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The Evolution of Ne-Yo - Today is a huge day for Ne-Yo because the singer-songwriter turned record-exec and actor turns 30 today, October 18, 2012. To celebrate the soul star's big milestone, we're taking a look back at his fantastic voyage through the years. Read on to follow the evolution of Ne-Yo. (Photo: Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for Clear Channel)

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Know Your Name - Ne-Yo was born Shaffer Chimere Smith on October 18, 1982, in Camden, Arkansas. (Photo: Courtesy of BGCA.org)

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Sign Me Up - Columbia Records signed Ne-Yo in 2000, but dropped him before he could release his already-recorded first album. However, the album's first single, "That Girl," was heard by Marques Houston, who re-recorded it and released it as a single in 2003. The song's success was Ne-Yo's first big triumph as a songwriter. (Photos from left: Stuart Wilson/Getty Images, David Livingston/Getty Images)

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Make This Work - Ne-Yo's fame reached a whole new level of success when he wrote Mario's 2004 chart-topper "Let Me Love You." The song not only led to Ne-Yo penning hits for Beyoncé, Rihanna and Chris Brown — it also helped land him his own deal as a recording artist with Def Jam, where Jay-Z, then the label's head, signed him. (Photos from left: Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Gucci, Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

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Champagne Life - Ne-Yo proved Def Jam made a wise investment when his 2006 debut album, In My Own Words, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, backed by Ne-Yo's biggest hit, "So Sick." The album had many hailing Ne-Yo as the savior of commercial R&B. (Photo: Def Jam)

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Do It Again - Ne-Yo topped the charts yet again with his 2007 album Because of You, boosted by guest contributions from Jay-Z on "Crazy" and Jennifer Hudson on "Leaving Tonight."(Photo: Courtesy of Def Jam Records)

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I Think They Like Me - Because of You landed Ne-Yo his first Grammy, for Best Contemporary R&B Album in 2008. (Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

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Back to What You Know - Ne-Yo made it three in a row with Year of the Gentleman in 2008. The album sold platinum with help from the hit single "Miss Independent," which won Grammys for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song.

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Makin' a Movie - Ne-Yo has also started taking his talents to the big screen, starring in Red Tails this year and Battle: Los Angeles in 2011. 

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Angel - Ne-Yo was more productive than ever in 2010. Not only did he release his fourth album, Libra Scale, but he and then girlfriend (now fiancée!) Monyetta Shaw weclomed their first child, daughter Madilyn Grace Smith, into the world. Just a year later, the couple had a son, Mason Evan Smith.   (Photo: Donna Ward/Getty Images)

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One in a Million - In January 2012, Ne-Yo made a major move when he bounced from Def Jam to become Senior Vice President of A&R of Motown. Like a boss. (Photo: Francois Durand/Getty Images)

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Year of the Gentleman - Ne-Yo is getting ready to top the charts yet again with his new album, R.E.D., set to drop this fall. It's a great way to usher in his 30th year on the planet. Here's to 30 more years of great music and great accomplishments for one of R&B's best and brightest. (Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Clear Channel)