Rap-Up.com || Ne-Yo Fires Back at Critics Who Say He’s Gone Pop

Ne-Yo has been criticized for “going pop” with his dance singles including “Closer” and his latest “Let Me Love You.” But the Grammy-winning crooner has some words for those who say he’s lost touch with his R&B roots.

During a visit to Angie Martinez’ Hot 97 show, Ne-Yo shot back at his critics. “I normally don’t do this. I’ve officially declared myself above the B.S. in regard to bloggers and people that say silly stuff on blogs,” he said before speaking his mind. “I need to get at some people directly.”

While his sound has evolved throughout the years, it was R&B that paved the way for his growth. “Somebody said something along the lines of, ‘How can you say that R&B is still alive when you’ve crossed over into this pop world?’” said Ne-Yo. “And that kind of upset me because what ya’ll don’t understand is that it was R&B that gave me the platform to even be able to do a song like ‘Let Me Love You,’ to do a song like ‘Closer,’ a song like ‘Beautiful Monster,’ the Calvin Harris record ['Let's Go].”

He plans to silence his critics when his fifth album R.E.D. drops on September 18. “I know where I came from. I know that R&B is where it started at for me,” he explained. “When this new album comes out, it will shut the mouths of everybody who feels like I have ‘crossed over.’”

Instead of limiting himself to one genre, he intends to cater to all his fans. “I’ve just paid attention to the fact that I have a very broad fan base. I have my diehard R&B fans, I got my pop fans,” said Ne-Yo. “This album is an equal mix of both. If there’s six R&B records, then there’s six pop records so that everybody can come to the same damn concert and stay for the whole damn show.”

Posted in Ne-Yo | Permalink

You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

55 Comments

Vega
August 3rd, 2012 at 5:21 am
“This album is an equal mix of both. If there’s six R&B records, then there’s six pop records” – well, I might not agree that Ne-Yo’s lost touch w/ his R&B roots but he admits he’s pulling an Usher by taking the pop route.
[Reply]
camilla
August 3rd, 2012 at 5:26 am
It’s all bullshit! Even if @NeYoCompound has one pop song or another, his talent is above the kind of music he sings. HE’S THE BEST EVER….
[Reply]
MinajRules2012 Reply:
August 3rd, 2012 at 12:27 pm
@camilla, At this point, do we even care about Neyo? He’s a has been for real now.
[Reply]
GooGle Reply:
August 4th, 2012 at 6:17 am
@MinajRules2012,
I believe you can’t talk for your self because its because of Ne-yo that we have hope that R&B is still alive …
I do I agree that he has gone on some other route with that song called ” Let me Love YOu”
Again he has made history with some many song what have you don beside hate on people other than Nicki Minaj
[Reply]
Peaches
August 3rd, 2012 at 5:34 am
Ask Nicki how did that work for her?
[Reply]
AllAmerykhanBoy Reply:
August 3rd, 2012 at 5:58 am
@Peaches, It’s Still Getting Her That Money and On Top Of That She’s On Tour, Having Multi Million selling Singles, She Got Her Own Clothing Line Coming Out, Her Fragrance Comes Out Next Month, She Did A Movie, She’s The Face Of Pepsi and Adidas Right Now, So I’m Sure Its Working Out Fine
[Reply]
yooo Reply:
August 3rd, 2012 at 6:12 am
@AllAmerykhanBoy, thats great and all, but what about the quality of her music? its awful.
[Reply]
thEbEaUty19 Reply:
August 3rd, 2012 at 9:01 pm
@yooo, RT
[Reply]
GooGle Reply:
August 4th, 2012 at 6:19 am
@AllAmerykhanBoy, But she is making history that what making Music is all about Making History .. Yeah she getting money but at the end of the day nobody gonna remember her … but they will remember Ne-yo for :
so sick
sexy Love
make me better etc..
[Reply]
Cranberry Reply:
August 3rd, 2012 at 6:15 am
@Peaches, well see, Nicki doesn’t have any talent beyond bleaching her skin. Ne-Yo does.
[Reply]
AAA Reply:
August 3rd, 2012 at 6:34 am
@Cranberry, First off let’s not go there, because you don’t even listen to nicki like that, she’s smart and thats a talent your just mad because your favorite isn’t on the rise, and people talking about all this no more hip-hop nor R&B, it’s your fault, lazy black people to support the music,so they go to those who do
[Reply]
Cranberry Reply:
August 3rd, 2012 at 7:20 am
@AAA, I’m not even black, sis…
[Reply]
AAA Reply:
August 3rd, 2012 at 7:42 am
@Cranberry, It don’t matter , people who say they want real r&B and hip-hop don’t support it, thats that bro
[Reply]
Grow up Reply:
August 3rd, 2012 at 8:31 am
@AAA, If my favourite went pop but gained huge success I wouldn’t be happy because they aren’t the same artist I liked before…bitch
[Reply]
AAA Reply:
August 3rd, 2012 at 8:44 am
@Grow up, Lol it is what it is, they don’t need you, it’s all about money wake up sweetie your a replaceable fan
[Reply]
chimajii
August 3rd, 2012 at 5:37 am
are these people for real??….human beings are definitely insatiable!!!….wow!…the world we live in…ne-yo…i’d say..keep doing good music….while ur doing it…you really give them a whole lot to think about…..ride on!!
[Reply]
Young Pereezy YMCMB-MMG Reply:
August 3rd, 2012 at 6:20 am
@chimajii, Dumb asses like u r makin’ Real RnB desappear. Singers don’t need to make pop-music to have success or make people dance, if u have doubt u can listen to Trey Songz’s Records and you’ll know what I’m Talkin’ about.
[Reply]
AAA Reply:
August 3rd, 2012 at 6:38 am
@Young Pereezy YMCMB-MMG, Lol are you serious trey is losing his fire, and his new shit isn’t barely getting any spins, let’s face it, ain’t enough room for a lot of r&B singers is only for the popular ones, (Chris brown and frank ocean)
[Reply]
UberMusic Reply:
August 3rd, 2012 at 9:19 am
@AAA, Not even them. Chris, Frank, Usher and Trey all struggle just to pull 200k in one week. Something most pop artists can do effortlessly. R&B is DEAD. Face it. Not enough people want to listen to it anymore. It doesn’t get as many spins on radio, a good chunck of “R&B fans” bootleg it, and they don’t chart well on Hot 100. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not dead as far as people not singing it, it’s just dead in terms of popularity.
[Reply]
Young Pereezy YMCMB-MMG Reply:
August 3rd, 2012 at 9:34 am
@UberMusic, Man! Fuckkkkkckkkkk U! u’re spitin’ shits!!! Rnd Still Alive for the people who Knows what music really is… Bitch Listen to Trigga!!!
[Reply]
Young Pereezy YMCMB-MMG Reply:
August 3rd, 2012 at 9:41 am
@UberMusic, F**ckkkk u, you’re spittin’ shits! cuz Real Rnb still alive. And my niggas Trigga and Omarion. Will keep it alive, Fuck I just can’t take this pop-shit anymore.
[Reply]
AAA Reply:
August 3rd, 2012 at 9:45 am
@UberMusic, Your right but, that’s what I’m tryna say, but if they not doing anything different or try to cross over its gonna be hard and I feel like people should shutup talking about how r&b artist crossing over because none of them really support them fully
[Reply]
Blobbie
August 3rd, 2012 at 5:56 am
lol, copied nicki… get some style ne-yo… #IDontHate
[Reply]
Robert
August 3rd, 2012 at 6:03 am
Who Cares if he goes pop, he is supporting his family and making money. Some people need to worry about there own life!!! Jealous fucking people!
[Reply]
Young Pereezy YMCMB-MMG
August 3rd, 2012 at 6:10 am
The only singer loyal to his Roots is Trigga-Trey Songz. Tha’s Why I consider him the Best RnB Singer of the last years cuz even the King ‘R.Kelly’ went in the Pop-shit
[Reply]
Cranberry Reply:
August 3rd, 2012 at 6:14 am
@Young Pereezy YMCMB-MMG, and that’s exactly like Trey is a basic singer than will never get any recognition beyond BET and will never sell a clothing line outside of CitiTrends.
[Reply]
Young Pereezy YMCMB-MMG Reply:
August 3rd, 2012 at 6:33 am
@Cranberry, U’re trippin’! Real Rnb Lovers, Love Trigga cuz He’s Real, tha’s why he’ll sell anything, anywhere.
[Reply]
AAA Reply:
August 3rd, 2012 at 6:41 am
@Young Pereezy YMCMB-MMG, Lol no boo, that because their are real R&B love it doesn’t mean his sells going to happen. C’mon y’all know half of you so called r&b lovers burn his C.D
[Reply]
Cranberry Reply:
August 3rd, 2012 at 8:46 am
@AAA, LMAO.
[Reply]
Young Pereezy YMCMB-MMG Reply:
August 3rd, 2012 at 9:48 am
@AAA, F*ck u, I’ll never do it cuz Real Rnb is my medicine to protect me from this virus called pop-shit.
[Reply]
AAA Reply:
August 3rd, 2012 at 11:56 am
@Young Pereezy YMCMB-MMG, Lol wow it’s not that serious and what your basically stating that r&b is better because you can relate to it….lol “my medicine” lol your funny, I love r&b but I ain’t tryna be no hero
Morgan Reply:
August 3rd, 2012 at 2:20 pm
@Young Pereezy YMCMB-MMG, Maybe that’s why the nigga keeps flopping from here to Mexico. So predictable. No diversity.
[Reply]
Tahir
August 3rd, 2012 at 6:58 am
You have gone pop negro…. when was your last r&b influenced record?
[Reply]
HEHE Reply:
August 3rd, 2012 at 9:20 am
@Tahir, Lazy Love.
[Reply]
Replay
August 3rd, 2012 at 7:23 am
He is trying to be like Usher, the same genres, same singles
[Reply]
Ice
August 3rd, 2012 at 7:28 am
Even on songs like Let Me Love You you can tell he’s putting soul into it by using his full vocals. I don’t see anything wrong with Ne-Yo, he does Pop more tastefully than some people.
[Reply]
Mike
August 3rd, 2012 at 7:30 am
Ne-Yo is pop now. He must think he Chris Brown or Usher. Nobody is representing for Males in R&B right now
[Reply]
Imani
August 3rd, 2012 at 7:32 am
Why do they say this?
Why do artist make music based on what their fans want?
Make good music that YOU love & gain fans that way. Not by making cliche songs to cater to specific genres. It makes the music not feel genuine.
[Reply]
Grow up Reply:
August 3rd, 2012 at 8:34 am
@Imani, Money money money money
[Reply]
trillafood
August 3rd, 2012 at 7:40 am
Ne-Yo been doing pop since 2008 so how can you say he’s copying Usher, Chris Brown and Nicki?
You ppl are so ignorant and know nothing.
[Reply]
cmd Reply:
August 3rd, 2012 at 8:45 am
@trillafood, agree!
[Reply]
JLawls
August 3rd, 2012 at 8:01 am
Fuck Usher and fuck Ne-Yo. More importantly fuck society who are buying their cheap shitty pop records
[Reply]
Max
August 3rd, 2012 at 8:47 am
Does it mean that his album will be 50/50 r&b & pop? If it does then I hope it will consist of 30 tracks at least :)
[Reply]
HEHE
August 3rd, 2012 at 9:31 am
That’s because nobody’s BUYING the songs. When are all you idiots going to realize that once you start buying the R&B joints that they DO put out, they’ll start making more? More people are buying the pop records than they are the R&B ones. Why don’t you stop brushing off the R&B singles that they do release, instead of hating on the pop songs and calling them flops.
Usher: Climax
Ne-Yo: Lazy Love
Chris Brown: Sweet Love
If you didn’t buy any of those, stop complaining about them doing pop songs.
[Reply]
Vega Reply:
August 3rd, 2012 at 9:35 am
@HEHE, Don’t blame the fans. Commercial radio and the music industry these days want heavy pop/dance records.
[Reply]
MH Reply:
August 3rd, 2012 at 10:21 am
@Vega, That’s because it’s in demand. If the fans demanded Rnb be played and actually supported it monetarily, radio would play it. The music industry and radio is all about trends.
[Reply]
MusicJunkie Reply:
August 3rd, 2012 at 10:38 am
@HEHE, Took The Words Right Out Of my mouth . We can get mad at these artist for selling out ‘ when we’re not supporting R&B . Even MTV Took R&B Out Of The Muic catagory On the Awards . Smhh
[Reply]
MH
August 3rd, 2012 at 10:29 am
I’m all about exploring your creativity and being an artist who evolves. But now it seems like when an artist wants to explore options they get backlash and get accused of “selling out.”
[Reply]
truth
August 3rd, 2012 at 4:22 pm
i cant stand these urban artists selling out and then getting defensive over it. nobody is here for a half pop half r&b album. if it was all r&b i wouldve bought it.
[Reply]
WAKETHEHELLUP
August 3rd, 2012 at 4:30 pm
R&B artists are on some BULLSHIIIIIIIIT nowadays making some dance pop effing music and repeating THESAMEEFFINTHING over and over! so that’s the music you wanna listen to? Yes you have really BAD taste and ask for the lowest ! Music used to be so good (in r&b and hip hop) now all they wanna make is money over your retarded ears which is happy to hear the same lyrics over and over in a song. AND YES R&B MAKES MONEY TOO BEYONCE IS YOUR EVIDENCE, Usher used to be so successful to when he was making ‘real’ music. THATS ALL I HAVE TO SAY, KEEP BUYING SO THEY’LL KNOW YOU A DUMBASS AND THEY DONT NEED TO MAKE EFFORT IN LYRICS OR ANYTHING CAUSE YOU’RE ALWAYS GONNA GET IT. That’s why I love bey she don’t need cornball music to prove that she can make other genre too she do what she loves and NO NEED TO FOLLOW EVERYONE ELSE.
[Reply]
TheDreamer
August 3rd, 2012 at 6:02 pm
I don’t mind Ne-Yo’s solo pop records cause they are quality and his vocals are soulful. I think he’s doing a great job in catering to the different types of fans. Some artists are horrible when they try and cross-over into another genre.
[Reply]
Roc it to the D to the GLMO
August 4th, 2012 at 1:18 am
IT don’t matter what type of Music ne-yo do rather it R&B or Pop or Country, Rock-roll and I think that Ne-yo is giving his fans what they want From him. and Ne-yo is making his Money the best way he can Just like any other Artist do
[Reply]
Jake
August 4th, 2012 at 8:02 am
Pop music has never hurt anyone. Good Lord.
[Reply]
Morgan
August 4th, 2012 at 8:03 am
‘Closer’ was a great song! Great music is great music. If it sounds good, I don’t care what genre the song is!
[Reply]
NICK
August 5th, 2012 at 7:46 am
So all of a sudden, Ne-Yo is calling this a PROMO SINGLE and is labelling the Dance-inspired Guetta/Calvin Harris rip off “Let Me Love You (Until You Learn to Love Yourself)” the FIRST OFFICIAL SINGLE, LOL! Why didn’t he just say its becos “Lazy Love” flopped and failed to crack the BILLBOARD TOP 100 therefore they changed it, Artists these days are Pathetic, Sorry man
[Reply]