The-Dream

The-Dream Headshot

Singer • Songwriter

Spouses: Nivea, Christina Milian

Singer/songwriter Terius Youngdell Nash -- a.k.a. The-Dream -- was responsible for writing some of the music industry's most recognizable hits for the world's most famous musical acts, including Rihanna, Justin Bieber and Beyoncé Knowles. But in spite of this healthy leg-up, having his own imprint on which to release his multiple solo albums and access to a who's who of R&B artists to guest on his sessions, his career as a recording artist never matched his powerful status as a voice for other musicians.

Terius Nash was born in Rockingham, NC on June 14, 1978. His mother moved him to Atlanta at a young age, where he was encouraged to pursue his interest in music and played trumpet, drums, and guitar in school. At fifteen Nash's mother died, and his grandfather, who continued to nurture his musical talent, took him in. In early 2000 he caught his first break, when Chicago music executive Laney Stewart relocated to Atlanta. Nash wrangled a publishing deal with Stewart based on the strength of his song "Everything," which was included on the second studio album by R&B act B2K, Pandemonium! (2002). It kick-started Nash's writing career, and he started penning under his newly adopted name, The-Dream. Nash's next break came after he co-wrote "Me Against the Music" (2003), which appeared on Britney Spears' fourth album and became the album's lead single. The song was actually touched by many hands, one of them being Laney Stewart's younger brother, Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, who became a regular collaborator with Nash. The writing partners' next hit was Rihanna's smash "Umbrella" (2007), which was actually written with Britney Spears in mind. The hit was nominated for Song of the Year at the 2008 Grammy Awards. The-Dream signed a recording contract with Def Jam Records in 2007, and made his first bid at solidifying his career as a performer. He co-produced his debut album Love Hate (2007) with "Tricky" Stewart, and rapper Fabolous and Rihanna both made appearances. All three of the album's singles charted within the top 30 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart, but bigger things lay ahead. In 2008 Nash co-wrote the Beyoncé megahit "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)," which hit No. One on the US charts. The song was nominated and won Song of the Year at the 2010 Grammy Awards.

Nash's second album, Love vs. Money (2009) was also co-produced with "Tricky" Stewart. Conceived of as the second installment in a trilogy of projects on the theme of love, the record debuted at the No. Two spot on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, and generated four singles, all of which charted. Guest artists included megastars Kanye West and Mariah Carey. In 2010, Nash co-wrote "Baby," the lead single for then-rising star Justin Bieber's debut album, which entered at No. Five on the Billboard Hot 100.

The third installment of Nash's musical trilogy, Love King (2010) debuted at No. Four on the Billboard 200, but did not chart outside the US, and the record's two singles achieved lukewarm placements. In spite of generally favorable reviews about The Dream's musical chops, there were critiques over his lack of original lyric content. His fourth studio album Terius Nash: 1977 (2011) was originally released as a free download, and it peaked at No. 29 on the US Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. In 2011 he co-wrote "All of the Lights" for Kanye West, which won Best Rap Song at the 54th Grammy Awards. In 2013, his fifth album, "IV Play" included collaborations with Beyoncé and her husband Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige and Kelly Rowland, and debuted at No. 16 on the Billboard 200.

Credits

Rick Ross Feat. Willie Falcon; The-Dream: Little Havana

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2022

Essentials: Jay-Z

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2021

Best of 2009

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2019

Bedroom Love

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2019

Wrtten By The Dream

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2019

Hip Hop: King of Mainstream

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2019

Summer Def Jam

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2019

Loso's Way

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2019

Dermot Kennedy's 20

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2019

Too $hort Feat G-Eazy & The-Dream: Only Dimes

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2018

Def Jam Legends

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2018

Rick Ross Da Boss

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2018

Best of Pusha T

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2018

PushaT vs Drake

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2018

Best of Fabolous

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2018

The-Dream: Sextape Volume 1

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2018

Drink Champs: Happy Hour

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2017

Signed

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2017

Fat Joe & Remy Ma Feat. The-Dream & Vindata: Heartbreak

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2017

Meek Mill Feat. The-Dream: Young Black America

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2017

The-Dream Feat. Fabolous: Summer Body

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2017

Sevyn Streeter Feat. The-Dream: D4L

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2016

Rick Ross Feat. The-Dream: Money Dance

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2015

The Dream Feat. T.I.: That's My S...

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2015

Pusha T Feat. A$AP Rocky, Kanye West & The-Dream: M.P.A

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2015

Rick Ross Feat. The-Dream: Money Dance

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2015

The-Dream Feat. T.I.: That's My S.

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2015

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonStream

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2014

The-Dream: Black

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2014

The-Dream Feat. Pusha T: Dope Chick

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2013

The-Dream Feat. Fabolous: Slow It Down

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2013

The-Dream: IV Play

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2013

The-Dream Feat. Gary Clark, Jr.: Too Early

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2013

Kanye West Feat. The-Dream & Frank Ocean: No Church in the Wild

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2012

The-Dream: Roc

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2012

The-Dream Feat. Casha: Kill the Lights

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2012

Kourtney & Kim Take New York

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2011

Jay-Z & Kanye West Feat. Frank Ocean and The Dream: No Church In the Wild

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2011

The-Dream Feat. Big Sean: Ghetto

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2011

T.I. Feat. The-Dream: No Mercy

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2010

The-Dream Feat. T.I.: Make Up Bag

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2010

The-Dream: Love King

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2010

The-Dream Feat. Ludacris: Love King Remix

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2010

The-Dream: Make Up Bag

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2010

The-Dream Feat. Kanye West: Walkin' on the Moon

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2009

The Dream Feat. Juelz Santana, Ludacris and Rick Ross: Rockin' That Thang (Remix)

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2009

Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

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2009

The-Dream: Rockin' That Thang

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2009

The-Dream Feat. Kanye West: Walkin' On The Moon

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2009

Fabolous Feat. The-Dream: Throw It in the Bag

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2009

The-Dream: Rockin' That Thing

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2009

Snoop Dogg Feat. The-Dream: Gangsta Luv

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2009

The-Dream Feat. Mariah Cary: My Love

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2009

The-Dream Feat Jeezy: I Luv Your Girl

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2008

LL Cool J Feat. The-Dream: Baby

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2008

Jamie Foxx Feat. Drake, Kanye West, The-Dream: Digital Girl (Remix)

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2008

LL Cool J Feat. The-Dream: Baby

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2008

Plies Feat. Jamie Foxx & The-Dream: Please Excuse My Hands

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2008

Gym Class Heroes Feat. The-Dream: Cookie Jar

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2008

The-Dream: I Luv Your Girl

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2008

The-Dream: Falsetto

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2007

The-Dream Feat. Fabolous: Shawty Is a 10

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2007

Tavis Smiley

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2004

Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream

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2003

106 & Park: BET's Top 10 Live

Actor
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2000

The Tonight Show With Jay Leno

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1992

Saturday Night LiveStream

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1975

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