Ne-Yo Says It's The Year of the Gentlemen

Very few artists can say they've won a Grammy after just a few years in the biz. Ne-Yo is one of those artists. The singer/songwriter just released this third studio album, The Year of the Gentlemen, and he spoke to Hollyscoop.com at the Hennessy artistry concert at Kress in Los Angeles about his inspiration for the album, what it takes to be a gentleman and why he calls his album a "buffet."

"What it is to be a gentleman was embedded in me by my mother, my grandmother, my sister, and my five aunts," Ne-Yo told Hollyscoop. Growing up surrounded by women "definitely teaches you respect for women and respect for yourself."

Ne-Yo has already built a 'nice guy' image, but what does it take to be a gentleman? "One of the key elements to be a gentleman is to be diverse," He said. "I wanna be the kind of cat that can rock with these people over here, turn around and rock with those people over there. You need to be that worldly universal kind of guy. "[This album] is very diverse."

Ne-Yo sites the Rat Pack, Sammy Davis Jr and Frank Sinatra as his inspiration for his new album, but it certainly has a different vibe then the Ne-Yo we've grown accustomed to.

"There's a lot of different vibes on this one. A little bit of techno, a little bit of urban, a little bit of pop, a little bit of alternative, a little bit of dance hall. You name it, it’s on this record. I like to call this album a buffet. You can go and get whatever you need from this record."

The Year of the Gentlemen hit stores on September 16th, you can download the album on iTunes by clicking HERE. Trust us, you won't be disappointed! Ne-Yo is truly one of the most humble and talented artists in the industry. Calling him a gentleman would be an understatement.

Photo Courtesy of Jared Milgrim www.jrmphoto.blogspot.com