A string of Billboard successes predicated on simplicity: The-Dream’s hiccupping vocal tics and Tricky’s looping whirring, heavy synths followed by ringing percussion accents. Together, these two have teamed to create the most fascinating, if not finest, pop hits of recent times. Of course, it is impossible to speak of The-Dream, or his formula, without mentioning Christopher 'Tricky' Stewart, who produces eight of the album’s tracks.

Yeah is a “yes-man” to a comical degree), are extremely catchy, not unlike Rihanna’s “ella, ella, eh, eh, eh”s on “Umbrella.” Here, we hear a crack in the sonic text, The-Dream’s pop formula exposed. Yeah,” which certainly have a thematic meaning (Mr. For instance, the ad nauseam “yeahs” on “Mr. But, even more vital to the general pop flavorings are the countless repeated vocals. There are a myriad of chopped and screwed and auto-tuned vocals, hints of Timbo-styled soft percussion clicks and hiccups, and the increasingly prevalent gang chant (listen: Pollow Da Don’s discography). Money, he wants it all: to have love and money, respect and popularity - that is, to be timeless and timely.Īt the heart of The-Dream’s sweaty and galactic jams is a cornucopia of the 21st-century’s distinguishing pop templates. So, what is it? Is The-Dream a “radio killa” (read: pop star), an “R&B guerilla” (read: someone less ubiquitous), or a tortured genius (read: an unappreciated artist during his time)? On second full-length Love vs. During the past few years, he has written some of our biggest pop hits (Rihanna’s “Umbrella,” Beyonce’s “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It),” Mariah Carey’s “Tough My Body”), released a very highly acclaimed R&B album ( Love Hate), and been christened as one of our generation’s greatest pop artists, yet the next time you see him on TMZ or the cover of Rolling Stone will be the first. The-Dream exists among his peers in an oddly singular liminal state, betwixt and between obscurity, celebritydom, and apotheosis.

Love vs money zip