Rap-Up TV: Ne-Yo Blurs the Lines on ‘R.E.D.,’ Reunites with Rihanna

Ne-Yo is seeing R.E.D. this November. After becoming the first Motown artist to top the U.K. charts in 20 years with his single “Let Me Love You,” the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter is gearing up for the release of his fifth album, which drops on Election Day. Rap-Up TV caught up with the R&B gentleman in Beverly Hills to discuss his latest creation.
The album title is an acronym for Realizing Every Dream. “I called the album that because pretty much from age nine to now, every dream and every goal that I set for myself in regard to music has been realized through music,” he explained. “This album is a celebration of my first love, which is music.”
He’s confident that the material will please both his R&B and pop fans. “My album is a declaration of the blurring of the lines,” said the 32-year-old. “This is the most balanced album that I’ve ever done. My diehard R&B fans as well as my diehard pop fans, everybody’s gonna be able to get into this album because it is an equal balance of both genres.”
Collaborators include Stargate, No I.D., Sia (“Let Me Love You”), Da Internz, The Underdogs, and Diddy and Fabolous on the Salaam Remi-produced “Should Be You,” which may serve as the next single. “It’s basically a song talking about being with one person when you know that you should be and want to be with another person.”
In addition to his project, he has been cooking up more hits for Rihanna. “I did go in the studio with her,” confirmed Ne-Yo, who shared his love for RiRi’s new short ‘do. “I know I got one or two on the album that she’s definitely keeping.”