The Apprenticeship of Mrl Smith (The Birth of NE-YO)" is a very pleasant surprise and a music treat. One would think that the early stages of a lyrical and musical Super Star would have been a little touch and go? Not so here. Even though these sessions were recorded prior to his getting signed to a big record deal or began writing hit songs for fellow recording stars, these songs are as fresh and new as if he recorded them today. As the hit material he has produced and penned for himself and other artists. According to many, much of Ne-Yo's motivation, development and early production can be accredited to the man that gave him the name Ne-Yo. The Digital Underground producer and group member Big D/ DJ Impossible (the real one), the main producer of 2Pac's 2Pacalypse Now, "Strictly 4 My Niggaz", also producing a great majority of the songs on his "Loyal to the Game" (the original versions). As well as material on other Tupac albums and projects (The Underground Railroad). Ne-Yo's fans the World over have been waiting for the release of these songs for several years, they bring his career full circle, they confirm the true talent of whom some say is lyrical/musical genius. They are a testament to Ne-Yo's superior talent and vocal and lyrical skills. Shaffer Smith the man was born to be Ne-Yo, the Super Star.