Ne-Yo

Ne-Yo: (revealing his desire to collaborate with Lady GaGa) I really hope GaGa and I can work together. I have never been so excited about an artist before. From her costumes - they're not outfits, that would be an understatement - to her songs and sexy body, Lady GaGa has it all. She takes pride in being an individual and I made it my business to tell her when we met up on the road.

Ne-Yo: I don't feel my music's under-appreciated. I think that it's me that's under-appreciated. I need some love, not just Grammys.

Ne-Yo: (About his song "So You Can Cry") This is a true story. A friend of mine just broke up with her boyfriend and I said, 'Ok, take this moment to be sad. I'll turn the sun away from you so you can cry today.'

Ne-Yo: I don't know what puts certain ideas in my head when I'm writing. Sometimes I see a picture in a magazine, a painting in a museum or a word on a page, and that's all I need to trigger the thoughts.

Ne-Yo: (About his song "Closer") I just love the beat on that record. When I was hanging-out in clubs in London, everything had energy. I wanted to merge that sound with American soul music, and Closer is the end result.

Ne-Yo: (When asked about what he looks for in a woman) Overall, anything and everything? Honesty. I mean that's become so important to me now. Like I'm one of the most honest cats that you ever gon run into. I'm painfully, brutally honest. I'm not the dude to ask if the dress makes you look fat, because if it makes you look fat, ima say, yeah that makes you look fat.

Ne-Yo: A huge difference between songwriting and being a singer. A songwriter can have a normal life. You're an ordinary person. But as an artist, somethings can't be ignored. You have to make sure you look like a million bucks. There's a certain image you have to maintain. It was a difficult transition, but I'm actually learning to love the spotlight.

Ne-Yo: The key to a good song is to find a way to say something in a different way. Find something related to the people you're trying to reach. Find your own niche. It's difficult. I recommend honing your skills and be the best you can be until your opportunity comes along. When opportunity comes, make sure you're on top of your game.

Ne-Yo: Singing has been a part of me forever. Everybody in my family does music…I've always been singing…It was a natural transition.

NE-YO: There's something sexy about a woman who walks up to a guy and says, 'Hey, I couldn't help but notice you...'

NE-YO: Forget a pretty face, forget a nice body--that comes a dime a dozen, you can get that anywhere. I need somebody with some honesty.

NE-YO: Girls say they want the truth, but then they get mad. Guys mean what they say and say what they mean.

NE-YO: Something that a lot of people don't know is that I have a five-month old son. Any free time I have now is spent with him. A few people suggested to me that I should try and hide the fact that I have a son because it might damage my career. But as far as I'm concerned, to hide it would suggest that I was ashamed and I'm not ashamed. I love my son. Me and his mom aren't in a relationship. We're actually best friends. We've known each other for years and years and never ever wanted to be in a relationship with each other. But the one time we... got physical, she fell pregnant. Of course, we did a lot of talking to decide how we were gonna handle the situation. We weren't about to start a relationship for the sake of the child 'cos that's not what either of us wanted. So I just said, "You be mom, I'll be dad and let's just raise a son." And though we're not together, that's exactly what we're doing.

NE-YO: The toughest part has been getting used to being known. I've always been the guy in the background, being the actual artist is a whole new experience for me!

NE-YO: I feel there is always room for good music. I want to reach people's soul with my lyrics through whatever vessel God chooses.

NE-YO: (Talking about the Mario's song "Let Me Love You") It's a great song, and I'm really happy to have wrote it.