The Dream is gearing up to release his new album, Love Vs. Money on March 10th featuring Kayne West, Rick Ross, Juelz Santana, Ludacris, Mariah Carey and Fabolous.

Even though they just released the video to Rockin That Thing, they’re already prepping the remix video to “Rocking That Thing” featuring Rick Ross, Ludacris, Fabolous and Juelz Santana. And OH YES, your boy will be on hand.

Until then, enjoy these visuals because I sure as hell did.

Sincerely

Low “Can’t wait to hear this in the club tonite” Key

The Dream- Rocking That Thang

The singer/songwriter/producer stopped by DJ Skee’s west coast radio show recently to discuss a plethora of issues. Sophomore LP: Check. Writing hit records: Check! Auto-Tune: Check! Mariah Carey: Check! Oh and collaborating with Kanye West on his fourth album: CHECK! Here’s what he had to say about Mariah, the Auto-Tune and writing Beyonce’s, “Sinlge Ladies”….

The Dream on the Auto-Tune…. 

“I get it, you know? It’s just one of those things, like ok I get it. It’s a sound. What it is, it’s a sound that you would probably hear in a keyboard and everybody does this keyboard sound for a couple years and then it kind of fades itself out. It’s just a sound now that’s put on top of the vocal because it really doesn’t distort what you’re talking about. Either you have a lyric, a great song or you don’t. What’s special with Kanye is that he had a great lyric; I understood where he was coming from beyond the Auto-Tune part of it. It’s like, ‘Ok, this is great, I get it, and you told a story’. That kind of helped me, melodically; understand where he was coming from.”

The Dream on working with Mariah Carey for MC3….. 

“I’ve been working on this Mariah thing for the last four days. Her working title for the next album and what I like to call it, it’s “MC3”. I love her. Mariah’s everything. She’s down, she’s cool, she gets it; she’s all the way in there. I told her, it’s not like how it used to be where you can wait to come out with album, so I told her let’s do it and she’s up for it. I’m trying to do the whole thing. I think it’s just about writing an album that includes the focus of all the hits that she’s had. I mean, you have “Endless Love”, “My All”, “We Belong Together”, “Touch My Body”; you have those types of records, so it’s basically like creating greatest hits without using those actual hits.”

The Dream on writing “Single Ladies”…… 

“It’s actually a lot of research involved because I really take it seriously. There’s really nobody else to sing “Single Ladies” but Beyonce. It wasn’t a record that I was holding for anyone. I got to Roc The Mic Studios with nothing and that’s the record we walked away with 25 minutes later, “Put A Ring On It”. That was for her. I do that with every artist. There’s no song I’m passing around to everybody. I get in, we don’t know which record we’re going to do and we do that record which is specially designed for them.”

Hmmmm, interesting. What are your thoughts on Mr. Dream?? Is he what Mariah’s missing from her creative life????

Sincerely

Low “The Dream is alllllllllllllright in my book” Key  

The sound scape to the track is cool, although it sounds like a traditional Tricky beat, it still gets my nodgen knocking. As for the content, ehhhhh. The usual “BabyILoveYouAndImNotGoingAnywhereNoMatterWhatTheHatersSay” banter is secretly starting to turn my stomach, but hey, to each his own.

I’m praying this is the first “OFFICIAL” single from his sophomore Lp, Love Vs. Money, because this is about the 546546656th joint that’s leaked from the big homey. Hey Def Jam, I hope you have something HUGE planned for this guy.

The Dream ft. Mariah Carey- My Love | Produced By Tricky Stewart|

Like it, Love it or Leave it??????

Sincerely

Low “My Love for SoundOfff is ON ANOTHER LEVEL RIGHT NOW” Key  

In the case of me having to actually pick between the two; I probably would pick Neyo…only because his first album was during my last relationship and it basically told the entire story of how it played out. Just had to let you guys know lol…

The only difference, statistically, between the two is Neyo’s album count is already at three, so experience already ways heavy on the side of the Arkansas native (yes, Neyo is originally from Arkansas). In the past 2 years, both Neyo and The Dream have massacred writing pads with their unique penmanship showing no mercy for each other or the competition.

Neyo’s infectious material has channeled more so the opposite sex’s perspective more than the male’s, at times. Beyonce’s, “Irreplaceable” became a massive female anthem signaling every dishonest man to the left. And let’s not forget his breakout hit, “Let Me Love You” crooned by Mario back in 2004.

But on the other side of town The Dream, who began his writing tenure in 2003 after penning “Everything” for B2K, has also kept dance floors packed and radio airwaves filled via Rihanna (“Umbrella”), J. Holiday (“Bed”), Mariah Carey (“Touch My Body”), Mary J. Blige (“Just Fine”) and more recently, Beyonce (“Single Ladies”).

 Both are capable of writing hits for themselves and others, but it’s something distinctively unique about the both of them. Neyo’s material is more relationship driven; the heartaches and pains deriving from that particular situation. While The Dream, who can also channel the relationship commentary, has a bit more fun laminating the raunchy side of things (See Usher’s, “Trading Places”, lol). But hey, those are just my observations.

Time for the debate: Who Is A Better Songwriter; Neyo or The Dream?????? Having a hard time deciding? No worries, I’ve listed a throng of joints both artists have written in the last 3 years. ENJOY!

Songs written by Neyo

Mario- Let Me Love You (Turning Point, 2004)

Rihanna- Unfaithful (A Girl Like Me, 2005)

Neyo- So Sick, Stay, When You’re Mad (In My Own Words, 2006)

Beyonce- Irreplaceable (B’Day, 2006)

Rihanna- Hate That I Love You (Good Girl Gone Bad, 2007)

Neyo- Because of You, Can We Chill, Addicting, Go On Girl (Because of You, 2007)

Mary J. Blige- Work In Progress (Growing Pains, 2007)

Leona Lewis- I’m You (Spirit, 2007)

Usher- His Mistakes  (Here I Stand, 2008)

Rihanna- Take A Bow (Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded, 2008)

Neyo- Fade Into The Background (Year of the Gentlemen, 2008)

Jennifer Hudson- Spotlight (Jennifer Hudson, 2008)

Ciara- Supernatrual (Fantasy Ride, 2008)

Janet Jackson- This Can’t Be Good (Discipline, 2008)

Songs written by The Dream

Britney Spears- Me Against The Music (In The Zone, 2003)

Chris Brown ft. Lil Wayne- Gimmie What You Got (Exclusive, 2007)

Ciara ft. Ludacris- High Price (Fantasy Ride, 2008)

J. Holiday- Bed (Back Of My Lac, 2007)

Janet Jackson- Greatest X (Discipline, 2008)

Karina Pasian- 16 @ War (First Love, 2008)

Raheem DeVaughn- Customer (Love Behind The Melody, 2008)

Mariah Carey- Touch My Body (The Emancipation Of Mimi, 2008)

Mary J. Blige- Just Fine (Growing Pains, 2008)

Beyonce- Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) (I Am……Sasha Fierce, 2008)

Nivea ft. Lil Jon- Okay (Complicated, 2005)

Rihanna ft. Jay-Z- Umbrella (Good Girl Gone Bad, 2007)

Usher- Trading Places (Here I Stand, 2008)

The Dream- Living A Lie, Nikki, Playin In Her Air, Falsetto (LoveHate, 2007)

Come on….make the decision; Neyo or The Dream??????? 

Sincerely

Low “I’m Soooooo Sickkkk of love songs” Key 

Music mastermind, Quincy Jones, who’s credited for assembling two of the greatest pieces of work, Michael Jackson’s, Bad and Thriller Lp’s, is hard at work on a new tribute/compilation/album. Logistics as to where or when the project will surface remains to be revealed. However, Usher, John Mayer, Mariah Carey have all been tapped to contribute to the set. At press time, the first collaboration confirmed is John Mayer and Usher.

Aside from putting together the new project, Quincy, however, did turn down an offer from Michael Jackson to contribute on his forthcoming Lp. Since Quincy and the King of Pop already made history several times before, he felt their collaborative synergy has come and gone. INTERESTING!

Think Quincy still has it?? If so, who do you think could help make this project spectacular and groundbreaking?

Sincerely

Low “Thriller just might be one of the GREATEST albums, EVER” Key

StarGate links with President Carter!  StarGate (Tor Erik Hermansen and Mikkel S. Eriksen) a Norwegian production duo whose responsible for countless amounts of R&B hits (more on that later) have linked up with Roc-A-Fella’s H.N.I.C., Jay-Z, to form a new recording imprint, StarRoc (get it, StarGate…Rocafella..). Though details are sketchy right now, the duo has since relocated to Jay-Z’s, Roc The Mic studios in Manhattan.

Now before you start with the, “Who in the HELL are these guys and why should I even CARE about what they’re doing” questions and inquiries, let me run down their credentials, well the short version, lol…….

Neyo: “So Sick”, “Let Go”, “Because of You”, “Go On Girl”, “Miss Independent”, “Closer”

Rihanna: “Unfaithful”, “We Ride”, “Don’t Stop The Music”, “Good Girl Gone Bad”,
“Hate That I Love You”, “Take A Bow”

Chris Brown: “With You”

Beyonce: “Irreplaceable”, “Beautfiul Liar”

Mario: “How Do I Breathe”

Trey Songz: “Can’t Help But Wait”

Jordin Sparks: “Tatto”, “Freeze”, “For The Record”

Usher: “His Mistakes”, “What’s a Man To Do”

Mariah Carey: “That Chick”, “Bye Bye”

Nas: “America”, “Not Going Back”

Janet Jackson: “Tonite”

Jennifer Hudson: “Spotlight”

And to honest, on their behalf, I’m being EXTREMELY modest because their production credits go on FOR DAYS! 

StarGate, Hova….good team???? SOUNDOFF!!

Sincerely

Low “Maybe I should’ve kept making beats on the side” Key

For some odd reason, I didn’t notice this track on MiMi’s latest body of work E=Mc2. It’s funny, because when I was in Las Vegas 2 weeks ago, I went to go see “Don’t Mess With The Zohan” and during the end credits, I remember this song playing. I turned to my colleague and blurted “Yo, what the hell is this?”. Anyway, to make a long story short, TIP jumped on the remix and LowKey snatched it from the studio (not exactly, but you get the idea).

As always, B.E.T. You Haven’t Heard This is providing you with your daily exclusive fix.

Mariah Carey ft. T.I.- Love You Long Time (Remix) (Prod. By DJ Toomp)

Like it, Love it or Leave it????

Sincerely

Low “Yep, You guys will be loving SoundOff for a very lonnnnnnnnnnnnnng time” Key

Ahhhh, she so gorgeous! Oh, sorry back to business. I’m not a huge fan of this song, but these remixes are keeping me entertained so I can deal with it for now. Weezy Weez and Mr. Locked up decided to add their “Bye Bye” thoughts to this track and of course Mr. B.E.T. You Haven’t Heard This aka LowKey just couldn’t hold onto it for himself, so here you go!

Mariah Carey ft. Lil Wayne & Akon- Bye Bye (Remix) 

You know the drill boys and girls….

Like it, Love it or Leave it?????

Wheeeew, got myself a BUSY day ahead of me. R&B Live post, Karina Pasian post, and another Las Vegas post! I swear, there’s just not enough hours in the day!

Sincerely

Low “You’re lucky I LOVE what I do lol” Key  

Newlyweds Nick Cannon and Mariah Carey have managed to stay in the headlines since their wedding (surprise, surprise). Now, the latest reports have Nick looking like he’s on a leash.  This past week, Nick was said to be hanging out with Diddy and Quincy Jones (yeah, all of a sudden, he’s got a new crop of friends) when MC summoned him back home. According to bossip.com, Nick was dragged away from Foxwoods to sit by Mimi’s side at a photo shoot for Elle Magazine (one that lasted until 5:30 a.m.!!). According to a source, the two were “super affectionate.” Gag.

–KO

Well, well, well. Look who’s talking. People Magazine has exclusive photos of the happy couple, feet still wet from the beach of their now confirmed wedding.

“I never felt a love like this was in the cards for me,” Mariah tells People magazine, in an exclusive interview.” Gag. “We really do feel we are soulmates.”

And if Mariah’s quote didn’t make your stomach turn enough, check out what Nick says, “She is beautiful on the outside and ten times as beautiful on the inside.”

According to people.com, the interview which hits Newsstands this Friday, features photos of their new tattoos (don’t ask me, I don’t know yet and will surely tell you when I find out), Nick’s candy-themed proposal (again, I’m in as much awe as you at the cheeziness) and their plans for kids (…just don’t say anything…).

Okay, the People magazine interview, c’mon. What do you think?? Jay-Z and Beyonce are somewhere laughing.

–KO