Ne-Yo & Taylor Swift Would Be A Toxic Couple | EP. 82 | CLUB SHAY SHAY

You and Taylor Smith would make a cute. couple. Y'all y'all write about some Y'ALL BE. KILLING Y'ALL BE KILLING Y'ALL EXES. MAN, DAMN. OH, TAYLOR DON'T WANT ME. I'm. I'm toxic. She don't want me.

Hello, welcome to another edition of. Club Shay Shay. I am your host Shannon. Sharpe. I'm also the proprietor of Club. Shay Shay and the guy that's stopping by. for conversation and a drink today. is a three-time Grammy Award winning. hitmaker, a multi-platinum selling. singer, iconic songwriter, pop. specialist, R&B powerhouse, dancer, composer, producer, internationally. acclaimed, recognized, and a live very. very live and all the way live. performer, Ne-Yo. What's up, Shay? Bro, how are you doing?

I'm good, bro. How are you doing? by, man, to give me a couple of minutes. of your time today. Not a problem. Thank you for having me. My research If my research is correct, you're a vodka drinker. Yes. Yes. I. don't have vodka, but I have my very own. cognac. I would be honored if you would. have a toast to your success and my. success. You won't Hey, we we're not. going to tell the club up cuz you know. the brown people here to brown make it. tear the club up. We're not going to. tear the club up tonight. It's all good. I happily do it. Absolutely. Appreciate you, bro.

Just the I you know, just enough to. Is this new? You had this a while? I had. We went to since 2021. Cool. Congratulations. bro. I dig it. Damn, huh? Smooth. Yeah, you know what? I do a. little do a little something. Actually, we won the best We won We beat 1,200. cognacs at the Sip Awards, the best. tasting cognac in 2022. Yeah. So, I appreciate you doing that.

That's dope. So, how are you doing? I'm. good, man. I'm in a good space. Real. good space. I appreciate you stopping. by. I know you had a big gig in Vegas. Actually, we were on the plane flying. back together yesterday. I was like, "Man, I don't know if you going to just. going to happen.". Uh now now luckily, I am virtually it's. impossible for me to stay awake on the. airplane. That's where I catch up on my. sleep at. Even though that was like a. 13-second flight, we were still No, I I. knew I would be here. Oh, yeah. I can't. stay awake on the plane. I got the. second but touch seat, I'm gone. I don't.

want no water. I don't want no no. peanut. Don't ask You don't want no. water. You don't want no peanut. You. just Hey, you just out. I'm gone. Gone. Whole time. Let's get. right into it. What's up? The. AI-generated songs. We see that Drake is. is complaining about I think he had a. song with The Weeknd generated 20. million streams in 48 hours. Mhm. He complained about the song that. he made with a Ice Spice. What What What are you What is your What. is your stance on this? I'm just Okay. I I feel like technology. is very much like fire. It can destroy.

or it can warm a home. You know what I. mean? Like it's it's about it's about. the way you use it. However, this. specific technology, what is the good aspect of it? Like what. is the the positive aspect of this. technology? Like what What good thing. are they going to do with it? Like cuz I. can totally see all the bad things that. could be done with it. It's like, you. know, somebody said to me the other day, um they have an AI now where you can. tell the AI to write a song in the form. of Ne-Yo. Right? And then there's. another AI you can go to and get Ne-Yo's.

voice to sing said song that was just. written in the form of Ne-Yo. So, basically, what does that mean? Ne-Yo's. no longer needed. So, I'm like, "What is. the What is the What is the end game. with this?" Like I don't I don't I I. don't understand what the positive. aspect of this technology is. So. So, you're telling me that there is a AI. that can say, "Okay, basically be a ghostwriter." Write a. song like Ne-Yo. Using words that Ne-Yo may use, tones. that Ne-Yo may use, and then you can go. to another AI and get Ne-Yo's voice to.

sing that song. Do you think record. companies are going to head in this. direction? I don't know. That's the thing cuz I. don't I don't I don't understand Even. with this Drake thing right now, 20. million streams in in in however many. streams in 24 Like so, that's that's. money. That's kind of just sitting. there. Who gets paid? Who do they get that money to? Like And mind you, it's like how how. would how is Drake allowed to do that? feel you should be getting make money. off of that. If it's it's his voice It's his voice. used used through AI. Like. he I feel like he should get something.

for that cuz they're using his voice. I'm more than certain he didn't give. them permission to do that. that somebody going to get sued behind. this or I did If Listen, if I hear. somebody use my voice on it, I might be. the first to sue. I'm trying TO FIGURE. OUT. I JUST AGAIN, I don't get it. If. somebody can tell me what the positive. aspects of this technology is, all. right, let's figure that out. Now it's. just a matter of how they use it. But if. it ain't no positive aspects, then y'all. now y'all just y'all literally just. taking money out of people's pockets. Right. So, in other words, they're. basically trying to cut the artist the. the the actual breathing living artist.

out of the equation. That's what it feels like. We see all these social media, TikTok. Are you a fan of these like these short. catchy jingles? Um. to a degree. I mean, when it's when it's. fun, it's fun, and that's all fine and. good. But when all of a sudden now the. radio has to play this song because it's. so popular on TikTok, meanwhile the the. best part of the song you heard on. TikTok already and rest of the song is. garbage. Right. You know what I mean? It. just takes down the quality of of the. music played on the radio. So, I I mean, it's again, it's about the way the.

technology is used. So, you don't like. this trend to where it's headed. Not really, man. I mean, so I feel like. people are creating for the algorithm. now as opposed to creating from from the. heart from the soul like what music is. supposed to Music is supposed to be. therapeutic. Music is supposed to be. you at your realest. You know what I'm. saying? There's things that I can't say. out loud that I can write in a song and. be totally all right with. You know? So, that's that's supposed to be the realest. version of you. If you're writing a song. and you're making the song a minute and.

20 seconds long because of the fact that. if the song is shorter, it'll get. streamed more, then that then you're not. like you're not writing that's that's. nothing You're not saying anything worth. being said in my personal opinion. So, I. wanted to ask you this. You um. do you feel like artists make songs to. be popular or do they make songs that. they really feel? It seems like me I'm. talking to you, you make songs that you. feel passionate about. And whether they. you know, yeah, obviously, you want to. you want it to be popular. You want But. you're not just specifically trying to.

make a song that's going to be catchy. That's not my thing. No, I Music has. been therapy for me my entire life. You. know what I mean? Um I I accredit my mother for giving me. my first red notebook and telling me to. write it down. Okay. And I was like, "Write what down?". And she's like, "I don't give a damn. Just write it down." Because she saw. that I needed an outlet. You know? So, that's what music has always been for. me. So, if if I write something What. I've always found out found for myself. is that if I write from the heart, people tend to feel it more, thus it. tends to do better. You know? So, I So,

I've never been I've never been in a. place where I was like, "Okay, let me. write something that I feel like is. going to make money." That's never been. my my That's never been my motivating. factor, I should say, for music. It's. always been about uh being able to. express myself, being able to to being. able to get that thing off me if I need. if I need that. That's what music has. always been for me. So, have you always. had this gift? I mean, cuz obviously, you you listen to music growing up and. you you know, like, "Man, I like this.". And did you go after you hear a song and. you're like, "Okay, let me try to write.

something to put on the paper." To that. degree. Some something like that. I. My my mom used to watch TV with stereo. on. Okay. Like music was always there. Every day, all day. More than just, you know, cleaning the. house on Sunday morning. Like every. single day is music blaring out of our. house. So, um. it took me a minute to take the whole. concept of the words that I was putting. together and then putting these melodies. with these words and then creating a. song. Initially, it was just kind of.

like uh. uh journal entries. Okay. You know what. I mean? Or or poems. You know, I'd find. a little girl I like and I'd write a. write a poem about her hair. Never give. a poem to the girl cuz I wasn't, you. know, I wasn't that dude. Okay. I I had. to grow into that dude. what you mean. But uh. But yeah, that was Oh, all right. It is. what it is what it is now. But yeah, it it took a minute to to put. the two together, but once I did, like. it became all I needed. Like I didn't. need I didn't need any other type of. therapy. I didn't need anybody to talk. to cuz I had my music. I could I could.

you know, I I wasn't judged by anybody. uh when it was just me and my music. So, like it became my best friend. Yeah. Growing up, who were some of the artists. that you listened to? Um I don't know. I. mean, Teddy Pendergrass was when I was. growing up. Barry White, you know. Yeah, yeah. So, I obviously, you know, you had um. Babyface and you had Keith Sweat and you. had So, who did did Ne-Yo borrow or. like, "Okay, I kind of like this style.

I kind of like that. I'm going to go." I. don't think. uh anybody listening to music in the. '90s or or was around for music in the. '90s. I don't think any songwriter after. that period can say that they didn't. borrow something from Babyface. Okay. Babyface was that? Yeah, Face is Face is. foundation, right? Uh but then to go. further back, your Smokey Robinsons, Okay. you know, I have I have five. kings. And these are the five artists. that I've always wanted to like, you. know, if if I could take these five. people and turn them into one person, this is who Ne-Yo was going to be. You.

know, this is what I was going to So, it. was it's Prince, Michael Jackson, Stevie. Wonder, Sammy Davis Jr., and Marvin. Gaye. So, like I So, I So, my entire. everything my entire artistry came from. me just pulling bits and pieces from. these five specific artists. So, you're. more of a Cuz most of these guys wrote A. lot of these guys wrote for themselves. So, you like to You like to write for. yourself, but you like to write for. other artists also. Indeed. Indeed. I um. I I I.

I started love I Loving was out Writing. was always my first love. That's what. I'm trying to say. The cognac getting to. me, I guess. No, no, no, no. No, but um writing be. even even so much before uh performing. and all of that. Writing has always been. my first love. Yeah, so yeah. I I. learned that I could do it for other. people as well. I actually started out. doing it for other people before I uh. you know got I guess confident enough to. find my own voice and do the artist. thing. Radio, streaming, it seems like. streaming is kind of the way to go is. like thing you still have the radio.

play, but seems like streaming is the. way to go now. Uh do you have a. preference? Um. I You know what? I I put it like this. When they get the numbers right, when. they finally, you know, open up them books and realize. that them laws is 100 plus years old All. the all the all the music laws are 100. plus years old. Every aspect of music has evolved except. the laws. And the laws are how artists. make money. You know what I mean? Like. streaming is cool, fine, and good, but. it's it's to the point where if you are.

just a songwriter, just a songwriter, it's hard for you to live off of what. you do. So, you know, once they get the numbers. right with the streaming, I'm all for. it. I I'm all for, you know, the. evolution of the way people get their. music, the way people consume the music. I'm all for that. But at some point, somebody has to go, "Wait a minute. These guys ain't getting what they work. for over here." You know what I mean? And that's that's what that's where it's. at right now. You know, it's I don't. even I don't even remember what a stream. is right now, but at one point it was. like like a fraction of a penny. How. many streams you got to get before you.

can see any real money? You know, that's just that's messed up. Well, how do you change a system when. the system is not instituting changes. because they're they benefit the most. from it? That's the problem. That's the problem. I I I wish I could say that if the. people rally together, but. again, you know, the the people that are. pulling the people that are pulling the. strings are the people that are. benefiting the most from the system. staying what it is. So, yeah, it's it's. so uphill battle, man. I don't know. We'll figure it out. Why don't love. songs sell like they used to? Because you seem like you back in the. day guys song they were like, "I want to.

be with you for the night. I want to. light candles. I want to Teddy. Pendergrass, I want to turn off the. lights and run a bath oil. I want to do. a bubble bath or do all that." Now it. seem like it want to be. a smash and smash and dash. Yeah, yeah. Smash and dash goes crazy. my man, my man, dog. My man. I like it. Smash and dash. No, you got a songwriter. spirit, brother. Smash and dash. All right. All right. Ne-Yo said that cuz I ain't dog. He. called me. He That was it. He gave me. that idea before we started. I'mma send you some royalties, brother.

Co-written by. What happened to the real. soul love making song that you turn on. and you like, "Oh, man, this is my jam.". I hate to I hate to say it this way, but. there's there's. there's really no way to beat around the. bush. Every genre of music at one point got a. hip hop makeover. Okay. Right? Country. music Country music got a hip hop. makeover. Okay. Right? Hip hop has never. been. about love, so to speak. Or at least not. that formula. In in the in the world of.

hip hop, that that love and that. vulnerability was was looked at as soft. Okay. So, once hip hop became literally the. biggest music in the world, now all the all the all you please baby. baby please guys is looking at the fact. that their audiences are shrinking and. the hip hop audience is growing. So, now it's like, all right, well, maybe she don't want me to beg no more. May- Maybe that's that's what they want. All right, well, now I got to be tough. now. Now I got to Now I got to sing the. word [ __ ] What? What? And and and the.

women is going to sing it with me. What? This is where we are now. This is where. we are now. And and it's it. again, it is what it is. I cannot be a. lover of music and not uh. find the positive aspects of all genres. of music and all evolutions of music, but at the same time, when an entire. genre of music is no longer. what it was at its best moments because. of this other genre takeover, yeah, man, that don't that don't feel. good. That don't feel good. I heard all the time.

is R&B dead? And if it's not, will will. R&B ever be what it once was? I do not think that R&B is dead. I think that R&B is going through a bit. of an identity crisis right now. And um. will R&B ever be what it was? I don't. think so. I think that the evolution of. music is is always going to be a forward. motion as opposed to a backward motion. I just think that there's going to come.

a point where somebody of this new. generation. is going to realize the power of the way. what the way R&B was and then grab. elements of that and pull it into. whatever the next thing is. That's what. I That's what I think is going to. happen. Did auto tunes ruin R&B? Um it. didn't ruin it. It just made the club a. little less elite. You know what I mean? Yeah. Like in in my day. in the day guys really sang. You had to. Remember he had that long mic? That mic. about this long? You had to. That was what it was. You. weren't You couldn't be part of the team.

if you didn't. I I'll I'll take it even. back further than like before me, before. you Jodeci's and all that, back when it. was. a whole band is in one room. We about to. record this record, right? The drums got. a microphone, the guitar got a. microphone, the singer got a microphone, the backup singers got microphones. Ready? Action. You do the whole song all. the way down. There is no flying, taking up, hook. parting, copy and pasting. We got to do. the whole song. Every hook sang out the. whole every single time. The person. messing up.

your ass out of here, bro. Like, nah. We got to start all the way over cuz you. missed a note on the bass. Come on, bro. So, you had to be like You had to be on. it. You had to be on it. Now. you can push a button and get it all, which means that the club is not as. elite as it once was. Now anybody can. come in. All right, well, it is what it is. You. mentioned boy bands. You started out as. a boy band. Yes. What happened to the boy band? Um. uh to a degree, the same thing that kind.

of happened to R&B. It's it's you know, what's worse than one dude sitting. AROUND BEGGING? FOUR. IT'S WHAT IT BECAME. I MEAN, THIS IS THE sad truth. That's. what it became. Now, if if if we ever. get another boy band, it's going to be. pro- more than likely a primarily hip. hop based situation because. we we got to get back to that point. where. people realize the power of. vulnerability. I don't think that I. don't think anybody understands how much. power there is in in being able to be.

vulnerable and make vulnerable not look. weak. There's no weakness in. vulnerability. Do you think they'll ever be. I mean, because, you know, will there. ever be another. uh New Kids and and Boyz II Men and. NSYNC and do you I mean, cuz I I I I I I. I. I mean, if. splitting 200,000, 300,000 six ways as. opposed to like 600,000 one way sounds. better to me. Right. Definitely so.

Definitely so. I mean, and mind you, let let us keep in mind that the boy. band is not dead. It's not? It's not dead. It's just Korean. Oh, okay. Okay. Okay. out to BTS. Shout out to the whole K-pop. movement. Like they still they still. going strong with the boy band movement. It's just it's. I don't know. I You know what? I got to. give a lot of credit to to K-pop and. just I've I've been over there and saw. just the machine that it is over there. Like they're literally going from like. from a kid from a child and training. these kids in in music, guitar with.

piano, real live music, teaching them. how to really sing, really dance, and. then deciding if they're going to get in. a group or if you're going to be a solo. artist. And it's like and it's producing. it's producing a pretty quality product, if I do say so myself. So, shout out to. K-pop and just everything that's. happening in that movement, man. It's. dope. What happened to your group? Why. didn't you guys stay together? We We. disbanded because we was broke and, you. know, you can only be broke for so long. before you know, being broke with people. just gets annoying. It's like. We all are. a broke with you. You got five people I.

can be broke by myself and be all right. for a little while, but if I'm broke. with you and I got to listen to you. complaining about being broke, too, come. on, bro. I I don't want. But uh now we we eventually broke up. because, you know, things just wasn't. moving the way we expected them to move. We. it's not like we really sat down and. devised like a the best plan. You know. what I mean? We After after graduation, we all sat in a Denny's in Las Vegas. and wrote out on a napkin what our plan.

was. And the plan was. hop in Corey's van cuz Corey was only. person of only one of us with a car. Hop. in Corey's van, drive to California, find the Capitol Records building, park. in front of the Capitol Records. building, jump up on top of the van, and. sing our songs until the president of. Capitol Records comes down and gives us. a record deal. This was the plan. Notice. I didn't mention food. I didn't mention shelter. Yeah, all of these things that that were. so easy to overlook. Provided the. shelter, but I don't know about the. food. Corey's van provided shelter for 6. months. Four cats in a in a VW van for 6.

months. Yeah, that. Yeah, that's that's that's. I said that's the epitome of. uncomfortable. dedicated. You like, "Okay, this is what. it's going to take for the time being, so we got to make the best of the. situation.". We did what we had to do until we just. couldn't do it no more. It just It just. got to the point where it's like, all. right, you know what? Maybe this ain't what it's supposed to. be. So, did the guy come down from Capitol. Records and. Um the only people that came out of. Capitol Records for us was security. He. said, "Move it along." Yes. We got to a. first name basis with the security guard.

at Capitol Records cuz we would show up. around the same time every day. Get up, sing our songs, you know what I'm. saying? We We started doing it when we. knew everybody was at lunch, so people. would come out, you know, sometimes. they'd throw us a little change or. whatever the case may be. But then after. a while, dude like, "All right. Y'all got to make a move." And I was. like, "All right, Ted. We'll be back. tomorrow." Yeah. Something like that. So, who would you. compare your group to? B2K? What What. would your group What would. Who was your group? We we idolized Boyz. II Men. That was our thing at the time, I think. So, we was that we was about, you know, finding them four and five. part harmonies and doing those songs.

That was our thing. No instruments? Any. instruments? Not not well enough to get. on stage with them. No. No. Sit in the room and tap out on the. piano. Ding ding ding ding ding. Yeah, this one. Ding ding ding. That one. You. know, that's that's about as good as we. got with that. So, when you performed at MTV, you did. Apollo, Showtime at the Apollo, did you. like, okay, I made it? Or did you like, I'm still not here yet? Uh with with the. group? Or just as myself? Yeah, yourself. As myself, uh it was. definitely good to be able to go back to. some of those places where, you know, I.

kind of fell on my face with the with. the group and and and do it over. Uh. that that definitely felt good. But no, I didn't realize I had made it until. I um we used to throw a Grammy party. every year. Whether we won or not, we. just throw the party. And um I remember. Prince and Stevie Wonder crashed my. party. Now, crash my party is is not the. way that I want to say that because. They didn't get no invite. Who but who's. not letting Stevie Wonder and Prince in. their party? So, y'all y'all didn't have to crash. nothing. They just They showed up. They. showed up uninvited. I didn't invite.

them because I'm like, I don't I figured. they wouldn't come. Right. But yeah, they they crashed my party. So, I. remember they I remember sitting in the. section. Prince is right here and Stevie. Wonder is right here. And I'm just. sweating bullets. Like, what do I say? Like, these is two of the reasons that I. even do this. Right? Right. So, I took a sip of my drink. Prince leans over and goes, "What are. you drinking?". Vodka cranberry. He goes, Mind you, I'm already sitting this close. to the man. He goes, "So, now you want me to get even closer?

Oh, okay. All right." He says, "Vodka's bad for you.". And didn't say nothing else the rest of. the time he was there. That was the That. was the entirety of our conversation. I. I I didn't touch a drink until he left. again. I couldn't. Well, clearly you didn't listen to it. cuz I still drink vodka. No, no, I still drink vodka. But in the. moment. In the moment Right. You know, it was. that you know, if Deebo say, "Shut up." I shut up. Right. When he leave, I'm drinking. again. I'm drinking again. Your first deal. What What was that. moment like?

Uh my first deal? My first deal with with was with. Columbia Records. Okay. And um. it was I'll say this, it was a learning. experience. Okay. You know, um as a as an artist. signed to a label, you don't got a whole. lot of freedom. But there are some. elements of it that that you can. control, you know. Uh I went in under the impression that I. had no control of anything. So, I was. kind of like It's kind of like a robot a. little bit, you know what I'm saying? Pretty much whatever they told me to do, I did. Whatever they told me to wear.

Whatever producers they told me to work. with, you know, just because I'm. thinking You was green. You didn't know. I worked so hard to get here. Let me not. rock the boat. Right? Um. So, it finally came down to the album is. done. The artwork is done. We've picked. the first single. We ready to go. And. I'm looking at um. like a flyer of the artwork. And I'm. like, "This is not me. This this is not me. This is like This is baby Tyrese or. somebody." Like, you know, no disrespect.

to Tyrese, but I feel like that's kind. of the direction they was trying to go. with me. Like, if you see the pictures, it's like it's. Yeah, it's little Tyrese. Okay. Anyway, much love to Tyrese. Anyway, so so I go. to the label on some, "Listen, um I know. the album is finished, but do y'all. think I could go in and maybe do one or. two more songs that just kind of fit. who the hell I am? Right? And they were. like, "Well, no. Album is done. And. also, your budget is depleted." I'm. like, "How was my budget depleted? I. know exactly what we spent." And this is.

when I learned that okay, I don't know. if this still goes on. It's been a while. since I I've had this happen to me, but. you get a record deal and they take you. out to eat. And they throw that credit. card down at the end of the night. And. what they don't tell you is that that's. your budget on THAT CREDIT CARD. WHAT? YEAH, YEAH. YEAH, YEAH. MHM. OH. YEAH, we went to Mr. Chow's a. bunch of different times. I'm like, they. just. And you paying for you paying Oh. Love. me in here. Just Mr. Chow's every time. we visit. All right. My label love me.

No, I was paying for all that and had no. idea. Had no clue. Oh, man. So, what it was. Clearly you said your first. deal. So, things didn't go as expected. Nah. No, they didn't. were dropped, Mhm. what are you thinking? Um. To be completely honest with you, I went. into a slight depression. Uh just behind. really feeling like, you know, I my foot. was in the door. Maybe I should have. just Maybe I should have just went with. what they wanted me to do. Maybe I. should have, you know, to hell with. artistic integrity and just go for it.

But then I know I I know in the back of. my head I would have never been able I. wouldn't have been able to look at. myself in the mirror. Right. So, I'm. back to square one. I'm just kind of trying to figure it out. at this point, you know. Um. Yeah, it was it was a it was a rough. little moment just cuz I I didn't know. that that was like the most uncertain. moment. Right. that I that I had experienced up. to then, you know. Even even when we was. living in the van, you know, I'm talking. to my mom every day and I knew that if. push come to shove and and it hit the. fan, I could go home.

You go home. My but then in this. situation, I'm out here. I'm I'm. roughly. 20 21 years old. I just got dropped from. my record label. Uh my managers is not. picking up the phone no more because we. got dropped from a record label. Like, he's like, all right, well, clearly they. don't want you. I have no I have no. options. No anything. So, it's literally. a a back to square one moment. And um I.

just leaned on what was always there, which was the music, you know what I'm. saying? I I literally met the man that. is my manager today as I was walking. down the street just literally singing. at the top of my lungs with my eyes. closed because I was that's the only. place that I could find solace. And I'm. just walking and singing. And he's in a. SUV driving in the opposite direction. Skrrt. Turned around in the middle of. the street and came back. "Hey, you singing something?". Yeah, clearly I Yeah. "Hey, well, check. this out. I know this person this person. that person. I got this studio da da da. da da da da da da." So, I Mind you, I'm.

hearing this I'm seeing his lips moving, but I ain't listening. Like, "Whatever, bro. Well, all right. Well, where? Round round the corner? All. right, come on. Let's go." I hopped in. the van. Again, I don't know who this. person is. He could have He could have. killed me. I don't I ain't know. He. brought me around the corner to these. two these two producers that he was. working with. And um. I worked with him for roughly three to. four months before we got the Def Jam. deal. And mind you, no contract. He said to me. He said to me, "Listen, I'm going to. shake your hand right now. If I don't.

get you a deal in four months, you walk. away with that handshake and we go our. we go our ways. I don't need no. paperwork. I don't need no nothing.". Four months to the day, I had a record deal I had a record deal. Def Jam. Yeah. So, much love to Tango. Much love to my team. Much love to. Compound. That's So, you you go to Def. Jam. Yes. That goes That's your second record. That's your second record contract. Mhm. Things going well. Things are going. well. Things are going well because I. went in there with a little bit of. knowledge. It's like, "Nah, nah, we. don't need to go to Mr. Chow's. We.

good." Nah, we good. We good. We good. Now, I'm good. Yep. Yep. before I left. Mhm. Leftovers. We good. Right. Okay. So, and then also I I I got. the opportunity to talk to L.A. Reid. Um. and really talk to him like from an. artist from an artist soul to an artist. soul. Right. I went to him and said, "Listen, the the music that you that you've heard. and that you liked is the music that I. really do. If this is a situation where. you going to try to turn me into. somebody else, we don't have to do this. I I I'll go somewhere else.".

Right. And he said to me he was like, "I'm signing you because I like what. what you do. Why would I try to change. that?". Right. And that was just a. All right, cool. You know, I can. actually express myself for real and. really be who I am and and get this. music out here the right way. And sure. enough, that's what happened. So, when did when did Jay-Z take over Def. Jam for L.A.? Um Jay-Z came in kind of. right at the top of of when I got. signed. Okay. Like, um you know, L.A. L.A. was. always you know, always top dog. But he.

took he took a he's CEO, president, you. know. So, um. yeah, Jay I mean, my first time going to. 106 & Park, Jay-Z took me on. The first. time going to TRL, Jay-Z took me on. Um. he really kind of just took me under the. wing. Like, you know, this is this is. our new R&B artist. And and I I. I appreciate him to this day for it, man. He got upset with you because you you. wrote a song and gave it away. Yeah. Yeah. So, um. uh shortly before before the Def Jam. situation happened, uh I I leaned on.

songwriting, you know. I was just I was. just a songwriter. So, I wrote a song. for Mario, "You Should Let Me Love You.". Right. So, this song goes on and uh. stays at number one for like 12 13. weeks, something like that. Um. uh becomes one of the most played songs. on radio history. So, when I had The. first time I got to meet Jay-Z, by the. time I I've been signed for, you know, a. couple months at this point. Uh I walk. into the room and he's in there. It's in. L.A. Reid's office. I walk in. I'm like,

"Hey, how you doing? It's nice to meet. you." He like, "Man, why you give a damn. song away?". That's worth it. Nice nice to meet you, too, bro. All. right, cool. I'm I'm Neo. Yeah. Yeah. How Why you give a damn song. away? Yeah, to to this day he get on me. about giving a damn song away. But I was. just a songwriter when I wrote it. I I. didn't write it for myself. I mean, Right. had I known. Do you think you. could have done it justice like Mario. did? Um I'll be the first to tell you. that Mario got chops that I don't. You. know, that I I ain't got no shame in. that. Um but I know that I got chops, too. So,

yeah, I'm I feel like I feel like it. would have worked either way. Do you. Have you ever given a song away that you. felt you should have kept? Uh once or twice. Once or twice. Um there was a point in. time where I would have a little bit of. separation anxiety with certain songs. Right. You know what I mean? Like I feel. like especially if I hear the end result. and be like and am not totally pleased. with some of the decisions made. Right. You know, then it becomes that. feeling of man, if you was going to do. that, I could have just kept my damn. song.

Right. But but at the same time you have. to. you have to let an artist be an artist. Like I can't allow a person I can't. expect a person to think the way that. I'm going to think, make the choices. that I'm going to make especially when. I've given them the song. Like uh. Beyoncé for example. If you hear my. version of Irreplaceable Right. you hear. the basis, you hear the foundation, but. then you hear her version and you hear. all the Beyoncé-isms that she put on top. of it. Like you want an artist to do. that with the record. Yeah, you want. that. When did you know your pen game was. strong?

Um. Uh when I got my name, honestly. Um. I I got my name from a a producer friend. of mine, uh Deion Evans. Uh he used to. work a lot with uh with Digital. Underground back in the day, Pac and all. of them. Um he was the person that dubbed me Neo. It was it was shortly after the Matrix. movie it came out. going to say so which came first? That. Neo Matrix or. Matrix Neo came first. Uh yeah, yeah. That Neo definitely came first. Okay. Uh but the reference was um the.

way Neo could do things in the Matrix. that other people couldn't do. Correct. I could do things in music that other. people couldn't do. Like for example, I. used to pride myself on how fast I could. write a song. Right. Like give me an. hour, I'll give you 12 records. Quick, quick, quick. Now. notice I said 12 records, I didn't say. 12 good records. Right. I learned later on. quality versus quantity. But at that. moment I was I was the cat that was. going to get in there and just crank. them out. And Deion says to me, he's. like I ain't he's like. he like he had never seen that before. He's like you like the Neo of the music.

industry and that's where the name came. from. You wrote To the Left, To the Left. Yes, indeed. I think now correct me if I'm wrong. LA Reid because did you want to do the. song and he said give it to Beyoncé. because he's like it fits more Beyoncé? Um LA was definitely part of that. decision, but it was Okay, so it was it. was this. I wrote the song to do with. myself initially. Correct. Okay. Right. Myself and. Stargate, shout out to Stargate. Love. them guys to death. Um but when we got. finished with the song. and we're listening to it.

and it's like it it it just. we knew it was a hit, but it just didn't. just something didn't feel right. You. know what I'm saying? It didn't like. I love this song, but there's something. about this [ __ ] I do not like. It became. that. Right. So that's that's when we finally. started going, you know what? Maybe if. we. Okay, maybe if we flip this and flip. that and and and let a what let a female. do it. Right. And like we was on the fence a. little bit and and LA Reid was kind of. the tipping factor. Like, you know what? Yeah, I definitely feel like this song. would get more more. more power punch with a woman singing.

it. How did you decide to give it to. Beyoncé? Um I didn't. We we actually. we actually had shopped it to a few. different female artists who shall. remain nameless cuz I'm. And they didn't want it. I ain't petty, but they didn't want it. They didn't. want it. They didn't understand where I was. going. Ooh, man, you going Can WE HAVE SOME. SOME COME ON, MAN. YOU GOING TO GET ME. IN TROUBLE IN HERE. Uh I'll I'll I'll. say this. It's it's female artists you. know. It's female artists you know. There's a. whole bunch OF FEMALE ARTISTS I KNOW. THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF THEM, YEP. And. and you know the one you know the ones.

I'm talking about. to whisper the name. I don't mind if I. know her. This is the first mission. Nah, nah, nah, I ain't going to do that. I ain't going to do that. But just yeah, Beyoncé's name was not. the first name that popped up when we. were shopping the song. But once Beyoncé. got a hold of it, it became I mean the. rest is history. You know. You know. It. became what it what people know and love. today. So let's just say for the sake of. argument, I sing I don't. I say, "Hey. Neo. I need you to write me something." Mhm. How much you charging? Hm.

Okay. If you are. how does that work? How does somebody. call you and say, "Hey Neo, can you. write me a song?" Or do they send you. like what do you think or changes, additions? How how does that. normally they'll they'll ask and then. okay, so it's it's if if you're an. independent artist. Right. you know, I got the independent. artist price because I know what it is. to be independent. You're doing. everything yourself. I'm not going to. charge you what I would charge your. record label for example because I know. I'm not. Yeah, I'm not you. I'm not hitting you, I'm hitting your record label. Okay. So. you know, however however it happens, be.

it I run into the artist or. artist management reach out to my. management or whatever the case may be. They say, "We'd love for Neo to go in. the studio for such and such artist.". All right. They would then set up studio. time. Right. You know, that they pay for it. However however many days or whatever. they want me go in. I'll go in and. whatever I write within those days, I. submit to them. What they like, they. keep. What they don't, I give back and. that's how it works. Have you ever told anybody no? Hm. Yes. Yes, I have. Just because I.

genuinely didn't see it it was it was a. cat that wanted me to do a feature on. his record. You know, up and coming dude. and it was it was just some real. it it just it wouldn't make no sense. right in my personal opinion. It. wouldn't make no sense. Like I'm never. going to do anything that's going to. intentionally jeopardize my brand or or. you know, confuse people in the realm of. my brand and it just wouldn't make no. sense. I mean I'm looking at some of the. people you've written for, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Whitney, Mary J, Jennifer. Hudson, Monica, B2K, Faith Evans, Music. Soulchild. Well, I mean I mean you got a.

who's who. How did I mean. I mean they all these people I mean. everybody's coming out the woodwork. saying Neo, Neo, Neo and they're. expecting you to write Irreplaceable, they're expecting you to write. To the Left, which hell. I mean Michael Jordan is scoring 50. every game. There was a couple of There. was a couple of 13, 14 points in there, too. It's been a It's been more than a. couple times where you know, an artist. has asked me for something and I'll. write them what I feel like is what they. asked for and.

they'll they'll say no. I mean that. happens. That happens. But I don't I. don't so much because honestly Well, no, because what didn't work for you might. work for her or him or whoever, you. know? And once you give it back to me, it's mine. Like there are songs that. made it to Beyoncé's album, made it to. Rihanna's album that were not written. for Beyoncé or Rihanna. These are songs. that other artists turned down and these. artists didn't. And now they're looking. now how So let me ask you a question. How do you think an artist feel? I. turned this song down. I turned that. song down. Beyoncé did it. Rihanna, that.

could have been. I can imagine that that's a hard pill to. swallow. Yeah. I can. But but but but hold on. Sometimes it's maybe it's just Beyoncé. and Rihanna and you wouldn't have had. the same success with said song. That's possible. That's possible, but. the reality is you didn't even try. So. who's to say? Right. Who's to say? At least at least. they had the the the guts to give it a. try and it turned out to work for them. Have you ever written Have you ever. written a song Have written for someone.

cuz if they say write me a song and. they're going to pay you for it, do they. ever say, "Nah, I'm not good, just keep. it." Or you just have to try Do you have. to turn it over to them? No, I turn it. over to them, you know, and then they. decide whether or not. they want to keep? Yeah, which ones they want to keep. Whatever they don't keep, they just give. back. Okay. And then you shop it to. somebody else. Yeah. Yeah. Shop it to. somebody else or I'll take a piece of. it, turn it into a hook for this rapper. Everything can be used for something, you know what I mean? It's never It's. never anything that just has to sit in. the archive. You ever had anything leak? Yeah. Yeah, man.

But how But you But you have to know. who's doing it, Neo. Nah, so this this particular situation, this was back when Sony Studios existed. in New York. You know, may it rest in. peace. It ain't there no more. Sony. Recording Studios. Um Stargate, they had. a room a room of their of their own in. Sony Studios. Somebody broke in Sony. Studios and stole their hard drives. Me. and Brandy had did like four records. and the following week them joints was. in the world. That's because somebody broke in and. stole the hard drives. Wow. Yeah. It.

happens. But since then, I mean it's it's it's. I don't know. It's a slippery slope. It's hard to keep anything absolutely. private anymore. You know, so yeah, I've. definitely had had things leak, but I've. always looked at it as, all right, well, if the music leaked and people like it, that just adds to my fan base, right? Right. So when you when you say the the. the writers, you say the writers and the. streaming is not the same. writing for an album or things of that. nature, correct? What do you mean? As. far as. Because you say like the streaming.

service like the writer you said writers. when they stream a record, the writers. don't get the compensation that they. they deserve. Well, yeah, no, the. streaming the the numbers that writers. are getting for for streams is not what. it needs to be. Okay. all. So you got to have like needs to. stream like a billion times to make any. money. Millions and billions of streams before. you start to see any real money. Definitely. So why do you why do you. stay writing? I mean because it seems. like everything is kind of like going. towards the streaming industry and that. means it gets less and less in your.

pocket. Well, I mean there are there. exceptions to every situation and and to. every rule. Right. You know, I again, my motivating factor has never been. finance in regards to this business. I. do this because I love it. If there was. no money to be made in it anymore, you'd. still find a Neo song somewhere. Really? Yes. Yes, because I don't do this just. for money. I thank God and and the. creator that I can provide for my family. doing what I love, but to be honest, if. I could not provide for my family doing.

what I love, I would just find a way to. provide for my family while doing what I. love. Right. You know what I mean? Cuz this is. this is music is woven into my DNA. I. couldn't stop if I wanted to. It's just. what it is. So how's the interview process? When. somebody wants to write a When you want. someone wants you to write a song for. them, do you sit do you talk on the. phone? Do y'all go out to dinner? Do you. like get a sense of I mean because. if you know the artist, you kind of get. a sense of kind of like the direction. they want to go in. Mhm. I mean it's it's always. it's always a sign of respect to ask an. artist like, "Okay, what's the what's.

the concept? Like is there a concept to. your project?" As opposed to just trying. to shove a song down their throat. You. know, cuz it's like I well, I don't even. talk like that. Well, all right. Right. So I'll so I'll definitely give. the artist the respect of asking, you. know, is there something specific you. want to say? Is there a specific genre. that you that you hunting for? You know, we'll sit and we'll have a conversation. we'll have a kind of a off-the-cuff. conversation. How's your love life? Like. what's you know, what's going on in your. world? What's what's keeping you awake. at night if anything at all? And that's. where we figure out what we want to.

write about. And that and you know, I. feel like doing that makes the artist. know and understand that this is. literally being custom-made for you. This is not a song that I had my back. pocket and then I will maybe I can sell. it to this one. Not you. All right, maybe you. No, it's like I'm literally. asking you where you at. And if you say. something that that sparks something. that I already got, yeah, I'll let you. hear it. But ultimately in that you. paying me to be here, we going to sit. and we going to talk and I'm going to. I'm going to create something for you. from scratch. Okay. Were you in the studio when when. Beyoncé is doing Irreplaceable? Did you.

know Irreplaceable was going to be that? I did not. No. So you're in the studio. and as you as you're writing this song. and you hearing her sing it. Well, here's the thing with Beyoncé. Beyoncé is one of those few artists that. don't really need nobody. Right? So I was there for about 15. minutes and I I I remember there was one. instance where I tried to feed her a. note and she was like. it's cool. I GOT IT. YOU'RE LIKE THAT AND THAT. Go get some coffee.

Coffee something just going by my And. mind you by the time I came back in the. room the song was done. Like she like. she was in. Took her maybe an hour to do that to do. what she needed to do in that moment. Took her maybe an hour. So that wasn't. I've dealt with artists where you kind. of got to hold their hand through the. whole process. And I ain't mad at that. either, you know what I'm saying? But. but you know, a person like a like a Beyoncé like. Beyoncé is she's an anomaly. Like she. don't she she got every note. She know. exactly what she want to do ad-lib wise. and all of that. Like she'll she'll.

listen to your idea but to be honest she. don't need you there. You know what I. mean? So That's that's what that was. Give me your Mount Rushmore of female. artists you've written for. Oh man. Um. Mount Rushmore. How many heads on Mount. Rushmore? I wasn't good in Four four. heads. Okay. And we ain't going to let you add none. either. Oh damn. Come on. This is my Mount Rushmore. know you want to build a ball but we. ain't building no more heads on Mount. Rushmore. All right. All right, four four. Top. four. Um. Beyoncé, Rihanna, Mary J. Blige,

Celine Dion. Yeah. So those are my four. Celine Dion calls. you up. Ne-Yo, does anybody has anybody since. you gone started giving going by the. name Ne-Yo, has anybody called you your. government name? Um not. Besides the law, maybe an attorney call. you Oh yeah, yeah, Mr. Smith. Yeah, no. But does anybody has anybody say in the. last 20 years called you by your.

government name? Not any artist. Like. you got to you got to know me. You got. to get to that place where you really. know who I am before you call me. anything other than Ne-Yo. So Celine Dion calls Ne-Yo up and says. So how how did that conversation go? Um. surprisingly. she was a fan of my music. She's a fan. of my music. I we actually met through. her husband, you know, may he rest. And. um he was telling me that she was a fan. of the music and I was like yo, I'm a.

huge Celine Dion fan. I love to write. with her one day. Mind you, this this. conversation happens in in a month. later, you know, I get a call out of. nowhere and it's her. And she tells me she's a fan of the. music and tells me that she wants to. work together. We get in the we wrote we. did the song. Well, actually she wanted me to write. her a song initially. Okay, cuz we I've. written her songs and then we there's. one that we did together which was the. whole other. mind-blowing situation. So she said I. love what you do. I'd love for you to. write me some songs. I did two songs for her on the man. I.

got to find a name I got to find a name. of that album. Uh not the last one she put out. It was. like like two albums back I did two. songs for her on that album. And um. we just kind of kept in contact. Like. she's really really cool people. Like. like she's she's silly. Like she'd be. doing Elvis Elvis Presley. impersonations. Like she's she's really. really cool. So um. I remember. the the following album cycle she was. like we have to do a song together. And. I'm like. why? Like if you have Celine Dion's.

voice what the hell do you need Ne-Yo's. voice for? And she's like no no no no. no, we we're doing this song together. You write it. You let me know when it's. done. I'll fly you guys out and we we. make it happen. And sure enough. So I. wrote the song. We recorded it at the recording studio. that is at The Palms in Las Vegas. You. know, cuz she was doing her her. residency there. And um yeah, man. The rest is history. One of one of the most genuine people. that I've ever met. Like you know, you. you meet artists and you know, some. people give you who they really are. Some people give you their. representative. Some people give you who.

they think that you expect to see. She walked in as her and you know, unapologetically her. Like you know, hair in a messy bun. Like we here to. work. Hey, nice to meet you. I'm Celine. Let's let's rock. Like and I I I respect. that. You wrote when you wrote Unfaithful for. Rihanna, "Every time I walk out the door. I see him die a little more inside. I. don't want to hurt him anymore. I want. to take away his life. I don't want to. be a murderer." Mhm. How'd you come up with that hook? That.

is a story. A lot of a lot of my a lot of my songs. come from actual experiences and you. know, if it's not an experience that you. would make a cute couple. Y'all y'all write about Y'ALL BE KILLING. Y'ALL BE KILLING Y'ALL EXES. MAN, DAMN. Taylor don't want me. I'm I'm toxic. She. don't want me. I'll mess I'll mess all that up for you, Taylor. All love. No, but. Um I I write from I write from. experience, man. It's it's not always my.

personal experience. Like for example, Irreplaceable was a was a story about. one of my aunts. I grew up in a house. with five aunts. And that one particular. aunt that just always had a new. boyfriend. So that's that story came. from that song came from that story. Unfaithful came from a story that my. sister was telling me about a dude that. she was dating back in the day. You. know, um she Oh, she might get mad at me. for telling this story but it is what it. Tell it. Tell it. I mean she she was it. was one of those situations where. one sister, we won't know which one you. talking about. I I I do but it she'll know and that's.

I'm going to get home and catch some. catch a couple of these. Catch a couple. of body blows. What would take David's. body blows? She was she was dealing she. was dealing with this dude and it was. that whole situation of he's just he's. just too nice. Right. He's so nice. Like. I I literally just walk over his back. He's so nice. So because he was so nice. she started dealing with somebody else. And it got to the point where like. everybody knew. Everybody knew. And it's like okay okay. She's she's she's doing what she's. doing. The whole family knows. Her. friends know. His friends know. The only.

person that acting like they don't know. is him. is him. And it's like. what do you do? So so that's so that's. what the whole thing came about cuz she. felt terrible about it. Right. But at the same time it was like. Not enough to stop doing it though. But. yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's what it was. That's what it was. Thank you. Ooh, I almost said her name. Ooh, she. going to be mad. She be mad. You'll be. all right. You'll be all right. Taylor Swift said that breakups are. great for writing songs. Hell yeah. Is that how you feel? Absolutely. Yes, definitely so. I don't.

know what it is about heartbreak or or. turmoil or drama or animosity or or. sadness but for whatever reason when you. when you put yourself there. and you write anything, it's going to be deep. It's going to be. meaningful. It's going to have depth. It's going to have emotion and those are. the those are some of the key. ingredients to a song that you just. can't stop singing. So in other words, just because you. know, cuz everybody automatically thinks. that when you write a song.

you talking about a personal experience. Like Usher's Confessions. Everybody said. he talking about Chilli. Yeah, but it. wasn't. But you saying that hey, you know, it. might be an aunt. It might be a sister. It might be a homeboy that was going. through something. me. No, not always cuz. my my story and what's going on with me, you know, I'm a I'm a I'm a dabble into. it a little bit but for the most part. I'm a I'm. I've I've learned that there's certain. aspects of me that I would like to keep. for me, you know, because the world uh. it ain't a person walking the face of.

the planet that has a right to judge. anybody. But they don't stop them, you. know? And and you know, I got kids. I. don't really want my kids to to. to get into all that and see all of. that, you know? But other than that, yeah, I write from I write from just. things that I've always found that if I. write from something that really. happened, the song just comes out. better. I can make it up all day. But. those songs just don't have the same. you know what I mean? Like it's it's. that thing. It's that thing like no, this really happened. I really had to. you know, I had to I really couldn't. turn the radio off. I really had the.

answering machine with hey, we can't. come to the phone right now, you know, we mind you we was kids. We didn't know. what the hell we was doing. But like. the the the fine details that that you. that you can put into it when it's. something that you really experience. Like that's the like that's the the the. weapon X that turns it into that hit. song. Because you're in this place, Mhm. it's on your mind. You can't seem to. escape it. Uh. the mind can't relate can't erase what. the heart can't delete. Mhm. And so. you're writing. And so that puts you in.

a space. that. man, I might as well, you know, turn. this heartbreak into something. Yeah. Something good can come out of every bad. situation. Definitely. see it at the time but you says okay, this happened, didn't end where I wanted. to. I'm putting pen to paper. Yep, absolutely. It's it's it is the ultimate. gift from God because you know, everybody goes through hurt and. heartache and pain. Not everybody gets. the outlet that music is.

Right. You know, I don't have to I don't. have to pack it down and eventually blow. up for something stupid. No, as soon as. I feel it as soon as my chest get heavy, I can sit and write it and after I'm. done writing, I'm good cuz it ain't in me no more. It's here now, you know, and I'mma get. it out to the world and like-minded. people are going to listen to it and be. like, "Yeah, I understand that. I've. been there before. I felt that before.". And that's how we get to where I am now. Do you think any of the women like song. that you wrote like, "That you know what. wrote this about me.".

"I know it." I've Yes, I I've been some. of them have reached out and asked. about me?" No. "You ain't going to get no residual.". No, I ain't talking about you. It's. about you. That don't mean you don't. mean you get no money for it. But it's. Yeah, you know damn well it's about you. Come on. I said I put the date in the. song. You know it's about you. However, enjoy it from from your Honda Civic. We. good. We see a lot of. You got an extensive catalog. We see a. lot of people selling off their catalog. Is that something that you're interested. in? Um if it's for the right price,

yeah. Yeah, for the right price, I'll. definitely do that. Just cuz I know that. I'm not done. Like I haven't written my. greatest song. Right. You know, so. So if you sell your catalog, that means. you start the process of another or then. does everything that you write go into. that catalog? Oh no, no, you start the. process you start another one. Okay. Start over. Mhm. Which I have again, I have no problem. with because I I I have yet to write my. most amazing record. And as things. happen in my life, you know, I. as time progresses and different things.

happen, I just got more and more ammo. for for this gun. So yeah. Do you like. writing more or do you like performing. more? As of late, writing more. I love to perform. I love. to get out there and you know, do that. whole energy exchange. I am, absolutely so. Absolutely. you have singers, you have performers, you have and you. can do both. Mhm. But you really like. performing. Performing is my thing. I. can stand still and sing a song, but I. ain't going to have no fun in it. If I. don't have no fun, you probably won't. have no fun either. So now we going to. jump around, we're going to move work.

the whole stage. This is this is who I. am, yes. Where are you on social media? Um. What are my social media handles? Hold. on. The IG is @NeYo. Uh the Twitter is. @NeYoCompound. Uh you know how to do the Facebook. thing. you Do you respond to comments? Do you. Yeah, yeah. So I mean I I don't I don't. read comments as much anymore because. for whatever reason, you read them. comments and all of a sudden you you. start to like let those opinions mean. something.

Mhm. When the reality is opinions are. not special cuz literally everybody got. one. Right. So I I don't I don't read. comments as much as I used to. But. should you receive a DM from from me and. you see the yellow yellow You see the. blue dot, you know that that's really. me. It's really me. I'm really. responding. Oh, okay. Yeah, yeah. Let's get I want to get to your. upbringing before I get you out of here. Born in Arkansas. Yes. How How old were you when you left. Arkansas and went to Vegas? Roughly 8 9. years old, somewhere in there. And uh we. got to Vegas and and and stayed in. Vegas. Went to high school in Las Vegas,

the whole nine. Right. Uh that was weird, definitely. It wasn't weird as it was happening, it's weird as I look back and like know. how other people's high school situation. went. You know, you go through high. school with that clique of friends all. the way up and y'all graduate together. and all that. That don't happen in Vegas. cuz everybody's coming in to do what. they going to do for about a year. It's. tourist town, military base, you know. what I'm saying? They in and out. So. every school year you start with brand. new people. Teaches you how to be a. people person. Not to mention, there's a. strip every damn weekend where you meet.

Susan and her nine friends from. Minnesota and they just and and and. yeah. So that was So that was So that's. the best That's one of the best parts. about Vegas, huh? Um you meet a lot of. people. You meet a lot of different. people from all walks of life. Everybody. find a way to Vegas at some point. Um. yeah, to a degree. To a degree. 50 degrees, 75 degrees, 100 degrees? I. mean I'm I'll say this, as as my age. progresses, my patience gets shorter.

You know what I mean? Like energy. becomes real real important as as you as. as time progresses. And now I'm real. picky and choosy about what I choose to. give energy to and who. So yeah. up growing up in Vegas make you want to. do show business? Make you want to get. on stage or did. Absolutely. Yeah, man. That was That was. You know, you you hit the strip as as a. teenager and you see the limos pull up. and you see the celebrity get out and. you know, if you get a chance to get. into any of these Vegas shows and you. just it's an experience, bro. Especially.

as as a kid, you looking at that like, "Oh man." That's going to be me. That's That's what I want to do right. there. Yeah. So your parents, they. weren't together. So So did did it have. an impact that your dad wasn't around. and you said you you talked about your. mom, you talked about the women in your. life, your aunts and you you wrote songs. and you had. seems like your sisters and and your mom. and your aunts. You So you had very. strong women around you. Definitely so. Definitely so. Um had. uncles that that, you know, that were. there, but you know, they show up, eat. and leave. That's what they.

But um no, it was primarily my mother, my grandmother, five aunts, my sister. Okay. and me. Right. And um. I never really. I never really felt like I was missing. anything from not having a dad until, you know, I I got of a certain age and. I'm in school and my friends is talking. about their dads and things that they're. doing with their dads and I'm like, "Wait a minute, I ain't. I ain't never did that." It ain't never. Then it becomes a thing. Did you play sports? Uh not really. A. little bit, but I never really took it. serious. I was I would I was more of an.

artistic kid than than an athletic kid. I could do it, but if I had to choose if. I had the option, I was somewhere. writing a song. How did being raised by. women impact your song writing? It. helped me escape the potential of. the the whole toxic masculinity thing. that that everybody's so up in a uproar. about today. Um I feel like toxic. masculinity is the opposite of a person. that is.

in touch with and not afraid of emotion. Like I've heard people say, "How do you. write from the from the mind of a woman. so well?" And it's like, "I'm not. writing from the mind of a person that's. not afraid of emotion.". You're given these emotions for a. reason, okay? That they're supposed to. help you throughout life. You're not. supposed to ignore them. You know, that. whole boys don't cry, that's not a. thing. Right. It's not a thing at all. Like. that's that's how you that's how you. breed that toxic male, you know, I got. to address every situation with. aggression. That's how That's how you.

breed that. My mom didn't raise me like. that. She said if it smile if it feels. good, smile and if it hurts, cry and. never be ashamed of either one because. you're given them for a reason. They're. tools. Do you feel like men suppress a. lot of their true feelings, emotion and. they can't. properly. be who they truly are? Absolutely. Absolutely. I feel like especially. nowadays where, you know, um all. vulnerability is viewed as weakness and. any man showing any is is ridiculed or.

or whatever or you know, something like. that. Yeah. Yeah, you get caught. And. it's like. I've just never I've just never bought. into that. You know what I'm saying? I've I've I've been bullied before. I. understand what that is. You know, nine. times out of 10 the cat bullying you is. getting bullied, his daddy whipping his. ass, something is happening to him. It's. not just he ain't just wake up and. decide to mess with you. He messed with. you cuz somebody messing with him. I get. that. I understand what that is. I just really feel like the way that the. way that my mom brought me up. Don't get. me wrong, she didn't bring me up as no. chump, you know what I'm saying? She.

definitely taught me how to how to fend. for herself and defend myself. But at. the same time, she taught me that every. situation does not call for aggression. Right. You know, you sit up and argue. with a fool, to the people watching, they don't know who the fool is. Y'all both Y'all both look like fools. right now. And I And that was that was. me growing up. I wasn't a cat that was. so eager to jump into a fight, you know. what I'm saying? Nine times out of 10, I'm talking so fast you don't want to. fight no more. That's who I was. I read your favorite. sport is boxing. You still a boxing fan?

Absolutely. Absolutely. Congrats, Tank. Yeah. that. Yeah, man. So. growing up in Vegas, the fight capital. world, I don't know how many fights. Tyson that you saw, Mayweather that you. saw, what is it about the fight game. that makes you such a fan? Um I I love. the strategy. Okay. I I'm There's some. There's some fighters that I that I'm. more of a fan of than others, you know, you got your you got your sluggers, you. got your cats that's going to go out. there and swing as hard as they can till. somebody fall down. I ain't cool That's. what I'm finding good. Floyd has always.

been a favorite of mine because he's. strategic. Floyd's game is not hitting. you. Floyd's game is making you miss. Which is just even more embarrassing. Like that's that's the mind games that. Floyd plays. I'm I'mma let you I'mma let. you swing for the fences and you going. to hit me none. You're not going to. touch me. I love I've always loved just. the. the cleverness of something that's. supposed to be so brutal, but you. literally got to use your mind if you're. going to be good at it. If you're going. to be successful at it. This brutal. blood sport.

where you feel like it's just two men. going in there beating the hell out of. each other for the hell of it. No, this. is a strategic game, you know what I. mean? And and it's just I've always been. a fan of that that contrast. It's like. this is what you expect, but in. actuality, it's really this. You know, I've always. been a fan of that. I'm going to get you out of here with. these last two questions. Mhm. Do you. feel as an entertainer that you need. more than one revenue stream? Because. you entertain, you sing, you write. Mhm. Absolutely so. Um We We already. discussed the fact that songwriters just. as songwriters, if you're not making.

billions and billions and billions of. streams, you can't even live off of your. livelihood. You know what I mean? You'll. have a hit song on the radio and be. broke. This is a real thing. Like that. don't make no sense. It doesn't. There's no other medium that. that happens in. You can't have the. number one blockbuster movie in America. and live in an apartment. You That's not. happening now. They They done paid you. well for that. Music, not so much. That's just what happens. So yes, as an. artist as a as a songwriter, it is in. your best interest to have multiple. streams of revenue, you know, um, you.

are a person with a personality, use. that, you know, don't rely on just one. aspect of entertainment if you are a. person that understands what. entertainment is and your entertainment. value. I see you throwing your hat in the. acting ring. You going to be in an. episode of 50 Cent's BMF. Yes, yes, a a. few episodes, few episodes. I'm excited. Um, I met I met 50 uh, a while ago, you. know what I'm saying? We we did did a. joint together, you know, so we always. kind of kept in contact. Um,

he he basically told me that he was he. was going to figure out a way for us to. work because he saw that I was, you. know, that I was interested in doing the. acting thing. So, he's like, we going to. figure it out. We going to find a way to. find a way to make it work. Um, he threw. me a couple auditions and mind you, that's that's one thing that I really. loved about him is that he wasn't just. going to give me something. Right. You know, he's like, yo, you. know, this is this is an opportunity. You get in there, you do the audition, if you get it, you get it, if you don't, you don't. And like I I respect that, you know? So, same thing with this BMF situation that. that's going on now. He said, I I think.

I found something that that's going to. make sense, you know, or at least I. would like to see you in this role. So, he brought he approached me with the BMF. thing. I I'm I think. I. I I don't You know what? Let me not even. give it away. Yeah, I'm on BMF for a few. episodes. Yeah, yeah, I'm going to leave. it at that. But, I got to get some clarity on this. You once found one of your artists. asleep in your bed. Now, I'm assuming. you got a nice size house. Mhm. Probably. more than one bedroom, I'm assuming. Yeah. I mean, that's very I mean, it's.

very presumptuous of me. of of a. thinking that Ne-Yo's got a nice house, he has more than bed. So, why? What made. him think it would be okay? Was he. Explain it. Explain it. You know, okay, I Shout out to my man, Lucky Day. I love. love you to death. He'd have been unlucky that day. He'd. have been it it it it Cuz I'd have put. something on him. I didn't bring you. back up, Pimpin. I ain't bringing you. back up. But, we here. All right, um, Lucky Day is is an R&B artist. extraordinaire. He won a Grammy last.

year. Like, dude is doing his thing. I I. love that he's doing his thing. Before. Lucky Day got his shot, uh, there was a. time a point in time where I was going. to sign him. Okay. Right? So, you know, uh, we writing songs together. So, he. wasn't your artist at the time, you was. thinking about signing him. We were we. were going to sign him. Yeah. But, we writing songs together. For. example, um, uh, Jamie Foxx's verse on. uh, Miss Independent. Yeah, he wrote that. Okay. He wrote that. So, um, so. basically, I'm about to go on the road, I gave him access to my house. I'm like,

listen, you can post up here, you know. what I'm saying? Do what you do. One rule. One rule. Don't go in my room. That's Hold on. Hold on. So, you so you crystal clear, you made it abundantly clear. That's it. You have access to the entire. entire house. Stay your ass out of my. room. Stay out my room. Okay. Right? So, it. I got it. go on the road, you know. what I'm saying? Chat with the cat back. and forth. Yeah, yeah, yeah, all right, man. I ain't I ain't destroying the. house. All right, cool. Yeah, cool. So, I get home that morning, I go. into my room and old boy is asleep in my.

bed with a young lady. I'm like, all. righty. So, yeah, I took it upon myself to wake. him up and like, come on, bro, you you. got to go. Hold on, you ain't waking him up with a. right left? Nah, nah, nah, nah. I'd have. knocked his ass out with a two-piece. I'm I'm zen, bro. I'm zen. I I just I I. politely was like, hey, I'd have gave. him breakfast in bed. You got to go. He. got to get up out of there. THERE AIN'T. NO WAY IN HERE YOU GOING TO BE SLEEPING. IN MY BED HERE. YOU I DON'T TOLD YOU YOU. HAVE ACCESS TO the house. Eat all the. food in the kitchen, the refrigerator.

You were going TO I GOT FIVE BEDROOM. crib and you can bring your [ __ ] ass. up I'd have. I'd have to have I know your mom say. every situation doesn't call for. aggression. Yeah. Yeah, I had to get real aggressive. with him. Uh, you know what it is it it. I I can't even fault you, Pimpin. It is. it is what it is. But, we've spoken. since then, you know what I'm saying? It's it's all love, you know, it ain't. it ain't no beef or animosity. whatsoever, you know, I'm I'm more than. happy for old boy and what and what is. what he's doing in his career. He's. making his money. You know what? I can't empathize with it. cuz I don't know I'm about to hit it.

too. You know what I'm saying? I'm like, man, this Ne-Yo house. Just Ne-Yo house? Yeah, let me show you the bedroom. NE-YO, YOU KNOW THAT how it went. That's. probably exactly how it went. I don't. mind. I don't mind. I don't mind. I let my. friends use the Ne-Yo. They can use it, it's cool. Last question, World of Dance your. co-stars. Yes. Ah. How how did that impact you hearing. that news? Um, Or did you know he was. going through something? That that I had.

no idea that he was going through. anything. And and and, you know, just. from the circle of friends that I knew. that knew him, they had no idea that he. was going through anything. I've always. looked at that with a side eye. I ain't. making no accusations or nothing like. that, but just the Twitch that I knew. Right. he he what that man was in love with his. children, that man was in love with his. wife, that man was in love with life. I can't I can't say I knew what he was. going through and you never know what. somebody is going through in the dark,

you have no idea. But, the Twitch that I. knew, the Twitch that was represented to. me was not somebody that would have that. would have did that. So, I've always. I've always felt a way about that, you. know what I'm saying? He was he was. brother was was a light. You know what I. mean? Like you you like you meet people. and it's like this just a bright dude. Like it's just just good energy it. coming off of this dude and that's who. he was. That's who he all every time I. saw him, that's who he was. So, I don't know that that story just never. added up to me personally.

But, it is what it is. Appreciate you. Thanks for your time and stopping by the. club. Indeed. All the best moving forward. Thank you, sir. Thank you for having me sweating. and not drinking yet. All my life, I've been grinding all my. life. Sacrifice, hustle, pay the price, want a slice, got to roll the dice, that's why. All my life, I've been. grinding all my life. Look, all my life, I've been grinding all my. life. Sacrifice, hustle, pay the price, want a slice, got to roll the dice, that's why. All my life, I've been.

grinding all my life.