Studio Album · No. 1
In My Own Words Songwriting Credits by Ne-Yo
Produced by Stargate, Ron "Neff-U" Feemster, Shea Taylor, Brian "B-Nasty" Reid, Curtis "Sauce" Wilson, Ervin "EP" Pope, Brandon Howard, Boola · Engineered by Bob Horn, Michael Tocci, Phil Tan, Dave Pensado, Kevin "KD" Davis, Tom Coyne
Holds writing credit on 13 of 13 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 13 / 13 documented
Scored across the 13 tracks with documented writers, by whether Ne-Yo carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 13 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
In My Own Words is a songwriter's debut, and the credits show it: Ne-Yo, credited under his legal name Shaffer Chimere Smith, co-wrote all thirteen tracks. The two biggest hits, 'So Sick' and 'Sexy Love,' were written and produced with Stargate, the duo of Mikkel Storleer Eriksen and Tor Erik Hermansen, who also handled 'Let Go' and 'Time.' The rest of the album spreads production across Ron 'Neff-U' Feemster, Shea Taylor, Brian 'B-Nasty' Reid, Curtis 'Sauce' Wilson, Ervin 'EP' Pope, and Brandon Howard with Boola, each co-writing with Ne-Yo rather than handing him finished songs. A handful of tracks fold in older writers through interpolations, so 'Stay' carries DeBarge-family credits and 'Get Down Like That' gives a writing share to Philadelphia soul veteran Bunny Sigler. No song on the record was written without Ne-Yo's name on it.
In My Own Words is the debut studio album by Ne-Yo, released on February 28, 2006 through Compound Entertainment and Def Jam Recordings. It arrived after Ne-Yo had already made his name as a songwriter for other artists, and the album title points straight at that shift from pen-for-hire to lead vocalist singing his own material. Ne-Yo, whose legal name is Shaffer Chimere Smith, co-wrote every one of the thirteen tracks, pairing his voice with the Norwegian production duo Stargate on the singles 'So Sick' and 'Sexy Love.' The record entered the Billboard 200 at number one on first-week sales of roughly 301,000 copies and was later certified double platinum by the RIAA. It set the template for the smooth, self-written R&B that would define the rest of his catalog.
Track Listing & Credits 13 tracks
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Stay
#36
|
Ne-YoRon FeemsterRay BlaylockSolomon RidgePeedi PeediMark DeBargeEtterlene Jordan | Shaffer Chimere SmithRon FeemsterRay BlaylockSolomon RidgePedro ZayasMark DeBargeEtterlene Jordan | Ron "Neff-U" Feemster | Ne-Yo (Lead Vocals)Peedi Peedi (Featured Vocals) |
| 2 |
Let Me Get This Right
|
Ne-YoBrian ReidRay BlaylockSolomon Ridge | Shaffer Chimere SmithBrian ReidRay BlaylockSolomon Ridge | Brian "B-Nasty" Reid | Ne-Yo (Lead Vocals) |
| 3 |
So Sick
#1
|
Ne-YoMikkel EriksenTor Erik Hermansen | Shaffer Chimere SmithMikkel Storleer EriksenTor Erik Hermansen | Stargate | Ne-Yo (Lead Vocals) |
| 4 |
When You're Mad
#15
|
Ne-YoShea Taylor | Shaffer Chimere SmithShea Taylor | Shea Taylor | Ne-Yo (Lead Vocals) |
| 5 |
It Just Ain't Right
|
Ne-YoCurtis WilsonGregory WilliamsBobby DeBarge | Shaffer Chimere SmithCurtis WilsonGregory WilliamsRobert DeBarge | Curtis "Sauce" Wilson | Ne-Yo (Lead Vocals) |
| 6 |
Mirror
|
Ne-YoShea Taylor | Shaffer Chimere SmithShea Taylor | Shea Taylor | Ne-Yo (Lead Vocals) |
| 7 |
Sign Me Up
|
Ne-YoRon Feemster | Shaffer Chimere SmithRon Feemster | Ron "Neff-U" Feemster | Ne-Yo (Lead Vocals) |
| 8 |
I Ain't Gotta Tell You
|
Ne-YoAlfred LewisBrandon Howard | Shaffer Chimere SmithAlfred LewisBrandon Howard | BoolaBrandon Howard | Ne-Yo (Lead Vocals) |
| 9 |
Get Down Like That
|
Ne-YoErvin PopeBunny Sigler | Shaffer Chimere SmithErvin PopeWalter Sigler | Ervin "EP" Pope | Ne-Yo (Lead Vocals) |
| 10 |
Sexy Love
#7
|
Ne-YoMikkel EriksenTor Erik Hermansen | Shaffer Chimere SmithMikkel Storleer EriksenTor Erik Hermansen | Stargate | Ne-Yo (Lead Vocals) |
| 11 |
Let Go
|
Ne-YoMikkel EriksenTor Erik Hermansen | Shaffer Chimere SmithMikkel Storleer EriksenTor Erik Hermansen | Stargate | Ne-Yo (Lead Vocals) |
| 12 |
Time
|
Ne-YoMikkel EriksenTor Erik Hermansen | Shaffer Chimere SmithMikkel Storleer EriksenTor Erik Hermansen | Stargate | Ne-Yo (Lead Vocals) |
| 13 |
Get Down Like That (Remix)
|
Ne-YoErvin PopeBunny SiglerGhostface Killah | Shaffer Chimere SmithErvin PopeWalter SiglerDennis Coles | Ervin "EP" Pope | Ne-Yo (Lead Vocals)Ghostface Killah (Featured Vocals) |