R&B heads, what’s your thoughts on Ne-Yo?

[Street Knowledge]

I made a John legend thread last year and now is my Ne-Yo thread.

He is seen as one of the most important figures of 21st century RnB. He has made countless hosts for himself and others.

1.)Where do you rank him among the best RnB artists if the 21st century and all time?

2.)Do you think he has a classic album or nah?

 

[I love Latina women]

A light weight and poor man’s Babyface without the decades of hits

I say that cause he can write and produce a song for himself and others (Beyoncé, Rihanna) but he’s not the titan that Babyface is. Babyface spans the 80’s, 90’s, 00’s and beyond (SZA)

Ne-yo hasn’t written a hit song let alone a catchy song in a long time.


He had a spark but once he started doing that dance euro dance pop music, his music became boring.


That song is did with Jennifer Hudson “Leaving Tonight” is a classic “modern” day R&B song. They put elbow grease into that

 

[I love Latina women]

One other thing I will say

Ne-yo came into the game as a solo artist at a time when R&B was taking a turn for the worse

So the one thing that helps his “legacy” is the fact that he didn’t have much competition. The genre was already flabby and sick when he got on the game

Mid 2000’s was the beginning of the dark ages for R&B

 

[dora_da_destroyer]

i fukked with his first 3 albums, gave us some classic joints as an artist and writer. comparing him to his peers - basically 2005 - 2015 r&b artists, he's in the upper 3rd. can't think of that era without thinking of him and the dream.

 

[No Hook]

Great artist and songwriter that didn’t need the cursing in R&B to make good music. Even though I consider Ne-Yo a better artist, him Trey and Chris carried nikka R&B for a minute

In My Own words is a good album and not upset if anyone thinks it’s a classic

 

[Professor K.]

His first 3 albums are classics, argue witcha mama

 

[skillz2]

A very good artist for his time. But a level or two below the likes of Babyface, R. Kelly, Donell Jones, D'angelo and Raphael Sadiq.

 

[Street Knowledge]

 

[010101]

good made to look better by comparison in a declining era of songwriting*

 

[Formerly known as...]

Loved his first 2 projects. Then he went a little euro pop-ish and then had some nice rnb songs here and there on his albums from there. I don't check for him much anymore but he is a talented musician/songwriter

 

[BlackDiBiase]

His voice is not really hitting like that and for his so called song writing I do not see what is so impressive. He rhymes words to capture the love/lust of a woman over nice production for 12 to 14 songs. It is not ground breaking lyricism or emotional poetry like the top shelf RnB acts of the time. I would even go as far to say Marques Houston is a better singer and song writer.

Babyface : 'I only think of you on two occasions, that's day and night' ... now that is great writing and my original point is his voice dont hit right.

 

[GetSomeMoney]

A very good artist for his time. But a level or two below the likes of Babyface, R. Kelly, Donell Jones, D'angelo and Raphael Sadiq.

As a solo artist and songwriter he is much higher than Donell Jones, lol. I can't believe you put him in the same sentence with the guys you listed.

 

[Ruck]

Damn its been 20 years since so sick was released? That's a great song. About the only song I like from dude really. Definitely a great writer, above average vocally.

 

[Big Boss]

Better songwriter than a singer IMO

 

[Swahili P'Bitek]

Good artist of his era, had a hit song almost every year in from the mid 2000s, rare for RnB artists these days.