Because of You (Ne-Yo album)

After years of songwriting, Ne-Yo had his major breakthrough when Mario's hit single "Let Me Love You," which he co-wrote, became a worldwide number-one hit in 2004. The success of the song led to a meeting with Def Jam executive L.A. Reid, and although not actively seeking a deal, In My Own Words, his debut album with Def Jam, was released in February 2006 and earned him a Grammy Award nomination for Best Contemporary R&B Album. A commercial success, it debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, selling 1.4 million copies domestcially, while also producing four singles, including the number-one hit "So Sick." which he felt "makes the most sense. It's because of the people that inspire me to make music. Because of the love of the music. Because of the fans. Because of you, that I do what I do." == Promotion ==

Because of You was preceded by its same-titled lead single. Issued to radios on February 13, 2007, it emerged as Ne-Yo's highest-charting single since "So Sick" (2006), becoming his first number-one hit in New Zealand, while also reaching the fop five in the United Kingdom and the United States. The up-tempo track also earned him his second consecutive Grammy Award nomination for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. While Ne-Yo had initially hoped that "Crazy" featuring Jay Z – then titled "Call Me Crazy" – would be released as the album's second single, Def Jam decided to release the downtempo song "Do You", produced by The Heavyweights, as the follow-up to "Because of You" in September 2007. The song peaked at number 26 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and three on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. "Can We Chill", and "Go On Girl" were as the album's third and fourth singles, respectively, while "Leaving Tonight" was issued as a radio single only. == Critical reception ==

At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from critics, the album received an average score of 74, which indicates "generally favorable" reviews, based on 14 critics. Sarah Rodman from The Boston Globe called the album a "sexy and sweet sophomore release"." She found that "although several different hands are employed, the album flows as if from one mind, with an emphasis on crafty vocal arrangements, crisp snap-and-clap percussion, and breezy keyboard work" and noted that Because of You "mostly avoids the filler problem that plagues many contemporary R&B albums. And what filler there is [...] is arranged so lusciously that it does not offend." ==Commercial performance==

Because of You became Ne-Yo's second number-one album in the United States. It debuted atop both the US Billboard 200 and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in the week ending May 19, 2007, selling 251,000 copies. It was certified Gold and Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on November 12, 2007. == Track listing ==

;Notes • signifies a co-producer • "Leaving Tonight" contains elements of "Baby Come Close" written by Smokey Robinson, Marvin Tarplin, Pamela Moffett-Young, and performed by Smokey Robinson. ==Personnel==

Credits adapted from album's liner notes. • Marcus Allen – producer (track 4) • David Barnett – viola (tracks 4, 11) • Timothy "Keys" Bloom – producer (track 11) • Jeff Chestek – engineer (track 4) • Tom Coyne – mastering • Joe Davi – guitar and bass (track 6) • Kevin "KD" Davis – mixing (tracks 2–11) • Andrew Dawson – engineer (track 9) • Mikkel S. Eriksen – producer, engineer, and all instruments (tracks 1, 12) • Ron "Neff-U” Feemstar – producer (track 2) • Larry Gold – string arrangement and production (tracks 4, 11) • Jaymz Hardy-Martin III – engineer (tracks 4, 11) • Tor Erik Hermansen – producer and all instruments (tracks 1, 12) • Ricardo "Slick" Hinkson – assistant engineer (tracks 4, 7, 10, 11) • Bob Horn – engineer (track 2) • Josh Houghkirk – assistant mixing engineer (tracks 1, 12) • Eric Hudson – producer and all instruments (tracks 3, 7) • Jennifer Hudson – vocals (track 6) • Jay-Z – rap (track 2) • Gloria Justen – violin (tracks 4, 11) • Knobody – producer (track 6) • Olga Konopelsky – violin (tracks 4, 11) • Emma Kummrow – violin (tracks 4, 11) • Danielle Laport – additional recording (track 10) • Espen Lind – guitar (track 12) • Jennie Lorenzo – cello (tracks 4, 11) • Ne-Yo – vocals (all tracks), co–producer (tracks 1, 3–12) • Deepu Panjwani – assistant engineer (tracks 4, 7, 10, 11) • Syience – producer (track 9) • Melvin Sparkman – producer (track 4) • Brian Springer – engineer (track 9) • Brian Sumner – engineer (track 3) • Igor Szwec – violin (tracks 4, 11) • Phil Tan – mixing (tracks 1, 12) • Shea Taylor – producer and guitar (tracks 5, 8, 10), saxophone and horns (track 5) • Michael Tocci – engineer (all tracks) • Shane "Bermuda" Woodley – assistant mixing engineer (tracks 2–11), engineer (tracks 3, 7) == Charts ==

Weekly charts Year-end charts == Certifications ==