Ne-Yo: Because Of You : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

Ne-Yo denies he's a sex addict, but he sure sounds like a workaholic. The R&B love man wrote BeyoncŽ's "Irreplaceable" and Rihanna's "Unfaithful," and now he's out with his second album -- all since the last Usher CD. In the brilliant 2006 hit "So Sick," he couldn't stand to hear another love song, but he's got a whole album of them here, from "Sex With My Ex" (fractured Prince funk) to "Because of You" (off Michael Jackson's wall). Jay-Z drops in on "Crazy," while Jennifer Hudson tells you she's not Ne-Yo-ing in the sure-to-be-massive "Leaving Tonight," the best boy-girl breakup duet since Sparkle and R. Kelly's "Be Careful." Ne-Yo woos the lady in "Say It," warns her off in "Addicted" and loses her in "Go On, Girl," musing, "Baby, I'm feelin' no stress/I'm too fly to be depressed." Fly on, Ne-Yo.