Collection

Recording information: Battery Studios, NYC; Chalice Recording Studio, Los Angeles, CA; L. Gold Studios, Philadelphia, PA; Lethal Studios, Bridgetown, Barbados; Roc The Mic Studios, NYC; sony Music Studios; WEstlake Studios, Los Angeles, CA.
Photographer: Yoshika Horita.
The Collection is a Japanese release that covers Ne-Yo's first three albums: In My Own Words (2006), Because of You (2007), and Year of the Gentleman (2008). "In the Way" originated as a digital-only bonus track, while a remix of "Because of You," featuring an opening verse from Kanye West, comes from a single release. This is a handy, straightforward anthology since it contains each one of the singer and songwriter's singles released from 2005 through 2009. Seven of these cuts reached the Top Ten of Billboard's U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart. They all made Ne-Yo one of the premier pop-R&B artists of the decade -- a rare artist who produced sophisticated, mature material that connected with younger audiences. ~ Andy Kellman