The wait is finally over – as Def Jam recording artist
Ne-Yo releases his hotly awaited second album, titled
BECAUSE OF YOU, named after the album’s first single pick. “It makes the most sense,” Ne-Yo says of his album title choice. “It’s because of the people that inspire me to make music. Because of the love of the music. Because of the fans. Because of you, that I do what I do.”
#1 most-added on the Rhythm format after its impact date last month, and the highest Rhythm chart debut of his career, “Because Of You” jumps to #23-bullet on this week’s Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart, and makes bulleted moves up the R&R (Radio & Records) BDS Rhythmic, Urban, and Top 40 charts as well. The track is #9 on the AOL Top 40 Songs.
The multi-talented Grammy-nominated #1 RIAA platinum-selling artist Ne-Yo, named Male R&B/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year at the Billboard Music Awards, was one of THE top success stories of 2006. His debut album In My Own Words, nominated for a Grammy as Best Contemporary R&B Album, hit #1 on the Billboard 200 and R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts, and spun off three solid hits. It started late-2005 with Ne-Yo’s debut Def Jam single, “So Sick” (produced by Stargate).
The track rose to #1 on the Hot 100, Pop 100, and Digital Songs charts, and #3 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs list, and was nominated for a Grammy as Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. “So Sick,” like every track on In My Own Words, was co-written by Ne-Yo (aka Shaffer C. Smith). His song writing chops came to Def Jam’s attention after he penned tunes for a string of multi-platinum artists including Mary J. Blige, B2K, Faith Evans, Musiq, and especially Mario – whose “Let Me Love You” (which Ne-Yo co-wrote with Scott Storch) was 2004’s #1 most-played song of the year at radio.