October 19, 2007

Ne-Yo Celebrates His 25th Birthday With Megastar Friends Jay-Z, Rihanna, LL Cool J And More

By Jayson Rodriguez (MTV.com)

NEW YORK - If it's truly better to give than to receive, Ne-Yo benefited from a dose of good karma Wednesday night. Make that great karma.

The Las Vegas songwriter, who has penned top hits for Beyoncé ("Irreplaceable"), Rihanna ("Hate That I Love You") and Mario ("Let Me Love You"), among others, basked in the limelight of a star-studded birthday party held in his honor at the swank Tribeca Rooftop.

Def Jam prez Jay-Z and Island Def Jam chairman L.A. Reid showed up to offer good wishes to their star singer/songwriter. LL Cool J, Jermaine Dupri, Janet Jackson, Ray J and Gym Class Heroes' Travis McCoy were just a few of the other big names in attendance.

Rihanna managed to slip into the festivities late, as did Ne-Yo labelmate Chrisette Michelle, who serenaded the singer with a rendition of "Happy Birthday" before he cut his red-velvet cake and passed it around to the crowd.

But the ladies' tardiness was forgotten as DJ Cassidy manned the turntables and kept things funky, fun and fit for a birthday boy of 25 years, who was decked out in a derby-style cap, brown dress shirt and matching tie. Songs like Frankie Beverly and Maze's "Before I Let Go" and Fabolous' Ne-Yo-assisted "Make Me Better" hung in the air.

Inside, models wore nothing but glitter paint, and waitresses were decked out in Playboy-inspired bunny outfits - for the evening's own playboy, of course. Meanwhile, guests put their John Hancocks on a Giant magazine-sponsored, um, giant birthday card.

Other celebs in attendance included Beanie Sigel, Nina Sky, DJ Clue, Chingy, Steve Stoute and former "Making the Band" choreographer Laurie Ann Gibson.

The private party was sponsored by the singer's Compound Entertainment label, as well as New Era and Rockport.

Ne-Yo was also given a one-night stay at the Peninsula New York as a gift.