Ne-Yo, 'Year of the Gentleman'

Backstory: Ne-Yo’s recording career got off to a choppy start, but when he finally got an album released, 2006’s “In My Own Words,” he went straight to the top of the charts with “So Sick.” Now that he has his foothold, he’s not wasting any time; “Year of the Gentleman” is his third album in three years. Increasingly a star in his own right, Ne-Yo has found even more success as a songwriter for others—among his tracks are the smash hits “Irreplaceable” (Beyonce) and “Take a Bow” (Rihanna).

Why you should care: It’s 2008 and you can’t keep putting “My Boo” on your mixes.

Verdict: Who says chivalry is dead? True to his album title, Ne-Yo plays the part of perfect gentleman, a classically styled R&B crooner who takes his cues from the Rat Pack and pre-creepy Michael Jackson. His vocals are supple and expressive—not especially powerful, but perfectly suited for his tales of insecurity, unrequited love and strong women who are just fine without him. He does best when paired with Norwegian producers Stargate, as on the club-ready singles “Closer” and “Miss Independent.” He’s seldom without a strong vocal hook, but sometimes gets a little too soft and syrupy, as on the maudlin “Why Does She Stay.”

X-Factor: Ne-Yo is becoming a go-to songwriter for legends in dire need of comebacks; he is in the process of writing songs for both Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston.

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