Letter to Def Jam

What is R&B?

R & B is the abbreviation for rhythm and blues. It originated in the 1940s. The term used to be used by record companies to describe recordings marketed mainly to urban African American. By the 1970s, rhythm and blues was used as a blanket term for soul and funk. In the 1980s a newer style of R & B developed, becoming known as contemporary R & B. African Americans then started to migrate to urban industrial centres of Chicago, Detroit, New York, Los Angeles in the 1930s. This created a new market of Jazz, blues and many other similar genres.
British rhythm and blues developed in the 1960s. This was mainly because of the response to the recordings of American artists. Many bands tried to outdo black rhythm and blues performers. This developed out the trad jazz, sciffle and folk club scenes.

Typical instruments that are usually used are drum kit, double bass, saxophone, horns, piano, organ, electric guitar, vocals and background vocalists.
Many famous R & B artists are or were Aaliyah, Alicia Keys, Backstreet Boys, Jennifer Lopez, Ne-Yo, Rihanna, Stevie Wonder and many more.

The British modern subculture was musically centred on rhythm and blues and later soul music, performed by artists that were not available in small London clubs around which the scene was based. This resulted in a number of bands forming to fill this gap in. For example Small Faces.

British artists music was much different to artists in America. It had a much different tone and emphasised on guitars. They have been criticised for exploiting the massive classification of African American music but they also populated it bringing it to the British world and also American audiences. They also contributed to build the reputation of existing and past rhythm and blues artists.

More about Ne-Yo

Ne-yo admits that his album, 'Year of of the Gentlemen', where our song features, was inspired by UK music. When asked who in particular, he responded Leona Lewis, Coldplay and Amy Winehouse.

"Years ago, if you weren't wearing the right suit or have a correct crease in your pants, you couldn't even get in the door--let alone on stage to perform," said Ne-Yo via a press release. "For me, the sharpness of Sammy and Sinatra is the kind of style I strive for in clothes and music. 'Year of the Gentleman' is named in honor of those guys."

Ne-Yo's singing ability was never in question, and he signed a deal with Columbia Records around 2002. Just happy to have a recording deal, the young artist allowed Columbia to twist his music into something he wasn't happy about. A record was in the works, but when Ne-Yo fought to write the type of songs he wanted and to be represented the way he wanted to be, the label decided they wouldn't compromise and dropped him off their roster in 2003. The young artist could have given up on music, but shortly after parting with Columbia his career as a songwriter began to flourish. "That Girl," a track Ne-Yo wrote and recorded for his never-released Columbia record was rerecorded by Marques Houston and became a smash when it got on the radio later that year. "That was the song that made me go OK, if people are digging this song, I guess songwriting is what I'm supposed to be doing," Ne-Yo confided to Hoffman. "That was my cue that God wants me to be a songwriter."

While simultaneously touring to promote his own record and being an in-demand songwriter for other artists, Ne-Yo was also sought out as a guest vocalist on a handful of records by the likes of Ghostface Killah and Remy Ma. In 2006 he had a cameo role in the movie Save the Last Dance 2, and showed true acting skills when he played the role of Rich Brown in the blockbuster film Stomp the Yard the following year. Ne-Yo's strength as an entertainer and businessman couldn't be denied. "R&B music is predominantly for women," Ne-Yo told Hoffman, "but I think that I've learned [that] my place in this whole thing is basically saying things for guys they want to say but don't know how to say." He proved to be more than successful when he had a hand in writing two of the year's biggest hits by female R&B singers, Beyoncé's number one Billboard song "Irreplaceable" and Rihanna's heartbreaking ballad "Unfaithful."

Ne-Yo

Shaffer Chimere Smith was born on October 18, 1982 in Camden, Arkansas but raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. Born into a family of musicians from Arkansas, Shaffer C. Smith a.k.a. Ne-Yo was raised in a single parent home by his mother. In hopes of a better opportunity, Ne-Yo's mother relocated the family to Las Vegas Nevada where Ne-Yo would discover his passion.

Before Ne-Yo became a songwriter for other artists, he was a member of the group Envy which was based in Las Vegas. The band split up in the year 2000, but Ne-yo was able to get a solo deal with Columbia Records. After his recording of his supposed to be debut album, the label let go of Ne-yo.

Ne yo is an American pop and R&B singer song writer who is currently signed to Def Jam records. He was previously best known for co-writing Mario's 2004 number one hit, "Let Me Love You", before he began a recording career of his own in 2005.
Ne-Yo's third album, year of the gentleman was released August 5th 2008. the album sold 250, 000 copies in the first week of the states. Ne-Yo's songs appeals to fans of all ages. The album sold 250,000 copies in its first week in the United States, debuting on the Billboard 200 at number two.



He has wrote songs for number of artists like Rihanna, Mario, Mary J Blige, Jamie Foxx, Beyonce and much more.

Has worked with actor Columbus Short twice in two Films Save the Last Dance 2 and Stomp The Yard.
His stage name is taken from Keanu Reeves' character in The Matrix.
Ne-Yo opened a recording studio called Carrington House and started his own label, Compound Entertainment, in 2007.

'Bossy' is a song written by Ne-Yo for American Pop singer Lindsay Lohan. The song became Lindsay's first number one hit on the Hot Dance club play chart.

Narrative theory

Britney Spears