UB Anniversary ReVisit: The Debut of The-Dream | Rollout UB Interview

Over the next few months, we’ll be spotlighting features from our e-zines from the last 25 years. T M H Entertainment, T M Hxone and Urban Bridgez.

As the longest running website for R&B online, since 1999 – We’ve been able to conduct some amazing interviews with R&B Royalty, as well Hip Hop Legends.

Today is the 15th Anniversary of The-Dream‘s sophomore album “Love vs. Money,” originally released March 10th, 2009.

We however spoke to the amazingly talented musician in 2007, in preparation of his debut album “Love/Hate.” This ReVisit spotlights that interview.

Terius Youngdell Nash, known as “The-Dream”, was born in Rockingham, North Carolina. At the age of two he moved, with his mother Reva Nash, to Atlanta, Georgia, where she raised him until her untimely death at the age 35.

Afterwards, he was taken in by his grandfather, who was an avid music fan. It was through this relationship that he was introduced to many of the great legendary artists that made up his grandfather’s record collection. As soon as he heard the sweet soulful sounds of Sam Cooke and Al Green, “The-Dream” was hooked. In the third grade he enrolled in beginning trumpet classes at Grove Park Elementary School. He continued playing the trumpet through high school and later added to his musical repertoire by learning to play the drums and guitar.

In junior high and high school his musical influences broadened to include artists such as Timberland, Missy, Aaliyah and Tupac. His talents continued to develop naturally and eventually lead to singing, rapping and songwriting.

In addition, he is also an accomplished artist and has created many paintings and sculptures, some of which have been shown at various art galleries throughout Atlanta.

“The-Dream” was introduced to Laney Stewart at Redzone Entertainment in 2001, and although their first meeting wasn’t very successful, things fared better the second time around and Laney pulled him into his camp, where they immediately started to write together for the multi-platinum group B2K.

In early 2003 he was signed by Laney Stewart to a new publishing deal with Morningside Trail through a joint venture with peermusic. He went on to write for other artists. Including Nivea‘s “Complicated” album release, including the hit single “Okay” featuring Lil’ John and Youngbloodz.

In 2006, The-Dream was brought in by Tricky Stewart, to write with several artists the company was working with such as, J. Holiday.

To kick off the new year, The-Dream started 2007 with a bang. With the help of Tricky, “Umbrella” was created and was shopped to several labels for several artists. From Britney Spears at Jive, to Mary J and Akon, but it was Karen Kwak of Universal Music that got the record into the hands of LA Reid and the rest is history.

The led to The-Dream being personally signed by industry legend LA Reid, from just hearing his voice on demos, the writer of Rihanna‘s hit #1 “Umbrella” had his own record deal.

The-Dream‘s talent for songwriting is not limited to only R&B; but ranges to Pop, Rap and Rock and Roll. Working on such artists as: Mary J. Blige, Usher, Chris Brown, Puddle of Mud, American Idol winners and several others in his early days.

Along with the help of mega producers Tricky Stewart and Jazze Pha, and a new up and coming producer at the time, Carlos Mckinney, The-Dream wrote and co-produced his first album and it truly made a impact on music. With a sound that would be described as Prince meets R. Kelly at a T-Pain concert in ATL.

“Love/Hate” was released on December 11th, 2007. “Love Hate,” is a sonic gauntlet thrown down against complacent, cookie cutter music. Propelled by the first single, the gold selling “Shawty is a Ten.”

The follow-up single “I Luv Your Girl” featuring Young Jeezy, and the Top 5 hit “Falsetto,” along with the fan-favorite “Purple Kisses,” helped redefine R&B for 2007 and beyond.

Aries from UB spoke with The-Dream in September of 2007, where he discussed his upcoming debut CD, writing hit singles, gave an update on Nivea, his idea for a reality show & more!

UrbanBridgez.com: Shawty is A Ten is steady becoming a hit, what made you pick that for your first single?
The-Dream: It’s the only one I had at the time. I had given Bed to J. Holiday. I hadn’t recorded any other songs for the album yet, so we just went with that one (laughs).

UrbanBridgez.com: What’s the overall vibe of your debut album?
The-Dream: Very Princy. Very 80’s, that’s what I am as an artist as well as a producer. That’s just the type of music I make. I’m all about the content and the harmony, musically.

UrbanBridgez.com Who are some of the artists you worked with on it?
The-Dream: Right now just Fab and Rhianna. Right now we’re trying to figure out what song Jay is going to jump on.

UrbanBridgez.com: What’s been the hardest part about recording your own album?
The-Dream: Nothing! Think about it, as a solo artist I know what I want. So I can do what I want (laughs). Unlike writing for someone else, I have to fit into what they want. But working on my own album, I can do it all my way.

UrbanBridgez.com: J. Holiday told me he knew Bed would be a hit no matter who recorded it, what made you present it to him?
The-Dream: Mainly because everybody thought I should of given it to someone bigger and I have an ego. I feel like, as a writer I can’t let others influence me and I can’t loose my focus. A song is going to be a hit regardless who sings it, if it’s a hit song. I had execs saying you should give this to a big star and this and that. I feel J is a star in the making. Other’s may not see that yet, but trust me he is. I see him a lot, so I wanted to give it to him. I actually worked with him on two other songs for his album like two years ago. But yeah a lot of different people got mad at me for giving that song to him. Like Chris (Brown) is still mad, but he’ll get over it!

UrbanBridgez.com: I’m told Everything is the first song you wrote, that’s actually my favorite song by B2K.
The-Dream: Yeah it was actually and real cool!

UrbanBridgez.com: When you write a song, do you have a format?
The-Dream: To tell you the truth I just let it out. I don’t put it down on paper anymore. I just go to the booth and do it. It really just comes from how I feel. If it’s something silly or just personal, it’s comes out as that. If it’s something sexual, it comes out as that. I don’t go against the grain. So yeah, that’s really just how I write a song.

UrbanBridgez.com: What’s the story of you writing Umbrella (Rhianna) in 12 minutes?
The-Dream: 12 minutes and 13 seconds to be exact (laughs). It really goes back to what I was just saying about songwriting for me. Have you ever seen Gladiator?

UrbanBridgez.com: Nope!
The-Dream: What? You probably the only person on earth that hasn’t (laughs).

UrbanBridgez.com: I heard of it (laughs).
The-Dream: Well, the music in that film go with what’s going on in the film. Like the music in the beginning of the film. And at the end the guy dies right? When he dies it’s basically like a rebirth, he dies & because of that, somebody else gets to live. The song that is playing while this is happening actually portrays that. That’s what music is suppose to be & that’s how I write music. The thing that connects the music between us all is the words. So there really isn’t a time it should take to write a song. Like if someone pisses you off, does it take you 12 minutes to slap the shit out of them?

UrbanBridgez.com: No (laughs)
The-Dream: See (laughs). It all just comes out and you slap they ass! Music is just like that, it’s an emotion.

UrbanBridgez.com: I actually got familiar with you from Nivea’s Complicated CD. I knew then you were going to be big.
The-Dream: Thanks man.

UrbanBridgez.com: What’s the latest with Nivea?
The-Dream: She’s actually doing real good! She just got done recording a song with EVE, because EVE didn’t want Keyshia Cole on it. Nivea sounds great on it. It’s funny because I had a meeting for her at a label that I won’t call out, then Umbrella happened. So now I’m in a better position & I know what I’m doing. So expect something from her soon, we’re keeping the major label announcement a secret for now. But be on the lookout, because she is coming back!

UrbanBridgez.com: Who are some artists you’re currently working with and who’s project beside your own are you the most excited about that you worked on?
The-Dream: There are a lot actually, but I have to tell you, the one that has me the most excited is a song I did for Usher’s new album. The whole project as well, because I think they’re going to call us in to finish the project. But there is a song called Moving Mountains, man it’s incredible. It’s like four Umbrella’s in one, it’s a mid-tempo. Then there is a song I did for Celine Dion called Sky’s of L.A., which is about what our future looks like. You know like the sky of L.A., cloudy, full of dirt, etc. I love that song. I’m working with Mary J. Blige, that’s exciting, just a lot of people really.

UrbanBridgez.com: What do you do when you’re not working?
The-Dream: Work! I just can’t stop working. I tried to take a vacation, two as a matter of fact in the last two years. I always end up bringing my laptop and the whole nine. I just can’t do it. When I get to a certain level that I’m happy with, then I can take a break. Down in ATL I see people who were big last year and now you never hear from them. I have to keep on my grind. I want to retire when I’m 40, so I got about 13 years to get everything together.

UrbanBridgez.com: What’s next for The-Dream?
The-Dream It better be a show on BET or MTV. Called The-Dream Show or something like that (laughs). I want to have 5 writers and 5 producers. Put a writer and a producer in a room together and have them spend some time together. And who ever comes up with the best song, sign them to a deal. I think that would be a nice reality show.

UrbanBridgez.com: Any last words for your fans?
The-Dream: Thank y’all for the support. Go out and get the album when it’s released and then make a decision about me. Don’t go off of anybody or anything else. If you buy it and hate it, that’s cool, then you will have a reason to hate.

Take A Trip Down Memory Lane with “Love/Hate” + “Love vs. Money!”