Music Blogs

Ne-Yo's third album, Year of the Gentleman has officially hit streets and this modern R&B mogul can't wait for everyone to hear it.  The only thing he asks is that when you do, have an open mind!  Ne-Yo has branched out, taken some risks and is very pleased with the outcome.  

As he looks to the next few months, promoting the album and planning a tour, he took some time to let us pry and get ten answers to ten burning questions!     

In a few words, how would you describe your new album? 

I have one word for it; diverse.

I wanted to do something for old fans, but step out of the R&B box and attract some new fans.  I took it upon myself to branch out and look to other genres as influence and incorporate that into what I do.  There’s a great mix of different vibes on this album, everything from alternative and rock to dance hall.   

What does being a gentleman mean to you?

The definition of gentleman is someone who has class, integrity, style, charm, and charisma.  It’s who every guy wants to be and every woman wants to be with.

Your songs all have a romantic tone, are they from personal experience? Would you consider yourself a romantic?

I view myself as a regular person and I write as a regular person who has these experiences.   So yes, I write from personal experience.  I would consider myself romantic to a degree.  I think every guy has some dog in them and a romantic.  Sometimes though more of the dog can come out.   

Of all the artists that you’ve collaborated with, do you have a favourite?

I do not.  I’ve been blessed to work with a lot of great artists.

I love Rihanna she’s like a little sister.  The studio sessions can get pretty silly but even with joking around and punching each other in the arm, we always get the work done.  I love Mary J Blige too.  She reminds you of your family.  She’s like a  cool aunt.  Those sessions turn into therapy sessions.  You talk a lot and come to terms with the fact that nobody’s perfect and you’ll never be perfect, but you can be proud of who you are. 

When you were younger were you a New kids fan?How did that collaboration happen? 

Not as much as my sister.  She was like the ultimate New Kids fan!  I appreciated them for different reasons though.  I always thought Joey’s voice was incredible.   

That song, Single, was actually a song that my producer, Polow da Don, did for me, but in the process of putting together the album, it just started to seem like it didn’t fit the format.  So he played it for Interscope, who they [New Kids On The Block] are signed to.  They loved it and then I got a call asking if NKOTB could cut it I agreed, but then I just felt like I didn’t want to give it away.  I really liked the song but so did the New Kids, so we came to the duet agreement.  On my album, there is a version where it’s just me, so everyone is happy. 

I have gained new respect for P!nk.  I always liked her but there’s just something about who she is that’s so amazing.  I think it’s really who she is in this game and how she is so true to herself.  She doesn’t take it so seriously, she doesn’t care about it the way some people do.  She is who she is, makes no excuses for it and has fun with it.  I would love to work with her.

Lil’ Wayne is someone else I would like to work with, that would be cool. 

T-Pain and I have talked about doing some stuff together.

But above anyone, Prince!  After that I could retire!

What is the strangest thing on your rider? 

The strangest thing Seagrams Gin.  I don’t drink it, but I get it for security chief for after the show. 

You were nominated for an MTV award for best dancing in a video.  Did you ever take dance lessons or did it just come naturally to you?

I learnt how to dance from mimicking what I saw on TV. 

Now I have a great choreographer, Jamaica and she’s incredible.  She teaches me moves and puts it all together.  I was shocked when they said my name, it’s never been my lane.  That’s more for Chris Brown or the Pussycat Dolls. 

Are you more of a so you think you can dance dancer or dancing with the stars?

Since I like to be diverse I’d do both.

What is on Ne-Yo’s playlist? Is there an album that you will never get sick of no matter how many times you listen to it?

Coldplay Viva La Vida, Gnarls Barkley The Odd Couple, of course Wayne’s album,The Brazilian Girls, Janelle Monae -- she’s new, if you don’t know her, look her up.  Radiohead and Phil Collins.

These are some of the albums that I paid attention to when putting the new album together. 

I could never get sick of anything Prince!

I definitely do.

I’m actually working on a project now that will be loosely autobiographical.  It will be about how I got into the game, but not really.

I definitely want to take challenging roles, play a part that people wouldn’t expect me to do, that would challenge me. 

What I didn’t realize is how similar music and acting are.  It’s more than pretending.  You also realize that there is a difference between “acting” and “acting”.  There’s trying to be something and then there’s channeling something.