Shaffer Chimere Smith, known professionally as Ne-Yo, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor who emerged as a preeminent figure in 2000s R&B music. Born October 18, 1979, Ne-Yo first gained industry recognition for his songwriting prowess, penning Mario's 2004 smash hit "Let Me Love You," which ultimately led to his own recording contract with Def Jam Recordings under Jay-Z. With three Grammy Awards to his name, Ne-Yo has established himself as one of the most accomplished R&B artists of his generation.
Ne-Yo's commercial breakthrough came with his 2005 single "So Sick," which topped the Billboard Hot 100 and set the stage for his debut album In My Own Words (2006). The platinum-certified LP debuted atop the Billboard 200 and earned two Grammy nominations, establishing him as a major force in contemporary R&B. His subsequent albums Because of You (2007) and Year of the Gentleman (2008) solidified his commercial dominance, with the latter achieving double platinum status in the U.S. and triple platinum in the UK. Following a shift to Motown Records, Ne-Yo continued to chart success with R.E.D. (2012), Non-Fiction (2015), and most recently Self Explanatory (2022), while also branching into television as a judge on NBC's World of Dance from 2017 to 2020 and as a competitor on The Masked Singer.
Ne-Yo's legacy extends far beyond his own recordings — according to the Recording Industry Association of America, he has sold 29 million certified albums and singles in the United States alone. Billboard has recognized his work among the greatest songs of the summer of all time, while his five number one singles on the UK Singles Chart and four entries on Motown's Top 100 songs of the Millennium underscore his lasting influence on contemporary R&B. As both a hitmaker and cultural contributor through his television appearances, Ne-Yo remains a defining voice in modern R&B.
