, 24, since 2003, when Columbia Records dropped him from his first record deal after he recorded an album that was never released. Content just shopping songs, he wasn’t seeking another contract when he stopped by the Def Jam offices in 2004 to say hello to a friend and wound up being signed to the label.

But success means dealing with rumors about his personal life. He decided to have fun with stories of an insatiable sexual appetite. (On “Addicted,” he insists, “I’m not addicted to sex” but brags “you just might be” after the encounter.)

He found whispers about his sexual preference more disturbing. Def Jam president Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter “told me you have to take the good with the bad, and that this was just part of the business.”

Ne-Yo has taken advantage of the business to set up his own production company, Compound Entertainment, and has hired several producers and songwriters with the intention of turning Compound into a full-fledged record label. He expects the company to start releasing music by new artists late next year or early 2009.

For now, Ne-Yo continues to make his biggest impact with his songwriting, which he says isn’t that difficult. “You need a melody that you can hear once, maybe twice, and sing it back. Then you need a simple lyric, but not a stupid lyric, and a subject that somebody can relate to.”

He has consistently applied those principles, scoring six top 10 hits with five different artists. Starting with Mario’s breakthrough 2004 hit “Let Me Love You,” which stayed at No. 1 for nine weeks, he’s scored with his own “So Sick” and “Sexy Love,” Pretty Ricky’s “Grind With Me,” Rihanna’s” Unfaithful” and Beyonci’s “Irreplaceable,” a No.1 hit for 10 weeks.

When writing for others, he likes to get to know the artist so he can tailor the song to the personality. He’s empathetic to women, he says, because he grew up in a house with his mother, sisters, grandmother and several aunts.

“In every piece of drama that they went through, I was there to go through it with them,” he says. “I can think back to this argument or that confrontation with this or that boyfriend, and that’s where a song like “Unfaithful”comes from.”

His ability to take personal stories and turn them into hits has other stars lined up to work with him. He’s writing songs for Oscar winner and former “American Idol” contestant Jennifer Hudson, who duets with him on “Leaving Tonight.” He’s also submitting songs for upcoming albums by Celine Dion and Whitney Houston.

“It’s really an honor that people at that level are looking at me and respecting my music.”

He also has the respect of his peers. Usher and Chris Brown have called upon him to write for their next albums, and he has no problem with giving potential hits to artists who share his audience.

“Usher is somebody I look up to, and I’m trying to get where he got,” Ne-Yo says.

“If I do some hot music and give Usher some hot music, then give Chris some hot music, that is just more hot music for people to get.”