Ne-Yo's Outlook Is Deepening As His Music Grows in New Ways

Ne-Yo was doing it up big even before his 2006 debut, "In My Own Words," hit the stores. He broke into the R&B game when he wrote Mario's 2004 hit "Let Me Love You." Beyonce's "Irreplaceable" cemented his credibility as a songwriter. Now he pens and sings his own hits.

The singer-songwriter, who appears with Alicia Keys and Jordin Sparks at Hampton Coliseum on Saturday, spoke in a telephone interview during his down time. "I'm in Atlanta, laying in my bed, being lazy for one of the first times in my life," he said.

Ne-Yo's new project, "Year of the Gentleman," will be in stores June 24. "My urban audience is who gave me life, so I'm not going to alienate them. I'm not going to run away from them completely, but what I'm going to do is ask them to grow with me."

"It's just me telling my fans to open up their minds and try to wrap them around something new," he said. "Think The Beatles meets Brian McKnight."

When Ne-Yo, 28, debuted with "In My Own Words" two years ago, the label insisted that he appear younger, he said. Fans thought he was 22.

"When you're a new artist and they don't know how long you're going to be around just yet, it's best for you to be as young as you possibly can. I'm not lying about my age no more. ... I think getting older is sexy."

That said, his ideas about relationships are maturing. "I've come to the point where a person who has nothing to offer me but sex can't do nothing for me. You at the very least gotta have some stimulating conversation."

Ne-Yo said he loves being in the studio. That's when he can slack on his appearance. "Every period where I'm putting an album together, I gain five to 10 extra pounds just 'cause I can," he said.

Ne-Yo's writing expertise is the key to his longevity. "There's going to come a day when don't nobody want to hear Ne-Yo sing a song. When that day comes, I can still write for the people that you do want to hear."