NE-YO
NE-YO is an R&B singer, songwriter and performer behind “So Sick” and “Miss Independent,” now bringing country influences into his music with Highway 79.
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NE-YO’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus his backstory and Starbook, where fans write.
Known for
Album
Album
Album
Music video
AlbumOverview
- Name
- Shaffer Chimere Smith
- Born
- October 18, 1979, in Camden, Arkansas
- Grew up
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Work
- Singer, songwriter, producer and actor
- Breakout
- Writing Mario’s “Let Me Love You,” followed by his own “So Sick”
- GRAMMY wins
- 3
Mini bio
How it started.
Born in Camden, Arkansas, and raised in Las Vegas, Shaffer Chimere Smith grew up in a musical family. He sang in the group Envy while still at school, then moved to Los Angeles with the group. When it ended, he became a staff songwriter and began building a career through demos sent to record labels.
The songs opened doors.
Co-writing Mario’s 2004 single “Let Me Love You” brought attention to his songwriting. His own breakthrough followed with “So Sick” and the 2006 debut album In My Own Words, both US chart-toppers. Because of You and Year of the Gentleman followed, making songs such as “Closer” and “Miss Independent” part of his catalog.
A writer as well as a voice.
His writing credits include Beyoncé’s “Irreplaceable” and Rihanna’s “Unfaithful,” “Russian Roulette” and “Take a Bow.” He has also written for artists including Usher and Celine Dion. Because of You won a GRAMMY in 2008; “Miss Independent” earned two more in 2009.
New stages.
His work has reached television, film and theatre as well as records. In December 2025 he made his Broadway debut as Davis in Hell’s Kitchen. In 2026, he released Highway 79, bringing country storytelling and acoustic textures into his R&B approach, and announced the Nights Like This tour with Akon.
Creditschronological, newest first
Music
- 2026Highway 79Recording artist
- 2008Year of the GentlemanRecording artist
- 2008Take a Bow · RihannaCo-writer
- 2007Because of YouRecording artist
- 2006In My Own WordsRecording artist
- 2006Irreplaceable · BeyoncéCo-writer
- 2004Let Me Love You · MarioCo-writer
Theatre
- 2025–2026Hell’s KitchenDavis · Broadway
Awards
Quotes
I don’t feel I can write a song about something I don’t know anything about.NE-YO, Blackfilm interview
Speaking about drawing on personal experience when writing songs.
Trivia
- His stage name came from a producer friend’s comparison between his musical instincts and Neo’s understanding of the Matrix.
- His mother played piano and his father played bass.
- Before his recording breakthrough, he performed in EFX at the MGM Grand while still in high school.
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