In My Own Words

Performer: Ne-Yo
Artist: Peedi Peedi
Producer: Ron "NEFF-U" Feemstar; Brian Reid
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: Personnel: Ne-Yo (vocals); Peedi Peedi (rap vocals); Tor Erik Hermanson, Mikkel Se (various instruments); Robert Taylor (guitar); Nissan Stewart (drums). By the time of his Def Jam solo debut in 2006, Ne-Yo had already been a high-profile behind-the-scenes figure in contemporary R&B, penning hits for the likes of Faith Evans and Mary J. Blige. Like those artists, Ne-Yo's music is influenced by hip-hop beats and production values, but falls squarely under the rubric of modern soul, and the talent he displayed writing for others is abundant here. The grooves on IN MY OWN WORDS are mostly down- to mid-tempo, with plenty of room to showcase Ne-Yo's way with a lyric and melody. The album's first single, "Stay," is a case in point, layering vocal lines for a choral effect while Ne-Yo's fine, flexible voice soars over the top. As one might expect, matters of the heart are the primary theme, but Ne-Yo proves that the market can handle another romantic neo-soul crooner, especially one this talented.

Rolling Stone (p.92) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "[S]tate-of-the-art bump 'n' grind....[He] has an R. Kelly-ish delivery and a high, urgent tenor a little like Stevie Wonder's..." Entertainment Weekly (p.100) - "Ne-Yo not only co-writes all of his material, but he wisely forgoes token samples in favor of juicy OFF THE WALL-era chord progressions." -- Grade: B-

Pop/R&B sensation Ne-Yo is a music industry double-threat. In addition to releasing two hugely successful albums and scoring numerous Billboard hits (including a number 1 with 2006's "So Sick"), Ne-Yo has also written hits for some of the biggest names in pop and R&B, including Rihanna, Beyonce, Mario, Chris Brown, and Mary J. Blige. Ne-Yo is a multi-talented performer in the style of impresarios such as Jermaine Dupri, Teddy Riley, and Jay-Z. He even founded his own label, Compound Entertainment, in 2007.

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