R&B star Ne-Yo has gone public with his new romance following a split from his longtime girlfriend.

The So Sick hitmaker began dating Monyetta Shaw in 2009 and they welcomed daughter Madilyn in 2010 and son Mason in 2011, but the couple split last summer (13) and now the singer has moved on with video vixen and model Crystal Renay.

She has been sharing photos of the new couple together on her Instagram.com page, and Ne-Yo confirmed the budding relationship last week (ends25Jul14) by posting a shot of her kissing him on the cheek.

He opened up about Renay in a recent radio interview with New York's Hot 97, saying, "We are in a good place... She has much promise. Yes, much promise. Quality."

Ne-Yo also revealed he did not want to keep his personal life a secret from fans, explaining, "You know what, at this point in my career, at this point in my life... I'm 34 years old, I don't have time to be hiding.

"Of course, there are some things you keep personal and private because you're a human being. But, on the other side of it, I ain't got time to be hiding nothing and all that (sic). It is what it is."