Studio Album · No. 8
Self Explanatory Songwriting Credits by Ne-Yo
Produced by Remo, RoccStar, The Aristocrats, Cardiak, Hitmaka, Paul Cabbin, Digi, Mally Mall, Retro Future, FrankieOnTheGuitar, Ebenezer, Magnus Klausen, DeCarlo, Don Mills, Drew Banga, Julia Lewis · Engineered by Curtis "Sauce" Wilson, Kevin "KD" Davis, Jaycen Joshua, Gene Grimaldi
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
Self Explanatory continues the authorship pattern that has defined Ne-Yo's whole career: he co-writes everything he sings. His name appears on all thirteen tracks, credited on the lyric side as Ne-Yo and on the composition side under his legal name Shaffer Chimere Smith, the split this data preserves. He rarely works alone, though. Each song pairs him with a production-and-writing camp, so the credits fan out to legal names like Christian Ward (Hitmaka), Carl McCormick (Cardiak), Chaz Jackson (RoccStar), and Jamal Rashid (Mally Mall), plus the estates of Roger and Larry Troutman and Shirley Murdock, whose Zapp and solo work is interpolated on 'U 2 Luv' and 'After Party.' Guest vocalists Jeremih and Trippie Redd also carry writing credits on their features, appearing as Jeremy Phillip Felton and Michael Lamar White II on the composition line. The through-line is a veteran songwriter who still authors his own material but builds each track inside a collaborative room rather than by himself.
Self Explanatory is the eighth studio album by American R&B singer Ne-Yo, released July 15, 2022 through his Compound Entertainment imprint and Motown Records. The record leans on the smooth adult-contemporary R&B that built his career while pulling in younger rap and R&B guests, with features from Jeremih on 'U 2 Luv,' Trippie Redd on 'Push Up,' Yung Bleu on 'Stay Down,' and Zae France on 'Layin' Low.' Ne-Yo co-wrote all thirteen tracks under his legal name Shaffer Chimere Smith, working with a rotating cast of producers including Remo, RoccStar, Cardiak, Hitmaka, Mally Mall, and Retro Future. Several songs interpolate classic funk and soul records, with 'U 2 Luv' and 'After Party' pulling from the Zapp and Roger Troutman catalog and 'U 2 Luv' also drawing on Mtume's 'Juicy Fruit.' The lead single 'U 2 Luv' topped the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart, though the album itself was a commercial low point, debuting at number 184 on the Billboard 200.
Track Listing & Credits 13 tracks
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Layin' Low
|
Ne-YoAquil JacksonAvery SegersCalvin HayRemo GreenZae FranceAnthony Nixon | Shaffer Chimere SmithAquil JacksonAvery SegersCalvin HayRemo GreenXavier FranceAnthony Nixon | Remo | Ne-Yo (Lead Vocals)Zae France (Featured Vocals) |
| 2 |
You Got the Body
|
Ne-YoBrent MontgomeryRoccStarLeon Youngblood Jr.Orlando Williamson | Shaffer Chimere SmithBrent Vikaden MontgomeryChaz JacksonLeon Youngblood Jr.Orlando Williamson | RoccStarThe Aristocrats | Ne-Yo (Lead Vocals) |
| 3 |
After Party
|
Ne-YoCardiakHitmakaCorey CroweGabrielle NowelleLarry TroutmanLerron CarsonRoger TroutmanShirley Murdock | Shaffer Chimere SmithCarl McCormickChristian WardCorey CroweGabrielle NowelleLarry TroutmanLerron CarsonRoger TroutmanShirley Murdock | CardiakHitmakaPaul Cabbin | Ne-Yo (Lead Vocals) |
| 4 |
Handle Me Gently
|
Ne-YoCorey CroweDigiJohn Perkins | Shaffer Chimere SmithCorey CroweJamil George ChammasJohn Perkins | Digi | Ne-Yo (Lead Vocals) |
| 5 |
Don't Love Me
|
Ne-YoMally Mall | Shaffer Chimere SmithJamal Rashid | Mally Mall | Ne-Yo (Lead Vocals) |
| 6 |
U 2 Luv
#1
|
Ne-YoJeremihLeon Youngblood Jr.Larry TroutmanRoger TroutmanShirley MurdockJames MtumeTeddy Pena | Shaffer Chimere SmithJeremy Phillip FeltonLeon Youngblood Jr.Larry TroutmanRoger TroutmanShirley MurdockJames MtumeTeddy Pena | Retro Future | Ne-Yo (Lead Vocals)Jeremih (Featured Vocals) |
| 7 |
Push Up
|
Ne-YoFrankieOnTheGuitarIgor MametTrippie Redd | Shaffer Chimere SmithFrancisco BaptistaIgor MametMichael Lamar White II | FrankieOnTheGuitar | Ne-Yo (Lead Vocals)Trippie Redd (Featured Vocals) |
| 8 |
Proud of You
|
Ne-YoRemo GreenCorey CroweHit-Boy | Shaffer Chimere SmithRemo GreenCorey CroweChauncey Alexander Hollis Jr. | Remo | Ne-Yo (Lead Vocals) |
| 9 |
Call Me Up
|
Ne-YoCalvin HayEbenezerMagnus Klausen | Shaffer Chimere SmithCalvin HayEbenezer FabiyiMagnus Klausen | EbenezerMagnus Klausen | Ne-Yo (Lead Vocals) |
| 10 |
What If
|
Ne-YoCalvin HayEbenezerMagnus KlausenJae StephensMarlon Roudette | Shaffer Chimere SmithCalvin HayEbenezer FabiyiMagnus KlausenJae StephensMarlon Roudette | EbenezerMagnus Klausen | Ne-Yo (Lead Vocals) |
| 11 |
Want It All or Nothing
|
Ne-YoCalvin HayMiloš AngelovTerence Coles | Shaffer Chimere SmithCalvin HayMiloš AngelovTerence Coles | DeCarloDon Mills | Ne-Yo (Lead Vocals) |
| 12 |
No Loot
|
Ne-YoRemo GreenCorey CroweCalvin HayAquil JacksonAvery SegersAnthony Nixon | Shaffer Chimere SmithRemo GreenCorey CroweCalvin HayAquil JacksonAvery SegersAnthony Nixon | Remo | Ne-Yo (Lead Vocals) |
| 13 |
Stay Down
|
Ne-YoMally MallDrew BangaBenjamin Falik | Shaffer Chimere SmithJamal RashidAndrew Laquan ArnettBenjamin Falik | Drew BangaJulia LewisMally Mall | Ne-Yo (Lead Vocals)Yung Bleu (Featured Vocals) |