TXT Back - Ne-Yo: In My Own Words
Artist:
Ne-Yo
His name may not yet be world-renowned, but R&B newcomer Ne-Yo has already written hits for everyone from Mary J to Mario. We asked http://www.RWDmag.com readers to put the 50 Cent look-a-like and Def Jam signee on the spot. So they did!
Ne-Yo is the future; can you list the songs you’ve written. And how comes it’s taken till now to go before the mic? (Rhyme Amazing)
I wrote Mario’s You Should Let Me Love You, Marques Houston, That Girl and I’ve written for B2K, Mary J Blige, Faith Evans and Chris Brown. As for signing, it was an accident. I went to Def Jam with a friend who was seeing an old school-friend, who happened to be a Def Jam A&R. He played her some music and she was like ‘Who’s that?’ And he was like ‘Oh that’s Ne-Yo, whatever...’ He kinda played it off. She looked me up and down and asked me to perform so I did; she put me in front of LA Reid that very day and right there and then I got a deal. The moral of that story is if you stay ready, you never have to get ready.
Didn’t you have a deal before, but you flopped? (Shylok)
I had a deal with Columbia but their urban division bottomed out and they shelved my album. After a year of sitting around, I asked to be released and finally they let me go, but they kept my album. Wack. Then, they gave That Girl to Marques, although they didn’t tell me. It was bad, but it was also good; they took one of my kids and give it to someone else, but I got paid (laughs). And it was my introduction into the writing thing. I was real bitter though; I still think my version is better, but whatever.
You and Bobby Valentino are label mates – is there any rivalry between you? (Motive, Raw Vibes)
Not that I know of – why, did he say something? Not being cocky, but Usher’s the only guy who could give me a run for my money. I have no animosity towards Usher but it’s like, know your enemy.
Is it harder for someone who doesn’t look good to get into the music business? Not saying that you’re not good-looking (no homo)...(Big Dave)
Looks play a major part nowadays and it’s really sad. You could be the most astonishing singer in the world but if you’re not ‘marketable’, you’re just another talented person in this world.
Who’ve you been star-struck by? (Dipset Gurl)
For the first week after I met Jay Z, I would literally walk in and not know what to say. I’ve looked up to this man for so long that my mind went blank. But he helped me mellow out. He said ‘At the end of the day I eat, sleep, sh*t just like you. I’m a person, so look at me like that. I’m a person with a little more money that you, but...’ We’re cool now. I can talk to Jay about anything.
What do you think about Cam’Ron dissing Jay? (eLevAte)
It’s like throwing pebbles at a giant – what are you doing? Jay is in a whole other place, he’s in corporate America, so what would it look like for him to step down and challenge Cam’Ron! Like, who the hell is Cam’Ron? Get out of here. Jay is smart, he knows what it is. Cam’Ron says this isn’t a gimmick, but if you’ve known all of this info for so long, why wait till a month before your album drops to come out with it?
How was working with Ghostface on Back Like That? (Stat Trice)
Ghostface is the coolest guy I ever met. He’s very spiritual. He was telling me how he used to be a really bad guy, and his mind-state now is that this is a test-run. Like, after this life is over, that’s when sh*t really gets started. I just sat and listened to him talk for over an hour. He’s so cool. He’s totally un-diva.
Have you heard the Doctor remix of So Sick? What is your view on the grime scene? (Brad Piff)
I actually heard it today for the first time at Kiss. I liked his first verse better than his second. I didn’t really dig that his presence was real loud and big, cos the song is more mellow. But I’m not mad at it though, it’s ok. I actually want to meet him.
Ne-Yo’s Love No-No’s
Don’t follow your friends! So Sick is a true story about the first girl I fell in love with when I was 17. I let my friends convince me that if I cheated on her, she would never find out. I cheated, and I confessed cos I thought if I came clean, she would forgive me. She dumped me! I haven’t spoken to her but she will definitely know that song is about her. So don’t follow your friends - you need to be your own person.
Ne-Yo’s debut album ‘In My Own Words’ is released today, Monday February 27th!
RWD Magazine
His name may not yet be world-renowned, but R&B newcomer Ne-Yo has already written hits for everyone from Mary J to Mario. We asked http://www.RWDmag.com readers to put the 50 Cent look-a-like and Def Jam signee on the spot. So they did!
Ne-Yo is the future; can you list the songs you’ve written. And how comes it’s taken till now to go before the mic? (Rhyme Amazing)
I wrote Mario’s You Should Let Me Love You, Marques Houston, That Girl and I’ve written for B2K, Mary J Blige, Faith Evans and Chris Brown. As for signing, it was an accident. I went to Def Jam with a friend who was seeing an old school-friend, who happened to be a Def Jam A&R. He played her some music and she was like ‘Who’s that?’ And he was like ‘Oh that’s Ne-Yo, whatever...’ He kinda played it off. She looked me up and down and asked me to perform so I did; she put me in front of LA Reid that very day and right there and then I got a deal. The moral of that story is if you stay ready, you never have to get ready.
Didn’t you have a deal before, but you flopped? (Shylok)
I had a deal with Columbia but their urban division bottomed out and they shelved my album. After a year of sitting around, I asked to be released and finally they let me go, but they kept my album. Wack. Then, they gave That Girl to Marques, although they didn’t tell me. It was bad, but it was also good; they took one of my kids and give it to someone else, but I got paid (laughs). And it was my introduction into the writing thing. I was real bitter though; I still think my version is better, but whatever.
You and Bobby Valentino are label mates – is there any rivalry between you? (Motive, Raw Vibes)
Not that I know of – why, did he say something? Not being cocky, but Usher’s the only guy who could give me a run for my money. I have no animosity towards Usher but it’s like, know your enemy.
Is it harder for someone who doesn’t look good to get into the music business? Not saying that you’re not good-looking (no homo)...(Big Dave)
Looks play a major part nowadays and it’s really sad. You could be the most astonishing singer in the world but if you’re not ‘marketable’, you’re just another talented person in this world.
Who’ve you been star-struck by? (Dipset Gurl)
For the first week after I met Jay Z, I would literally walk in and not know what to say. I’ve looked up to this man for so long that my mind went blank. But he helped me mellow out. He said ‘At the end of the day I eat, sleep, sh*t just like you. I’m a person, so look at me like that. I’m a person with a little more money that you, but...’ We’re cool now. I can talk to Jay about anything.
What do you think about Cam’Ron dissing Jay? (eLevAte)
It’s like throwing pebbles at a giant – what are you doing? Jay is in a whole other place, he’s in corporate America, so what would it look like for him to step down and challenge Cam’Ron! Like, who the hell is Cam’Ron? Get out of here. Jay is smart, he knows what it is. Cam’Ron says this isn’t a gimmick, but if you’ve known all of this info for so long, why wait till a month before your album drops to come out with it?
How was working with Ghostface on Back Like That? (Stat Trice)
Ghostface is the coolest guy I ever met. He’s very spiritual. He was telling me how he used to be a really bad guy, and his mind-state now is that this is a test-run. Like, after this life is over, that’s when sh*t really gets started. I just sat and listened to him talk for over an hour. He’s so cool. He’s totally un-diva.
Have you heard the Doctor remix of So Sick? What is your view on the grime scene? (Brad Piff)
I actually heard it today for the first time at Kiss. I liked his first verse better than his second. I didn’t really dig that his presence was real loud and big, cos the song is more mellow. But I’m not mad at it though, it’s ok. I actually want to meet him.
Ne-Yo’s Love No-No’s
Don’t follow your friends! So Sick is a true story about the first girl I fell in love with when I was 17. I let my friends convince me that if I cheated on her, she would never find out. I cheated, and I confessed cos I thought if I came clean, she would forgive me. She dumped me! I haven’t spoken to her but she will definitely know that song is about her. So don’t follow your friends - you need to be your own person.
Ne-Yo’s debut album ‘In My Own Words’ is released today, Monday February 27th!
RWD Magazine
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