Label - Island Def Jam Music Group
BLURB - The Dream kind of came out of nowhere this year, and it really shouldn't be that big of a shock. He already released two solo albums in the previous two years, and though they were under the radar, they were strong and showed enormous potential. The Dream brings a level of smoothness and cool to every track he's on. His vocal style is a crooning mix of singing and rapping (see also Drake & Chris Brown) that matches perfectly with the laid back R&B beats that shape his records, of which he produces most. "Love King" may just be the album that officially introduces this multitalented singer to the masses.
Rating - 8 out of 10
FULL STORY - When you do a little research, you find out just how talented The Dream is. Not only is he an artist, but in most circumstances he writes and produces all of his material. No small feat. As his knack for songwriting and producing evolved he was eventually signed to a publishing deal a few years back. Working in the publishing business, I can appreciate and respect this level of talent. Often times, the public has no idea that their favorite artists are merely just singing songs that have been meticulously crafted by professional songwriters. What really makes a good song good, is the songwriting. The Dream became a force after co-producing Rihanna's "Umbrella" and Beyonce's "Single Ladies," two of the most popular songs of the decade.
'Love King' is the title track of the record and opens up the album. If you ask me, it's the obligatory hit single that record labels demand, but damn it's good. Musically, the song is very basic and mainly consists of piano chords and strings, but the underlying groove is very addictive and smooth. Vocally, there are hooks and melodies everywhere screaming radio airplay. There's also a level of confident cockiness on it, as if to say to the label - hey I took your cheesy song and still made it sound amazing.
T.I. guests on the second track 'Make Up Bag,' which is yet another radio ready hit that has been blasting through the speaker system at my gym for the last two months. The song itself is somewhat unoriginal, but once again The Dream makes it entertaining by delivering some crisp verses over a laid back club beat. The chorus, somehow, always gets lodged in my head and I would never drop five stacks on that make up bag.
"If you ever make your girlfriend mad, don't let your good girl go bad. Drop five stacks on that make up bag..."
My favorite track on the record is "F.I.L.A.," and it is for no other than reason than it sounds cool. That being said, the song is also perhaps the most accessible on the album and showcases The Dream's emotional side, as he sings about trying to make an old girlfriend fall in love again. The verses are tight orchestrations of digital horn sections and piano that slowly build up to each upcoming chorus, filtering in more instrumentation. By the time the chorus hits, there is a level of passion that deceptively sneaks up on the listener and gives the song added meaning and credibility.
'Panties to the Side' is a song I'd advise my parents against listening to, as it opens with the line, "Let me fuck you baby." The track is very industrial and much harder than the rest of the album, yet the pace remains laid back. I actually hate the pre-chorus on this song, it just sounds out of place, but all is forgiven when the chorus drops. Sounding like something off of a vintage 112 album, the vocals are so precise and melodic that you instantly feel like dropping everything and singing. Unfortunately, the chorus is so well done you may just find yourself waiting around all song to hear it.
If you're into hip hop or R&B and you haven't heard of The Dream, you should probably go grab a copy of "Love King." It's filled with quality beats, smooth hooks and is a great record to sit back and chill out to. Some of the tracks can become a bit redundant ('Sex Intelligent'), but there are also several pleasant surprises ('Turnt Out') that come out of nowhere and turn into some guilty pleasures. Go listen for yourself.
Tracks
1.) Love King
2.) Make Up Bag
3.) F.I.L.A
4.) Sex Intelligent
5.) Sex Intelligent Remix
6.) Yamaha
7.) Nikki, Pt. 2
8.) Abyss
9.) Panties to the Side
10.) Turnt Out
11.) February Love
12.) Florida University
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