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In his first movie, "Stomp the Yard," R&B singer-songwriter Ne-Yo plays the funny roommate to the sometimes brooding main character.

Photos by Screen Gems (ENLARGE)
R&B pin-up teen sensation Chris Brown — one of Ne-Yo's real-life pals — makes his big-screen debut as Duron in "Stomp the Yard."
(ENLARGE)
R&B singer-songwriter Ne-Yo plays the ever-joking Rich Brown in "Stomp the Yard." He says like his character, "I don't take myself too seriously, either, because life is too short."
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In the music world, however, he gets top billing.

The 24-year-old is up for two Grammy awards next month (male R&B vocal performance and contemporary R&B album), his debut CD "In My Own Words" has passed the million mark in sales, and he co-wrote the No. 1 single on Billboard's pop chart this week, Beyoncé's "Irreplaceable."

He co-stars in "Stomp" with Chris Brown, another singing and dancing pin-up. Just before he ducked into a New York studio to write for the upcoming Britney Spears album (one of two superstar rehab projects he's working on, the other being Whitney Houston's), we had three questions for Ne-Yo:

Q: How do you differ from Rich Brown, the guy you portray in "Stomp the Yard"?

A: Well, elements of him are in my personality. Rich is basically my silly side turned all the way up. He doesn't take much seriously. Life seriously. The world seriously. He's always making some kind of joke, trying to talk slick. I don't take myself too seriously, either, because life is too short to be stressing over this thing or that, and tomorrow you're dead. But I definitely know when to take some things seriously and turn the silly off. I'm multifaceted. My friends know there's a few different Ne-Yos.

Q: How is Ne-Yo different from Shaffer Smith?

A: Shaffer, of course, is my real name. I came into the industry around 16, 17, and I went by that name. But as funny as it sounds, that wasn't me. The artist they were trying to make me, wasn't me. Just how they wanted me to dress, their choice of producers I could and couldn't work with. Things like that. They were trying to turn me into their version of somebody else, like me being me wasn't good enough. And it's partially my fault because I was so geeked to have a record deal. But in the end I was, like, "I'm not the take-your-shirt-off-and-flex-your-abs dude."

So when I tried being an artist again, I thought, "OK — new year. New start. Let's go all the way fresh and new." So I came out as Ne-Yo, a nickname a friend gave me. He said ... I see music the way [movie character] Neo sees "The Matrix." I didn't quite get it at the time, but I assumed it was a compliment. Thought it was cool.

Q: Since we're on the whole contrast thing, how about we wrap up with this? You just bought a home in Atlanta. Compare our fair city to Las Vegas, where you grew up.

A: You know, I was born in Arkansas, but I was raised in Las Vegas. So I've always had that little-bit-country, little-bit-city in me. And when I got down to Atlanta to do "Stomp the Yard," it was exactly that.

I've had my house about six months now, in Mableton. And while I don't get to spend a lot of time there, I love it. It's right in the middle of everything. And the cost of living is a lot more reasonable than where I was. If I got the place I got in Atlanta in L.A., it would have cost me an arm and a leg and a few toes. And, you know [laughing], I like having all of my body parts.

RELATED LINKS:

• Story: Film producers go online to get word out, woo youth market

• Photos: 'Stomp the Yard' film premiere

• Video: Steppers stomp at Berkmar High