You can't front on Ne-Yo's songwriting skills. The Las Vegas-raised singer has penned crossover smashes for Beyoncé, Rihanna and Mario, but he declared his solo ambitions with his 2006 debut album, In My Own Words. The project went platinum in the US and spawned a run of hits anchored by his passionate vocals. Showing his experimental side, later albums would make moves into the EDM world, but the core of Ne-Yo's appeal is always about the way he combines heartfelt lyrics with pop-friendly production.