Prelude to a Legacy 9.04.09: The-Dream
Posted by Fred Richani on 09.04.2009
Dusty Rhodes isn't the only American Dream.....
To start this column, allow me to retrieve a quote from an album review I did on the artist being profiled this week:
Atlanta, Georgia's Terius "The-Dream" Nash should be considered one of the best all-around artists in the game today. When people compare R&B singer The-Dream, his counterparts should be Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Ne-Yo, and Stephen "Static Major" Garrett, as opposed to Usher and J. Holiday. The reason is quite simple. The-Dream is not your everyday R&B singer. In fact, he is not just a singer, but a songwriter and producer, much like Babyface, Static Major, and Ne-Yo.
His style may be repetitive to some folks, although there is no denying the man knows how to make a hot record. Here are just a few of the songs The-Dream has written and/or produced:
-J. Holiday – "Bed", "Suffocate"
-Britney Spears – "Me Against The Music"
-Mary J. Blige – "Just Fine"
-Mariah Carey – "Touch My Body", "Obsessed"
-Rihanna – "Umbrella", "Breakin Dishes"
-Beyonce' – "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)"
-Jamie Foxx - "Just Like Me"
-Jesse McCartney - "Leavin"
-Usher - "Moving Mountains"
-Fabolous - "Throw It In The Bag"
-Britney Spears and Madonna - "Me Against The Music"
As my main man Ron Simmons would say....DAMN!!!
That is about as impressive of a resume' as you can get there. Before he was The-Dream though, he was just lil' Terius Nash based in the ATL. After his mother died at the relatively young age of 35, Nash found himself being raised by his grandfather in the Bankhead section Atlanta, home to rappers T.I. and Shawty Lo. His grandfather's appreciation for soul turned him to music, as he enrolled in trumpet classes at his elementary school. Not soon after, he expanded his musical tastes beyond soul, as he started listening to Aaliyah, Jay-Z, Timbaland, Tupac Shakur, among others.
In 2001, Nash met an R&B producer by the name of Laney Stewart, who would change his life forever. Stewart took notice of Nash's singing and writing talents, assigning him with his brother Christopher a.k.a. "Tricky", which would lead to a partnership that to this date, is still intact and flourishing. Under the stage name "The-Dream", Nash began writing for R&B boy band B2K (Remember them?) under his new publishing deal. The success of Pandemonium! led to him penning hits for many popular artists.
Whether it was writing for Yung Joc, Nivea, and others, The-Dream was never short of work. He was getting first-hand experience in songwriting and producing. He also turned heads with comments in 2007 about J. Holiday's single "Bed" originally being offered to Chris Brown, only for the now-ridiculed singer to turn it down. He also stated to paraphrase, that Chris didn't think the record would be a hit without him. J. Holiday is counting his money and thanking The-Dream somewhere
However, it wasn't until 2007 that The-Dream achieved true super stardom as a songwriter and producer. That came in the form of the single "Umbrella", famously sung by Rihanna. The track was an instant hit, winning a Grammy and topping music charts in Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It also helped that it had the back of Jay-Z and the entire Def Jam/Island Records.
With the success of "Umbrella", The-Dream was offered a deal with Def Jam Records by Antonio "LA" Reid and Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter to release a solo album, as well as work on other artist's projects as an artist, producer, and songwriter. Also as part of the deal. Dream and Tricky Stewart were able to create their own vanity label (think DTP, G-Unit, RocaFella, etc) Radio Killa. In December 2007, The-Dream released his first album titled Love Hate, short for Love Me All Summer, Hate Me All Winter via Def Jam and his Radio Killa imprint. The album was received positively by a variety of publications and media outlets. Impressively, it was recorded in only eight days with twelve tracks making the final cut in the end. Some tracks were inspired by his divorce with R&B singer Nivea, who allegedly had a relationship with everyone's favorite rapper Lil Wayne. Nonetheless, the album spawned three Hot 100-charting hits in "Shawty Is Da Shit" (featuring Fabolous), "I Luv Your Girl" (famous for the line F*** that n****!), and "Falsetto".
The album was written and produced by Dream himself, along with longtime partner in rhyme and crime (a whole lot of R&B artists got swagger jacked by the New Blood of the genre. Too bad they couldn't measure up) Tricky Stewart. It combines Crunk, rap, and some of the most unique sounding instrumentals you will hear with R&B that make up a catchy, fun, sexy, romantic, and at times, deep, album. What was noticeable about the album was that there were only two guest appearances—Fabolous and Rihanna, proving to the R&B game that he can carry an album. It has since sold over 500,000 copies and been certified Gold by the RIAA.
A little less than two years after Love/Hate, The-Dream released his second album Love Vs Money, which I had the pleasure of listening and reviewing. Here's a few tidbits:
No matter the track, Love Vs Money contains a little bit of everything for listeners. From hot instrumentals to smooth vocals to a moderate amount of very talented guest stars, The-Dream's sophomore album might be good enough to help the singer receive his first Platinum plaque as a solo artist. While this is not in Usher's Confessions territory, Love Vs Money is certainly an album that reminds people that R&B is not dead. If you want more substance than style, Raheem DeVaugn or Musiq Soulchild might be for you. If you dig an artist that knows how to make a hot song you can bump in the ride or make love to, then The-Dream is your artist and Love Vs Money is definitely the album for you
End of Review
Love Vs Money has fared well on the music charts, even more so than its predecessor, with the hits "Rockin That S***" and "Walkin' On The Moon". His style may be repetitive to some, catchy to other. Make no doubt about it though. The-Dream has hit the mainstream, responsible for many of the popular singles you hear on the radio today. They say good things come in threes and that can't be any truer for the genre of R&B. In my humble opinion, Akon, T-Pain, and The-Dream rule the R&B and heck, even hip-hop world. I don't know if you heard Dream's flow, but it's hotter than some rappers these days. Well, ones that claim to be "rappers". I'm talking to you, Chingy. In a way, it's similar to his idol's flow—R. Kelly. His influence is subtly mentioned in Dream's track "Kelly's 12 Play".
You don't have to like him. As his first album stated—there's a fine line between love and hate. You have to respect Terius Nash whether you like his style or not. He is one of the hottest artists in the game right now and with the triple threat of writing, singing, and producing, he sure as hell isn't going anywhere. At least not anytime soon and not soon enough for those suffering from Dream's takeover of radio and mainstream music. Whether he's behind the pen, production table, or microphone, it's official. Terius Nash is The-Dream and his dream is now a reality.
Dusty Rhodes is the American Dream and a World Champion back in his day in the sports entertainment world. Terius Nash is now The Dream. Bow down to the crown. And don't leave your girl 'round him because for him it's "F*** that n**** later, F*** that b**** now".
Looks at TMZ.com
Oh and he also dates Christina Milian. Must be nice....
