The-Dream facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The-Dream
The-Dream performing in 2008
Born	Terius Youngdell Nash (1977-09-20) September 20, 1977 (age 47) Rockingham, North Carolina, U.S.
Occupation	Singer songwriter record producer
Years active	1995–present
Works	Discography production
Spouse(s)	LaLonne Martinez (married 2014)
Children	9
Awards	Full list
Musical career
Origin	Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Genres	R&B pop hip hop electronic
Labels	Radio Killa Roc Nation Def Jam Capitol

Terius Youngdell Nash (born September 20, 1977), known as The-Dream, is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is famous for writing and producing hit songs for many popular artists in R&B and hip hop music. He often works with his production partner, Tricky Stewart. Since 2008, he has helped create music for every album by the famous singer Beyoncé.

The-Dream has co-written many well-known songs. These include "Umbrella" for Rihanna, "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" for Beyoncé, and "Baby" for Justin Bieber. He has won eight Grammy Awards and has been nominated 21 times. This includes a special nomination for Songwriter of the Year.

After the success of "Umbrella," he signed with Def Jam Recordings. He has released five studio albums, including Love/Hate (2007) and Love vs. Money (2009). These albums featured popular songs like "Shawty Is a 10".

The-Dream's Early Life

Terius Nash was born in Rockingham, North Carolina. When he was two years old, he moved to Atlanta, Georgia with his mother. He first learned to play the trumpet in elementary school. Later, he learned to play the drums and guitar.

His mother passed away in 1992 when he was fifteen. This sad event inspired him to write songs. He says his mother's death gave him a "soft spot" for women. This led him to write songs that empower women, like Rihanna's "Umbrella". He then lived with his grandfather, who was a concrete mason. His grandfather taught him to work hard.

Music Career Journey

Starting Out (2001–2007)

In 2001, Nash met R&B producer Laney Stewart. Stewart helped him get a deal to write songs after Nash wrote "Everything" for the group B2K. Using the name "The-Dream," Nash began writing lyrics for famous artists. He co-wrote Britney Spears' song "Me Against the Music".

He spent two years working on Nivea's album Complicated. He also continued to write and produce with Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, Laney's brother. This teamwork led to Rihanna's huge hit "Umbrella" in 2007. "Umbrella" was even nominated for Song of the Year at the 2008 Grammy Awards.

The Love Albums (2008–2010)

In 2007, The-Dream signed a record deal with Def Jam Recordings. He started working on his first album, Love/Hate. He produced the album with Tricky Stewart and Los Da Mystro. It featured artists like Fabolous and Rihanna. The album was written and recorded very quickly, in just eight days.

Love/Hate was released on December 11, 2007. It included popular songs like "Shawty Is a 10" and "I Luv Your Girl". Critics generally liked the album. Rolling Stone called it "one of the most likable R&B records of the year." In June 2008, The-Dream was named Best New Artist at the BET Awards.

Nash also wrote and produced Beyoncé's song "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" in 2008. This song won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year and Best R&B Song. These were The-Dream's first Grammy wins!

On March 10, 2009, The-Dream released his second album, Love vs. Money. He worked again with Tricky Stewart and Los Da Mystro. The album featured Mariah Carey, Kanye West, and Lil Jon. It included singles like "Walkin' on the Moon". Critics praised the album, and it was more successful than his first one. It reached number two on the Billboard 200 chart.

His next album, Love King, was released on June 29, 2010. The-Dream said it was his best album yet. It featured singles like "Love King". Even with good reviews, this album was not as commercially successful as Love vs. Money.

Later Albums (2011–2014)

On August 31, 2011, The-Dream released a new album called 1977 as a free download. Def Jam Recordings later released it for sale in December 2012.

His album IV Play came out on May 28, 2013. It featured many guest artists like Jay-Z, Beyoncé, and Kelly Rowland. The singles from this album were "Slow It Down" and "IV Play". In January 2014, he announced he had left Def Jam Recordings. He later joined Capitol Records.

Recent Projects (2015–2017)

In 2014, The-Dream released a free mixtape called Royalty: The Prequel (EP). This was to introduce his new music style. He followed it with "Fruition." His album Crown Jewel was later split into two EPs. On December 9, 2015, he released "Love You to Death EP." He also appeared on a song by Kanye West in 2017.

Songwriting and Production Work

Besides his own music, The-Dream has written and produced songs for many other R&B, hip hop, and pop artists. These include Usher, Mariah Carey, Ciara, Beyoncé, and Janet Jackson. In 2009, he and Tricky Stewart also worked on an album for the R&B girl group Electrik Red.

The-Dream has also been featured as a singer on songs by artists like Plies, Rick Ross, and Snoop Dogg.

He worked with Christina Milian on her album Elope. He believed she was a very talented singer. However, Elope was never released.

Musical Influence

Music experts say that The-Dream's unique R&B style has changed the genre. For example, John Calvert from The Quietus says The-Dream's "stadium-R&B" influenced Frank Ocean's 2012 song "Pyramids". Music editor Andy Kellman notes that The-Dream, along with Carlos McKinney and Tricky Stewart, became leaders in electronic pop-R&B music.

Personal Life

The-Dream has nine children. He married LaLonne Martinez in 2014. They have four children together: sons Heir Wolf Nash and Lord Nash, and daughters Maverick and Élysées Nash.

Discography

• Love/Hate (2007)
• Love vs. Money (2009)
• Love King (2010)
• 1977 (2011)
• IV Play (2013)
• Genesis (2016)
• Sextape 4 (2020)

Filmography

Awards and Nominations

Grammy Awards

The-Dream has been nominated 21 times for the Grammy Awards, winning eight of these nominations.

See also

In Spanish: The-Dream para niños