R+B star Ne-Yo has slammed his former record label Columbia for trying to turn him into an Usher clone.

The So Sick singer was originally signed to the US giant before he hit fame in 2005, but the relationship soured when record bosses wouldn't let him be himself.

He says, "They were very much bent on making me their version of Usher or this guy or that guy - and it wasn't me."

"It was me doing what they wanted me to do, which made for not a good album in my opinion."

The Arkansas-born singer/songwriter, real name Shaffer Smith, is the latest in a long line of global superstars lost by Columbia to other labels.

He says, "It's crazy, Columbia had Alicia Keys, 50 Cent and now me, so somebody's not doing their job over there."

Since they parted ways Ne-Yo, 23, has since released platinum album In My Own Words on rival label Def Jam.

at the title alone

Exactly, he is the filler between Usher albums, every label has their own clone.
Deal with it Ne-yo, though im not an usher fan in the least the only reason NE-YO is getting anywhere is because of Usher, wow Contemp RB is worse than the whole POP thing in the late 90's early 2000's

BlaqueKnight said:

No....Def Jam succedded!

VinnyM27 said:

True.

ya'll so mean....

he's Usher-lite.

Poor lil child thinking he ain't a Usher clone when he pop and lockin like he haviing a damn seizure in Sexy Love...

ABeautifulOne said:

Thank you. To me, he's an Usher clone who happens to write his own stuff. On stage, he does the same things Usher does while he's doing the same things that Michael Jackson does. Like they say, nothing is new under the sun.

Doesn't ne*yo's track "sexy love" have Michael Jackson vibe about it, the melody and the way sings it, wouldn't be suprised if it was demo Michael turned down from Ne*yo.

I don't think Mike is turning down demos these days.....where is MJ anyway?

Ne-Yo may be a good songwriter, but he can't sing as good as Usher can, and Usher can only sing but so good on somedays....i think if Columbia was serious about turning him into a Usher clone, they would have a guy better looking...

missfee said:

I'll give Ne-Yo credit for that....he's writing some big hits for other artists. Rhianna's "Unfaithful" has some good lyrics despite a kind of over the top production.

yeah, Columbia sucks ass, they lost Nas also...and Def Jam is getting every damn body.

Ne-Yo is an Usher clone, but he's talented and the best that this new crop of R&B flavor has to offer for the new generation. I like it...I mean, I prefer Alicia Keys, Erykad Badu, Maxwell, etc..but Ne-Yo basically came on the scene (and Chris Brown) and get Usher's audience - its the same audience folks they he's appealing to so deal with it Ne-Yo.