Shaffer Chimere Smith, known professionally as Ne-Yo, is an American R&B singer, songwriter, actor, and record producer. He was born on October 18, 1979, in Camden, Arkansas. After his parents separated, he was raised by his mother, who moved the family to Las Vegas, Nevada. His interest in music developed at a young age, and while attending the Las Vegas Academy for the Arts, he adopted the stage name GoGo and joined an R&B group called Envy. The group disbanded in 2000, and Ne-Yo began focusing on songwriting.
Career Beginnings and Songwriting
Ne-Yo's initial break in the music industry came as a songwriter. His career gained significant momentum after he wrote the hit single "Let Me Love You" for singer Mario in 2004. The success of the song caught the attention of record labels, and he soon signed a contract with Def Jam Recordings. Before his solo success, he also wrote songs for artists like Mary J. Blige, Musiq Soulchild, and Faith Evans. He also wrote the number-one hits "Irreplaceable" for Beyoncé and "Take a Bow" for Rihanna.
Rise to Fame
Ne-Yo released his debut album, "In My Own Words," in 2006. The album was a commercial success, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. It featured the hit single "So Sick," which became a number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100. His second album, "Because of You" (2007), also debuted at number one and won a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Album. His third album, "Year of the Gentleman" (2008), included the hit singles "Closer" and "Miss Independent," the latter of which earned him two Grammy Awards.
Studio Albums:
- In My Own Words (2006)
- Because of You (2007)
- Year of the Gentleman (2008)
- Libra Scale (2010)
- R.E.D. (2012)
- Non-Fiction (2015)
- Good Man (2018)
- Another Kind of Christmas (2019)
- Self Explanatory (2022)
Later Career and Other Ventures
Throughout his career, Ne-Yo has continued to release music, with his later albums including "Libra Scale" (2010), "R.E.D." (2012), "Non-Fiction" (2015), and "Good Man" (2018). In 2012, he moved to Motown Records and also took on the role of Senior Vice President of A&R. Beyond music, Ne-Yo has ventured into acting, appearing in films such as "Stomp the Yard" (2007), "Battle: Los Angeles" (2011), and "Red Tails" (2012). He has also been a judge on the reality competition series "World of Dance". In 2020 and 2023, he participated in the British and American versions of "The Masked Singer," respectively, winning the American version as "Cow".
Personal Life
Ne-Yo is a father of seven children from various relationships. He was previously engaged to Monyetta Shaw, with whom he has two children. He was later married to Crystal Renay Williams, with whom he has three children; they divorced in 2023. He has two children with Sade Jenea Bagnerise. In recent years, Ne-Yo has been open about his polyamorous relationships.