Most frequent collaboratorMikkel Storleer Eriksen · 19 tracks
GenresR&BContemporary R&BPop
Complete Artist
100%
Authorship
Holds writing credit on 115 of 115 tracks
Does Ne-Yo write his own songs?
Yes. He co-writes nearly all of his own material and built his reputation as a songwriter before he ever recorded as an artist. He often works with the Norwegian production duo Stargate and other collaborators.
By the Numbers
9
Studio Albums
115
Tracks Credited
100%
Self-Written
29 million+
Records Sold
22
Years Active
273
Collaborators
Authorship Breakdown 115 / 115 self-written
Who wrote the songs?
Across all 115 tracks: how many Ne-Yo wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.
Ne-Yo has a writing credit100%
3%
97%
Sole author3tracks3%
Co-written112tracks97%
Outside writers0tracks0%
Role Fingerprint how they contribute
Ne-Yo's roles across the catalogue
Share of all 115 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.
Lyricist (words)100%
Composer (music)100%
Producer15%
Performer100%
Authorship Over Time writing credit per album
Ne-Yo's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.
avg 100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
2006In My Own Words
2007Because of You
2008Year of the Gentleman
2010Libra Scale
2012R.E.D.
2015Non-Fiction
2018Good Man
2022Self Explanatory
2026Highway 79
Early · 100% written
Mid · 100% written
Late · 100% written
Authorship by Decade track-weighted
100%
2000s
In My Own Words, Because of You +1 more
100%
2010s
Libra Scale, R.E.D. +2 more
100%
2020s
Self Explanatory, Highway 79
Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author
Where Ne-Yo sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.
Ne-Yo
Other artists on the site
Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.
Written by Ne-Yo, Ron Feemster, Ray Blaylock, Solomon Ridge, Peedi Peedi, Mark DeBarge, Etterlene Jordan, Shaffer Chimere Smith, Pedro Zayas
Co-wrote
So Sick
In My Own Words
Written by Ne-Yo, Mikkel Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, Shaffer Chimere Smith, Mikkel Storleer Eriksen
Co-wrote
When You're Mad
In My Own Words
Written by Ne-Yo, Shea Taylor, Shaffer Chimere Smith
Co-wrote
Sexy Love
In My Own Words
Written by Ne-Yo, Mikkel Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, Shaffer Chimere Smith, Mikkel Storleer Eriksen
Co-wrote
Because of You
Because of You
Written by Ne-Yo, Tor Erik Hermansen, Mikkel Eriksen, Shaffer Chimere Smith, Mikkel Storleer Eriksen
Co-wrote
Do You
Because of You
Written by Ne-Yo, Marcus Allen, Melvin Sparkman, Shaffer Chimere Smith
Co-wrote
Closer
Year of the Gentleman
Written by Ne-Yo, Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, Magnus Beite, Bernt Rune Stray, Shaffer Chimere Smith, Mikkel Storleer Eriksen
Co-wrote
Miss Independent
Year of the Gentleman
Written by Ne-Yo, Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, Shaffer Chimere Smith, Mikkel Storleer Eriksen
Co-wrote
Mad
Year of the Gentleman
Written by Ne-Yo, Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, Shaffer Chimere Smith, Mikkel Storleer Eriksen
Co-wrote
Beautiful Monster
Libra Scale
Written by Ne-Yo, Stargate, Sandy Vee, Shaffer Chimere Smith, Mikkel Storleer Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, Sandy Wilhelm
Co-wrote
Champagne Life
Libra Scale
Written by Ne-Yo, David Gough, Shaffer Chimere Smith
Co-wrote
One in a Million
Libra Scale
Written by Ne-Yo, Chuck Harmony, Shaffer Chimere Smith, Charles T. Harmon
Co-wrote
Let Me Love You (Until You Learn to Love Yourself)
R.E.D.
Written by Ne-Yo, Sia, Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor E. Hermansen, Mark Hadfield, Mike Di Scala, Shaffer Chimere Smith, Sia Furler, Mikkel Storleer Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen
Co-wrote
Lazy Love
R.E.D.
Written by Ne-Yo, Shea Taylor, Shaffer Chimere Smith, Robert Shea Taylor
Co-wrote
Time of Our Lives
Non-Fiction
Written by Ne-Yo, Pitbull, Dr. Luke, Cirkut, Stephan Taft, Al Burna, Shaffer Chimere Smith, Armando Christian Pérez, Lukasz Gottwald, Henry Walter
Co-wrote
She Knows
Non-Fiction
Written by Ne-Yo, Juicy J, Dr. Luke, Cirkut, Shaffer Chimere Smith, Jordan Houston, Lukasz Gottwald, Henry Walter
Co-wrote
Coming with You
Non-Fiction
Written by Ne-Yo, Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, Shaffer Chimere Smith, Mikkel Storleer Eriksen
Co-wrote
Money Can't Buy
Non-Fiction
Written by Ne-Yo, Jeezy, DJ Montay, Jaytez, D Lumar, Dennis Martin, Jesse "Corparal" Wilson, Tony Hester, William DeVaughn, Shaffer Chimere Smith, Jay Wayne Jenkins, Montay Humphrey, Justin Johnson, Korey Roberson, Jesse Wilson
Co-wrote
Good Man
Good Man
Written by Ne-Yo, DJ Camper, D'Angelo, Raphael Saadiq, Shaffer Chimere Smith, Darhyl Camper Jr., Michael Archer, Charles Ray Wiggins
Co-wrote
Push Back
Good Man
Written by Ne-Yo, Bebe Rexha, Stefflon Don, Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, Shaffer Chimere Smith, Bleta Rexha, Stephanie Allen, Mikkel Storleer Eriksen
Co-wrote
U 2 Luv
Self Explanatory
Written by Ne-Yo, Jeremih, Leon Youngblood Jr., Larry Troutman, Roger Troutman, Shirley Murdock, James Mtume, Teddy Pena, Shaffer Chimere Smith, Jeremy Phillip Felton
Co-wrote
None of the signature songs above fall in this category.
Discography 9 albums
Covers all eight Ne-Yo studio albums, from In My Own Words (2006) through Self Explanatory (2022). His 2019 holiday release Another Kind of Christmas is a Christmas studio album outside this pop/R&B studio scope and is tracked in TODO.md under Incomplete Catalog; live albums, mixtapes, and compilations are excluded.
Bubble size = tracks worked on together. Showing the 150 most frequent of 261. MS Mikkel Storleer Eriksen · S Stargate · TE Tor Erik Hermansen · ST Shea Taylor · MS Mikkel S. Eriksen · CH Chuck Harmony
The Authorship Story
Data Insight
Ne-Yo is a rare case of a genuine self-author who is also one of pop's most in-demand hired songwriters. On his own records the authorship map barely moves: he co-writes every track, so his legal name Shaffer Chimere Smith sits in the composer column of nearly every song across all eight albums, paired with his stage name Ne-Yo on the lyric line. He almost never writes alone, instead building each song with the producer who made the beat, which is why the credits fill with production camps like Stargate (Mikkel Storleer Eriksen and Tor Erik Hermansen), Shea Taylor, Chuck Harmony, Dr. Luke, and Cirkut. The other half of his authorship story happens off his own albums, where he wrote number ones for Beyonce and Rihanna and the breakthrough Mario single that started his career. The through-line is that Ne-Yo is a songwriter first and a singer second, and the credits on this site reflect a catalog he authored rather than one handed to him.
Quick Facts
Songwriter firstHe wrote Mario's 2004 single 'Let Me Love You' before landing his own deal, and its success led to his Def Jam contract.
Wrote a Beyonce number oneHe co-wrote 'Irreplaceable' for Beyonce, which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for ten weeks.
Three GrammysHe has won three Grammy Awards, including Best Contemporary R&B Album for 'Because of You'.
Chart-topping pen for hireHe co-wrote US number ones for both Beyonce ('Irreplaceable') and Rihanna ('Take a Bow').
Songwriters Hall of Fame honorHe received the Songwriters Hall of Fame's Hal David Starlight Award in 2012.
Co-writes his own catalogHe co-writes nearly all of his own singles, frequently with the production duo Stargate.
Creative Fingerprint
Ne-Yo co-writes almost every song on his own albums while also ranking among pop's most successful songwriters-for-hire, having penned hits for Beyonce, Rihanna, Mario, and Whitney Houston.
The Story
Ne-Yo, born Shaffer Chimere Smith on October 18, 1979 in Camden, Arkansas, is an American R&B singer and one of the most successful songwriters of his era. He built his reputation behind the scenes first, writing Mario's 2004 number one 'Let Me Love You' before Def Jam signed him as a recording artist, and he has co-written nearly every song across his own eight studio albums. His catalog runs from the 2006 debut In My Own Words, with the number one hit 'So Sick,' through Because of You (2007), the acclaimed Year of the Gentleman (2008), and on to Self Explanatory (2022). Away from his own records he is a chart-topping pen for hire, having written 'Irreplaceable' for Beyonce, 'Let Me Love You' for Mario, and songs for Rihanna, Whitney Houston, and Celine Dion. He has won three Grammy Awards and received the Songwriters Hall of Fame's Hal David Starlight Award in 2012.
Awards & Recognition
Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Album, 'Because of You' (2008)
Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, 'Miss Independent' (2009)
Grammy Award for Best R&B Song, 'Miss Independent' (2009)
Songwriters Hall of Fame Hal David Starlight Award (2012)
Frequently Asked Questions Ne-Yo
Does Ne-Yo write his own songs?
Yes. He co-writes nearly all of his own material and built his reputation as a songwriter before he ever recorded as an artist. He often works with the Norwegian production duo Stargate and other collaborators.
Did Ne-Yo write 'Irreplaceable' for Beyonce?
Yes. He co-wrote 'Irreplaceable' for Beyonce, and it reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, where it stayed for ten weeks. It is one of his best known writing credits for another artist.
Did Ne-Yo write 'Let Me Love You' for Mario?
Yes. He co-wrote Mario's 2004 single 'Let Me Love You,' one of his earliest major credits. The song's success led directly to his own recording contract with Def Jam.
What is Ne-Yo's real name?
His birth name is Shaffer Chimere Smith. He was born on October 18, 1979, in Camden, Arkansas. 'Ne-Yo' is the stage name he adopted for his recording and songwriting career.
Who has Ne-Yo written songs for?
He has written for Beyonce ('Irreplaceable'), Mario ('Let Me Love You'), Rihanna ('Take a Bow,' 'Unfaithful,' 'Russian Roulette'), Whitney Houston, Mary J. Blige, Celine Dion, and Leona Lewis, among others. Songs he wrote for both Beyonce and Rihanna reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
He started as a behind-the-scenes songwriter rather than a performer. After he wrote Mario's 2004 hit 'Let Me Love You,' Def Jam signed him as a recording artist, and he released his debut album 'In My Own Words' in 2006.
How many Grammy Awards has Ne-Yo won?
He has won three Grammy Awards. He took Best Contemporary R&B Album for 'Because of You' in 2008, and both Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song for 'Miss Independent' in 2009.
Is Ne-Yo in the Songwriters Hall of Fame?
The Songwriters Hall of Fame honored him with its Hal David Starlight Award in 2012, an award given to emerging songwriters. The recognition reflects his output as both a self-authoring artist and a writer for other performers.
Does Ne-Yo write alone or with collaborators?
He usually co-writes rather than writing entirely alone. On his own records he works closely with production teams such as Stargate, and his songs for other artists are typically co-credited with the acts' producers and writers.
Ne-Yo