Ne-Yo is a singer, songwriter, record producer, dancer, and actor who first gained notoriety when he wrote 2004’s hit “Let Me Love You” for singer, Mario.

Ne-Yo (who was born Shaffer C. Smith) got his stage name from collaborator and producer, Big D Evans, who claimed that Ne-Yo “sees music as Neo sees the matrix.”

In addition to eight studio albums, Ne-Yo has co-written with Tor Erik Hermansen and Mikkel S. Eriksen of the Norwegian production team, Stargate. His hits include Beyoncé’s “Irreplaceable” and Rihanna’s “Take a Bow”.

Most recently he appeared on the The Mindy Project, playing Marcus, a friend of Mindy’s love interest, Casey.