"His track record of success at Def Jam will always be a benchmark," said Universal Republic and Island Def Jam Motown chairman/CEO Barry Weiss in a statement. "But this move to Motown will provide new and inspiring challenges for Ne-Yo as both an artist and a key member of the new senior management team that is taking form at the label in 2012."

In an attempt to restructure the Universal Music Group brand, the label sees adding Ne-Yo to the team as a step in the right direction.

"We are committed to discovering, developing and nurturing R&B/soul superstars here at Motown," said newly appointed VP of Motown, Ethiopia Habtermariam. Last September, Habtemariam took over the position once held by Sylvia Rhone, and simultaneously heads the urban music department for Universal Music Publishing Group.

"In Ne-Yo we have both a global superstar and arguably one of the best songwriters in music,” said Habtemariam in a statement. “His presence on the executive team only strengthens our commitment to be the very best in R&B."

Ne-Yo's track record as an artist and songwriter, makes him a notable grab for the record label, and the 32-year-old seems up to the challenge of holding the coveted executive position. "I'm honored that I¹ve been given such a prestigious title and trusted with such responsibility; terrified because I know that playing this role in the fashion of one of my career role models, Mr. Smokey Robinson—these are big shoes to fill. But trust, I can handle it," said Ne-Yo.

The man behind hits for the likes of Rihanna, Beyoncé and Jennifer Hudson, has also sold 4.3 million records as a solo artist. Over the weekend, he proved that his star power transcends the music industry, by clocking a No. 2 debut of his new movie Red Tails, which was promoted by several private screenings, including one held by Snoop Dogg, in Hollywood last week.

While his previous album Libra Scale, failed to go the distance from a commercial standpoint, the project debuted in the top spot on the Billboard Hip-Hop/R&B charts in 2010. The father of two is currently prepping the release of his forthcoming fifth album, The Cracks in Mr. Perfect, due out sometime this year.

Def Jam's Sr. Vice President Shawn "Pecas" Costner sat down with the good folks over at Al Lindstrom, for "#DefJamBack" Part 1. Pecas discusses the assumption that Def Jam was moving away from its Hip-Hop acts and focusing more on R&B. He also speaks on the beef between labelmates Jeezy & Rick Ross, and his stance on the situation. 

"Rick Ross & Young Jeezy are both grown men, and there's enough money in their prospective worlds of what they do," said Pecas. "So I try and take that energy and put it towards making Big Sean a bigger artist...I don't really get involved."

The exec also spoke about Asher Roth, Pusha T, and much more.

LL Cool J was at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and announced his new venture with audio giant Dolby...the Boomdizzle Virtual Recording Studio.

Boomdizzle is a virtual recording stidio that allows artists and producers to work on a track and collaborate at the same time without having to e-mailback and forth.

The Hip-Hop legend and NCIS:  Los Angeles star stated:

“The problem was I'm in L.A. My producer or engineer's in New York. I wanna go in the studio tonight, but I wanna collaborate,” LL Cool J explained to GamerLive TV.

“I don't wanna e-mail you my track and then you e-mail me back your bass line and then I e-mail you back a vocal then you e-mail me back a drum and then we e-mail back and forth and back and forth. Whether it's dance or Hip Hop or whatever music you like, e-mailing back and forth drives us crazy. So how can we collaborate in real time?"

LL also stated that the new technology will reduce the costs of having to fly if you're in one city and your producer is another.

"I put a team together and we designed a technology that allows two people, different cities, different countries, different continents, to collaborate and record music in real time.

So if your friend is in Paris and you're in Berlin or if your friend is in Japan and you're in Miami you guys will be able to go online, look at each other on our video chat, and record music live in real time. And I think that that basically revolutionizes the world of music.

A lot of people don't have money for plane tickets to Paris. A lot of people don't have money for plane tickets to Miami. But they have access to the internet and they love music. They're fans and they wanna record and Boomdizzle gives them an opportunity to do that.

LL Cool J takes time out with Donald Bell to show off Boomdizzle, an online community designed for aspiring artists to record, share, and remix original music over the Internet."

Young Jeezy ft. Ne-Yo - Leave You Alone

Download Here

Ne-Yo, Swizz Beatz and a host of other celebs will participate in Songs of Hope VII, a special event and silent auction presented by Esquire Magzine to support lifesaving research at City of Hope.

Held at the exclusive Esquire Apartment in the penthouse of The Clocktower in DUMBO, Brooklyn, N.Y., the Dec. 1 event will be emceed by Ne-Yo and feature intimate performances by Skylar Grey and Sara Bareilles.

Lending their names in support to the host committee are Miley Cyrus, Gavin DeGraw, Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds, John McEnroe, Patty Smyth, Rob Thomas, and Mary Mary.

Along with the silent auction, a number of celebrities will be honored including:

    Clive Davis "Legend in Songwriting" Award presented to Desmond Child

    Martin Bandier "Vanguard" Award presented to Sara Bareilles

    Electronic Arts Composer Award presented to Mark Mothersbaugh

    American Express "Award for Innovation Excellence in Music" presented to Swizz Beatz

Prior honorees and participants at Songs of Hope have included Stevie Wonder, Will.i.am, The Doobie Brothers, Jermaine Dupri, Dave Stewart, Glen Ballard, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds,Lionel Richie, Gavin DeGraw, Colbie Caillat, and many others.

City of Hope is a leading research, treatment and education center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases.

Todd Smith is back with a new single, which is set to premiere on NCIS: Los Angeles tonight.

Look out for a new LL album in 2012. Check it out "No More" featuring Ne-Yo below.

Listen To More Wired Tracks Here

Taking place at the city's the JW Marrroitt, Hip-Hop celebrity moms Loraine Smith (mother of  Ne-Yo), Aliyah “Mama Pain” Najm (mother of T-Pain) and Jacida Carter(mother of Lil Wayne) co-chaired the event.

On hand for the celebration was a bevy of celebs includuing Elise Neal and CNN anchor Fredricka Whitfield who emceed the event.

Additionally, Atlanta-area St. Jude patients and sisters, Jayla & Felicia were on-hand to share their St. Jude story.

The evening also included a star-studded red carpet event, dinner, dancing and a live performance by Ne-Yo himself.

Check out Ne-Yo, Elise Neal, Young Joc, Terri J Vaughn, Roger Bobb, and Demetria Mckinney (Tyler Perry's House of Payne) at the Soul Celebration gala courtesy of CME3000 photography.

Ne-Yo hits the strip club with Trey Songz and T-Pain for the first single off DJ Boy Wonda's Tough Love entitled "The Way You Move."

Sanctioned by Michael's mother Katherine Jackson, the concert featured superstar sets from Beyoncé, Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, Ne-Yo, Leona Lewis, and more.

Hosted by Jamie Foxx and Fearne Cotton, The Jackson family, including Michael's three kids, took the glove-shaped stage before tens of thousands of devoted fans at Millenium Stadium.

Peep the page #'s below to see pictures from the event.

The singer attended the ASCAP Rhythm & Soul ATL Legends dinner where honorees included himself, Ludacris, Jermaine Dupri, Devyne Stephens, Usher and Andre 3000.

While on the red carpet he checked in with HipHopWired and talked a number of topics including his Compound Foundation, his track "The Way You Move" with T-Pain and Trey Songz and his upcoming newborn.

As previously reported, the singer's girlfriend Monyetta Shaw is pregnant with their second child and Neyo confirmed that this time they're expecting a boy.

He says however that his son won't be a Jr., and will have to establish his own name.

"No he's not gonna be a Jr., I wouldn't even curse him like that. I'm gonna give him his own name, let him make his own way."