Ne-Yo recently stopped by the We Sound Crazy podcast, where he reflected on one of his most uncomfortable studio experiences — his first attempt at working with Keyshia Cole.
When asked if he’d ever had a session go sideways, Ne-Yo didn’t hesitate to share the story (around the 26:20 mark in the video). “I remember the first time I tried to write for Keyshia Cole and just couldn’t figure it out — couldn’t get it right for whatever reason,” he admitted.
He went on to describe an intense vibe from the moment Cole entered the studio. “Now mind you, I don’t know if something had happened before she got there, but she kinda came in the studio on 10 a little bit,” he said. “Which had already rubbed me the wrong way because I was like, ‘Damn, I don’t even know you. Why are you mad at me?’ It just seemed like she was upset about something.”
According to Ne-Yo, the tension didn’t ease up. He recalled her sitting down “huffing and puffing,” and after about 20 to 30 minutes of silence, she finally turned to him and asked, “What you got?”
“I sing to her what I got, and she goes, ‘Yeah, that’s cool. Hold on,’” he continued. “She gets up and leaves — and doesn’t come back. I’m like, ‘Okay, I guess that’s the session, guys.’”
Despite the rocky start, Ne-Yo and Keyshia went on to work together on DJ Khaled's "Legendary" in 2011.
Source: YouTube
