Ne-Yo is back. The prominent singer/songwriter has released “What If,” his first single of 2021, and the launch of a new era.
On the new song, produced by Ebenezer and Magnus Klausen, Ne-Yo looks back at a failed relationship that he wished had worked out. He professes if things had gone as planned in the romance, they’d still be in love.
For fans who listen closely to the song’s production, they know instantly it puts them in the mind of his previous R.E.D. and Libra Scale eras, respectively.
In an Instagram post, Ne-Yo wrote, “A song about choices. Right and wrong are relative. Live YOUR life…with no regrets.”
Ne-Yo last released his previous full-length album Good Man in 2018. The title track peaked at the top position on the Billboard Adult R&B Airplay chart ahead of its release date. Later in the year, Good Man received praise from Rated R&B, making the year-end best R&B albums list.
He continued to focus on his music, releasing the two songs made for sync (“Genesis,” “Time Loop”), a holiday album (Another Kind of Christmas), the O.T. Genesis-assisted “Pinky Ring,” and the Jeremih-featured “U 2 Luv,” the last of which was another number one R&B single.
In February of this year, he reissued his double-platinum debut album In My Own Words for its 15th anniversary. In addition, he appeared on D-Nice’s recent single “No Plans for Love,” featuring Kent Jones.
Stream Ne-Yo’s new song “What If” below.
