The-Dream for Beginners

Our primer to the man behind music's most powerful women (Beyoncé included)

Getty Images
Whether or not you know him as a recording artist (he is a damn good one in his own right), super-producer The-Dream, née Terius Nash, has penned and produced some of the decade's biggest hits for pop and R&B's biggest female stars. It's a unique combination of qualities that have allowed him to craft next-level, career-defining tracks for the Rihannas and Beyonés of the music industry: an adept vocal ability that allows him to sing like the ladies for whom he's writing and a degree of emotional depth that puts him right into any diva's headspace. On the occasion of our full profile of the female-championing musical genius in our September issue—which hits newsstands on August 20th and stars another kind of phenomenon, Kate Upton—we've narrowed down five of hits covered in The-Dream's fingerprints. We gather you've heard a few of them before…

1. "Umbrella," Rihanna

Nash originally wrote the song for a mid-breakdown Britney Spears, envisioning it as a ballad directed at her two sons. Instead, Rihanna nabbed the track and blew up the charts.

2. "Countdown," Beyoncé

The-Dream co-wrote this song with fellow powerhouse Ester Dean. He's also penned Bey hits "Grown Woman," "1+1," "Love on Top," and—bless him—"Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)."

3. "Me Against the Music," Britney Spears, featuring Madonna

A collaboration with his producing partner Tricky Stewart, The-Dream's 2003 effort marks Britney and Madonna's most memorable union—with the possible exception of their infamous VMA's kiss.

4. "Dirty Laundry," Kelly Rowland

Incredibly, Nash told us that he conceived of the song, about a past abusive relationship of Rowland's, before he knew her very well. It made headlines for implying a rivalry between Rowland and Beyoncé, but it's a wonderfully haunting ballad even outside that context.

5. "Baby," Justin Bieber

The-Dream doesn't only write for women. For this teen chart-climber, he just imagined being 16 again. You're welcome, Beliebers.

BONUS TRACK! "One in a Million," The-Dream

Our man's Aaliyah cover ruffled plenty of her fans' feathers—and it's worth a listen.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
More From Music 2020