Ne-Yo Opts For New Sound On Third LP 'Year of the Gentleman', In Talks For Cartoon, Movie

Marking Ne-Yo's third release in as many years, Year of the Gentleman follows previous platinum Def Jam releases In My Own Words and Because of You.

"I wanted the third album to be something a little different from the first and second as far as the essence and the sound of what I was doing," Ne-Yo said in an interview with Billboard. "So I was going to chill for a minute and really take some time to figure out what I wanted that to be. Fortunately, it didn't take me that long, which is why the album's coming out now."

The coming months should be busy for the Def Jam star with an upcoming tour alongside Alicia Keys and Jordin Sparks launching April 19th, as well as several turns in television and film. Ne-Yo currently has a script in development at Fox Atomic that he claims "is going to be in the vein of Purple Rain," as well as an animated series he's in talks with Cartoon Network for.

"For me it's always, 'let's make the next one,'" Ne-Yo said. "'What's the next thing going to be?'"

As previously reported, within the last year Ne-Yo has hit a few bumps in the road, including an arrest in Georgia for reckless driving and driving without a license. There was also the much publicized fallout with R.Kelly that resulted in Ne-Yo leaving their tour and eventually filing suit against the Chicago singer's promoter.

Year of the Gentleman is scheduled for release June 24th via Def Jam Recordings.
Sohh