Ne-Yo or Shaffer Chimere Smith as parents know him, was born in Camden. Camden, Arkansas that is. The R&B singer-songwriter co-wrote Mario's Let Me Love You, before he stepped out of the shadow and signed to Def Jam Records in 2005. Ne-Yo's debut album, In My Own Words debuted at number-one on The Billboard 200.

Ne-Yo has co-written songs for Mary J. Blige, Ruben Studdard, Marques Houston, Faith Evans, Christina Milian, B2K, Nivea, Tyrese, Jamie Foxx and Heather Headley.

His nickname was given to him by a friend who said that the singer could 'see' music like Keanu Reeves's character could see the Matrix. The singer also has a son named Chimere.

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