Review: The-Dream Had Me Reliving My “College Daze”
I never want anyone to tell me that R&B is dead when there are great acts like The-Dream churning out hits.
I don’t believe that we appreciate our artists in the way they should be appreciated and being subjected to the social media age we’ve become jaded. We’ve grown to think that if someone isn’t on social media flashing their latest belongings or being spotted at an industry event then there’s nothing happening within their camps. The beauty of music and the creatives involved is that those creators don’t always need a spotlight to share their work. It’s always nice knowing that the spotlight is an enhancement of what they have been able to provide to the world. All of that allows me to appreciate singer/songwriter/producer Terius “The-Dream” Nash. With over 10 years in the music industry, The-Dream has been able to assist in pushing genres forward.
Elated that the rain had held up a bit I made my way to the El Rey Theatre to catch a glimpse of The-Dream. I arrived a little before his set and was immediately taken aback by the number of people that had filled the theater. In hopes that he’d perform hits like “Rockin’ That” and “Fancy,” it wasn’t surprising to see that it was indeed date night for a few show attendees. I’m not sure what it is about the El Rey, but the venue has a way of foreshadowing good times ahead. I’ve seen countless artists perform on the El Rey stage and have yet to be disappointed by anything that I’ve experienced. The theater allows the artists to engage their fans on a personable level. The intimacy is both warranted and appreciated on both ends.
Lights dimmed and fans were greeted with a cinematic message. The message allowed any newbie to find out exactly who The-Dream is. Letting his artistry speak for itself, the self-proclaimed “Radio Killa” kicked things off with J.Holiday’s “Bed.” It was comforting in a way knowing that he had a hand in some of my favorite songs. The radio killing title, of course, fits well. As the night went on The-Dream continued to cover a melody of his works including, “Holy Grail” and Kanye West’s gospel-inspired “Ultra Light Beam.”
The crowd participation during the “Lemon Lean” acapella performance was effortless. Continuing on with the evening The-Dream performed a host of songs, including those from albums Love Hate, Love vs. Money, IV Play and Crown Jewel. Being a fan of this man’s artistry is like second nature. From admiring his extensive catalog of records and witnessing him dominate his performance my support for The-Dream has been solidified.
