Ne-Yo
Jay Z and LA Reid signed R&B’s gentlemen, Ne-Yo to Def Jam during his time as a CEO of the label. It was a smart business move, because Ne-Yo showed his artistic skills as a songwriter and vocalist to mainstream R&B. Ne-Yo brought millions and millions to the label, especially when he wrote the song “Irreplaceable,” for Jay’s wife Beyoncé, and it was an international hit in 2006. He also worked with the R&B gentlemen on the song, “Crazy,” from his third studio album, Year of the Gentlemen, in 2008. When Jay Z signed Ne-Yo, he revealed his savior- faire attitude about the music business and why he is business-savvy.