The Dream
5/6/20261 hr 45 min
The-Dream is the hitmaker behind era-defining records like Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies” and Justin Bieber’s “Baby,” but this conversation goes far beyond the credits. He joins Shawn Stockman to talk about what makes a song timeless, why music has to connect with real people, and how the greatest records carry pieces of life inside them. In this episode, The-Dream opens up about songwriting, fame, love, family, Atlanta roots, industry lessons, and the philosophy behind giving the right song to the right artist. It’s a thoughtful, funny, and deeply honest look at the mind of one of music’s most legendary pens. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Clips
Showing 10 of 12Transcript preview
First 90 secondsThe-Dream· Guest0:00
Yo, what's up? You're tuned in to me, The-Dream, and my guy, Shawn Stockman. And we're here On That Note, and I don't know what you know about me, but I've written a couple records. Um, one, Single Ladies, one maybe Baby by Justin Bieber. [laughs] One maybe Holy Grail by Jay-Z. Some of your favorites, you know.
Shawn Stockman· Host0:17
Yeah, yeah. Just a few.
The-Dream· Guest0:18
[laughs] Um, and I work real hard. So, um, I would really love it if you guys tune in and, um, just, just bear with two songwriters for a moment. [swish] 'Cause everything kinda changed for a minute, and it's like, do these people really care? Is it more about fame and less about the records? And we can see it, and you don't want certain people... If you have the luxury to, you don't want certain people singing your songs.
Shawn Stockman· Host0:41
Right.
The-Dream· Guest0:42
If you have the luxury. That's a blessing, to be able to say, "Nah, I'd rather wait t- till she sings it- Mm ... than to give it to this person."
Shawn Stockman· Host0:50
Mm.
The-Dream· Guest0:50
They don't care. The label don't care. The team, the rollout team, nobody cares. And they're gonna take that record, and then at the end of the day, if you are bigger than those artists, they're just gonna say you're the one, the reason why it did whatever it did or it didn't do.
Shawn Stockman· Host1:04
Yeah.
The-Dream· Guest1:04
So it's like, no, I just- That's always the scapegoat. Y- yeah. So it's like, oh, let's wait this out. And I was transforming my thing personally as a, as a artist, too. I didn't want people to get confused at the idea that I happened just in that time period.
Shawn Stockman· Host1:21
Mm.
The-Dream· Guest1:22
So I said, "I'm gonna do this other thing that I do well alongside the Jay-Zs, like No Church,