Reading Time: 2 min read

3.5 out of 5 stars

Ne-Yo, Link Up [📷: Shaffer Smith / UMG Recordings, Inc.]Keeping the summery vibes going past summer, Grammy winner Ne-Yo drops the short but utterly sweet, groovy single, “Link Up.”

Summer may be officially over, but that didn’t stop 🏆 Grammy-winning R&B singer/songwriter 🎙 Ne-Yo (Shaffer Smith) from dropping a summery, post-summer song (something like that). Over the course of two-and-a-half minutes, on 🎵 “Link Up”, Smith still has us thinking beach vacation with a hottie.  In the chorus, he offers an offer she can’t refuse: “If I link up with you / Ooh, ooh, girl, I might change your mind.” Hmm, okay, Ne-Yo, I see you spitting that game.  More context necessary on this joint produced by 🎛 Hitmaka, Cardiak, and WU10. All three producers are also listed as writers alongside Ne-Yo, 🎼 ✍ Eric Bellinger, Arin Ray, Leon Ware, and Zane Grey.  If you’re keeping count, that’s eight songwriters total 🤯 (more on that later)!

Ne-Yo, Link Up [📷: Shaffer Smith / UMG Recordings, Inc.]There are plenty of pros when it comes to “Link Up,” whether or not eight songwriters were justified.  The production is strong, with a big fat bass line, and a ‘classic’ groove standing out. “Link Up” feels throwback without being anachronistic.  Part of the reason for the throwback-ness is a sample of 🎵 “Looking Up to You” by 🎙 Michael Wycoff, written by two of the credited songwriters, Grey and Ware.  As far as the songwriting, it’s all about Ne-Yo convincing her to become her man, PERIOD.  In the first verse, he asserts, “And we gon’ do, we gon’ do everything you like.” In the second, he sings, “Baby, let me raise the bar,” adding, “Drinks on the gent ‘cause I bought the bar.” One thing’s for sure, Ne-Yo is trying his best to link up, something so many guys worldwide have been trying to do forever.  All in all, 🎵 “Link Up” is a win for Ne-Yo.

3.5 out of 5 stars


🎙 Ne-Yo • 🎵 “Link Up” • 🏷 Shaffer Smith / UMG Recordings, Inc. • 🗓 9.29.23

[📷: Brent Faulkner/The Musical Hype; Shaffer Smith / UMG Recordings, Inc.; OpenClipart-Vectors, PIRO via Pixabay]

 


the musical hype

the musical hype (Brent Faulkner) has earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees in music (music education, music theory/composition respectively). A multi-instrumentalist, he plays piano, trombone, and organ among numerous other instruments. He's a certified music educator, composer, and freelance music blogger. Faulkner cites music and writing as two of the most important parts of his life. Notably, he's blessed with a great ear, possessing perfect pitch.

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