Turn Yo’ Headphones Up: Ne-Yo|Year Of The Gentleman
Right before our eyes, the lines of pop, R&B, and Hip-Hop are fast blurring as rappers are singing more and more, singers are rapping, and rock artists are getting more cameos on rap songs. Music is growing up, what a great time to love music. We focus on Hip-Hop here at the Fro’ but don’t get it twisted, we love music. Such is the case with this artist and CD.
I’ve always thought Ne-Yo was a great talent and complete artist. From being able to write lyrics that reach back to days when songs were composed of emotion and not just sex, to being able to arrange a song with complex simplicity that slowly gets to you before you realize it. When I heard his comment that he was getting bored with “urban” music, I was hurt…and pissed. As much as we like to sugar coat things today, urban (in anything other than geography class) means black. To hear an artist that was loved and pushed by his success with such music was very disheartening. I felt like he was turning his back on his main base and kicking us in the privates while doing it…a low blow.
I don’t know if I have ever been more wrong. I think what he was saying is that he had effectively put himself into a corner with his guest spots and success of certain songs that was starting to become commercial and successful for the wrong reasons. With his latest effort, Year of the Gentleman, Ne-Yo forges ahead into new territory.
Unlike the popular trend of making music for the house/dance crew, Ne-Yo returned to making music that fits probably more into that pop realm but only because it doesn’t sound like anything out there right now. The sexuality that is prevalent in urban music is missing and while the sincerity of older soul music is there, the sound is clearly not your parents soul music.
By this time, we’ve all heard “Closer” and “Miss Independent” and it would seem that he’s focused on the dance floor too, but don’t put him in a category just yet. Songs like “Mad” do a great job of painting a picture complete with emotion and truth that anyone can relate to without the musical swamp that is bass and synth. Another great song on this album is “Why Does She Stay”. This song talks about those relationships when you KNOW you are the one wrong, but they keep putting up with the lopsided relationship when you could do so much more to make things better. This song is my favorite on the album. If you can’t relate to this song, you are either single, never been in a relationship, or just plain lying to yourself.
Bottom Line:
The entire album is a celebration of music that most anyone should be able to enjoy. I think it sounds a lot like Michael Jackson’s Off The Wall album with the writing and of course, the way dude sings. He’s made no bones about saying that MJ was a major influence in his career, and he’s doing him justice. This album is a LOT better than most folks realize and I can’t wait to see what kind of numbers it does. All you music lovers need to make sure you get a hold of this, and make sure you Turn Yo’ Headphones Up.
hey i am glad you did this…i skipped NELLY AND KHALED to pick this one up instead as i did with his 1st two cds….as you said we know 2-3 songs already so i have already been able to listen to it twice since i picked it up around noon…it really is great stuff and im glad people recognize it b/c they are missing out, and it is a great change of pace from what we hear everyday, and that includes songs like BUST-IT-BABY..i do find it interestings
1) how many songs there are out there that he did not put on the cd
2) why in the end he did not have any features on it
3) why he only made a 45min cd, only 35min of new music we didnt know from the radio
we do you guys predict…145k records 1st wk??
ps:
If you can’t relate to this song, you are either single, never been in a relationship, or just plain lying to yourself.
great line/truth
Miss Independent Part 2 With Jamie Foxx and Fabolous is my shit right now…. Ne-Yo is respected in my books.
Good revew…me likes!
S-dub has just upgraded nappyafro by doing this! This was HOT!
Great review. If you reviewed the album, that’d be nice, but seeing this isn’t an R&B site, but a rap site, your review gave it justice. Seeing “Closer” and “Miss Independent” already convinced me I should buy this album. Hear the sounds, the lyrics, and see that hes definitely got talent. Not to mention that he wrote one of the songs I like, Gallery. Ne-yos got a lot of talent for a 29 year old, and this album is probably a contender for best R&B album for the year.
@ Ts
Theres two bonus songs as I remember.
I say 125k tops. This album probably will become gold at least.
I think he’ll go Platinum… if Usher goes and Rhianna goes then Ne-Yo will too.
Thanks for the props folks, KJ you puttin’ on a bit fam, but I appreciate the in house love. I have a GRIP of unreleased (unofficial) tracks that I can upload if folks want it. I think this album should go plat. R&B does different numbers than rap and his promotion for this album is beyond spectacular so he should reap the rewards.
1st Week Platinum???? Nooooooo. He’ll take at least 6 or 7 weeks to go Platinum.
@ V-G and Saule Wright
saying for this week. hmm, platinum? With the mainstream buzz on him, he’ll probably do a bit more than just plat. 1.5 mil?
@ V-G
Noo, I mean 125k this week he starts selling.
Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeey Saule!
Great Column! I will be sure to check this one out. I do like/respect Ne-yo’s music. GOOD JOB, man!
O ok! My bad. lol
yeah, iono about plat in one week, but he will do well. I think 125k is fair.
Did he have a song about taking a man from a woman? I hope he didn’t, because that isn’t a good look!
ne-yo is a gentleman he best singer now along with lloyd