FINDING NE-YO
As a singer, songwriter and fedora lover, Ne-Yo has always worn many hats. Now, the 38-year-old R&B star (real name: Shaffer Smith) continues his balancing act with a new album, “Good Man” (out Friday), his second season as a judge on NBC’s “World of Danc
How would you compare the man you are on “Good Man” to the man you were on your 2006 debut, “In My Own Words”? I’m much more mature now. I understand the concept of monogamy and how important it is, and what it is to be responsible with somebody else’s heart and emotions. The message in this album is that ultimately you have to decide that you’re gonna do right by another person. And it’s a daily decision. It’s not just, “Oh, on Monday I decide I’ma be a good man and then Wednesday I go back to being the dog that I was.”
What would you like to teach your 2- and 6-year-old sons about growing up to be good men?
Above everything else, I want them to know their worth and their value. But I want them to be humble enough to understand that it’s not all about you. And I want them to be honest. I just want them to be men of their word: If you say something, mean it. And if you don’t mean it, don’t say it.
What do you think it means now to be a “good man” in the era of #MeToo and Time’s Up?
To understand that respect is not an option, especially when it comes to women. It’s a matter of giving people the respect that they deserve and not objectifying anybody. That’s not gonna ever fly. I think that women are finding their power, which is exciting.
You recently started your second season on “World of Dance.” If you could be a backup dancer for anybody else, who would it be?
Living or dead? Michael Jackson. I learned how to sing mimicking Mike, and the little bit of dancing I can do, I learned from watching Mike, just being impressed by what he was doing and trying to get it in my body.
What’s it like working with Jennifer Lopez on “World of Dance”?
There’s a few different personalities in her: There’s Jennifer Lopez, there’s J.Lo and then there’s Jenny from the Block. And it’s just fun to watch her switch between these three different personalities throughout the day, depending on the situation. Jennifer Lopez is the mogul, J.Lo is the artist, and Jenny from the Block is that one that’ll cuss you out when you need cussing out.
You’re known for your fedoras. Do you play favorites with any of your hats?
It’s kind of hard for me to wear the same hat twice. I haven’t counted [my collection] in a really long time, but the last time I did I had roughly 12,000. They’re kind of scattered all over the place: I have personal storages pretty much all over America. But the crazy thing is, I always know which one I want — and I always know where that one is.