Gentleman's club

He was born Shaffer Chimere Smith, but fans of this Grammy-winning R&B singer-songwriter know him simply as Ne-Yo. After penning songs for superstars such as Mary J. Blige, Rihanna and Beyoncé, he proved he could hold his own behind the mike. With last fall’s release of his third disc, Year of the Gentleman, Ne-Yo hit the big time, topping the charts with “Closer” and “Miss Independent.” Earlier this summer, he paid tribute to Michael Jackson at the BET Awards, performing “The Lady in My Life” days after Jackson’s death.

Known for his slick suits and smooth fedora, Ne-Yo has become a spokesman for the Alfani Red men’s clothing line. On Friday 21, he headlines the glitzy fashion show Macy’s Glamorama at the Chicago Theatre, benefiting the Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Time Out Chicago: Is it true you got your name from The Matrix’s Neo?
Ne-Yo: It is true. It started as a joke, actually. A producer friend of mine said, “You’re the Neo of the music industry.” Basically he was saying I could do things with music other people couldn’t do, like Neo could do in the movie. I thought it was kind of corny and said, “Don’t call me that,” but it kind of just stuck with me.

TOC: Can you slow down bullets?
Ne-Yo: Ha. No, I don’t think so. But maybe I could sing a song and convince the guy to go back to his girlfriend that caused him to shoot the gun in the first place.

TOC: Your Michael Jackson tribute at the BET Awards was a showstopper. Did Michael influence your music?
Ne-Yo: Absolutely. I probably wouldn’t be singing if not for Michael Jackson. When I started singing, I didn’t like my tone until my mom put me on to Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder, so listening to the way they used their instrument helped me get more comfortable with my own.

TOC: I read that some of Michael’s last recordings were with you.
Ne-Yo: No, we didn’t get a chance to do any recording. We were at a point where I was submitting songs to him and he would call me and tell me which songs he liked and didn’t like, but we never got the opportunity to get in the studio and do anything, regretfully.

TOC: Considering your threads, it’s no surprise you’re headlining Glamorama. How would you describe your fashion style?
Ne-Yo: People will tell you the “Ne-Yo look” is a fedora hat, a nice suit, but I’m not in a fedora and a suit 24 hours a day, seven days a week. My style is mainly about comfort. It has to be comfortable, it has to lay right on me, know what I mean?

TOC: Did you know MC Hammer played last year at Glam?
Ne-Yo: Did he?

TOC: I’m sure he’d say you can’t touch him.
Ne-Yo: I wouldn’t try. I wouldn’t try. The guy’s a legend.

TOC: You’ve been doing a little acting lately. Have you been bitten by the acting bug?
Ne-Yo: A little bit. I’m trying my hand at that. I was just in Prague for four months shooting a film called Red Tails. It’s about the Tuskegee Airmen, the first African-American fighter pilots in the U.S. It was an experience. Cuba Gooding Jr. is in the movie, Terrence Howard—actual actors. I think standing next to them I did okay. I don’t look like a complete idiot up there—at least I don’t think so.

TOC: What’s your part?
Ne-Yo: I play a fighter pilot by the name of Smoky. He’s definitely the lighter side of the very heavy situation going on. The movie takes place in 1942, so the Tuskegee Airmen were fighting two battles: fighting for acceptance within the ranks of the guys that were supposed to be on their side and also fighting the Germans.

TOC: You’ve written songs for some of the biggest names in the business. Are you working with anybody now?
Ne-Yo: I am. I’m in the studio currently doing some stuff with Rihanna. I’m going in with Chris Brown. Doing some stuff with Jennifer Hudson, Leona Lewis.

TOC: You’ll be working with Rihanna and Chris at separate times, I assume?
Ne-Yo: Uh, yeah. Ha. Yeahhhh…definitely so.

TOC: How is the process different when you’re writing for yourself versus another artist?
Ne-Yo: I used to make it a major difference. I would always try to save the good lines for myself. But what I came to figure out was the simple stuff I was writing for everybody else is the stuff that was really winning. Short and simple wins the race, and that’s how I write now for myself and others.

Glamorama takes place Friday 21 at 8pm at the Chicago Theatre.

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