Self-proclaimed ‘the most hated artist alive,’ Terius Nash may be often surrounded by controversy, but The-Dream continues to solidify himself as one of music’s unstoppable hitmakers. Known to openly share his thoughts, the singer/songwriter spoke candidly with Vibe about his ex-wife Christina Milian, Ciara’s failed album, Beyonce’s 4, why he’s now the ‘dopest artist alive’ and more.
It’s 12:45 a.m. and The-Dream has just forked down his last bit of calamari at an Upper Eastside red-lit favorite. He’s fed and friendly. But even with a happy belly, R&B’s love-and-lust obsessed virtuoso is still a bit on edge. The midnight munchies arrive just after the Grammy-award-winning songwriter made the king decision to call off his video shoot after a 3-hour+ setup. But that dictation doesn’t make Dream a narcissistic asshole. Really, in-between the f-bombs and braggadocio, Terius Nash is an undeniable and frighteningly unstoppable talent. And get this—he’s also pretty damn nice.
Around this time last year, you deleted your Twitter account after a statement you made about Ciara was taken out of context. What made you want to reenter the hashtag world?
I have a better understanding of social things now. I think from being in 2007 this very private person and going from A to Z so quickly, I had to stop myself from telling people things that were so real that they couldn’t even comprehend.
You pointed out a news story about Beyonce’s NYC concert series where you weren’t given rightful credit for penning the majority of her album and was even labeled as a rapper instead of a singer. Would you rather be recognized as a god of songwriter and have people forget you as an artist or would you rather be a god of an artist and have people downplay your songwriting?
I’d rather them know what I do best.
Which is?
At this time, being a songwriter. I think what makes me great as a songwriter is there’s still an artist behind it. It’s one thing to just be a writer with one style or a niche, but if you can go into a variety of lanes, that’s a fucking artist.
Let’s talk about Love King, which was supposed to be your final album, but ended up unfortunately being your least memorable. Why do you think that is?
Multiple reasons. The first is that you should never be rushed to do anything. It really comes down to this, L.A. Reid told me ‘Dream no one’s turning in an album, can you give me one?’ I was chillin, getting ready to drop a “Put It Down” from Love Vs. Money and then a video for “Fancy” and “Right Side Of Your Brain.” The second thing is that the building was in transition and people can say that they want to but that really affects how records get put out especially with how things have evolved with marketing.
So many male R&B singers have incorporated rapping into their styles and aren’t afraid to curse in their lyrics. Do you feel responsible for dudes trying this route?
Everything is a season though and seasons come back. The Weeknd are a very talented group of guys, definitely an influence of the 07-08 Love/Hate summer. But we all are products of what that is. Frank Ocean is definitely amazing. Weeknd, Miguel… they’re very good at what they do. I doubt if you asked if I influenced them, they’d be like ‘Nah.’ I’d be like really? (Laughs).
But on the flip end, when Love/Hate dropped it carved out this different subgenre in R&B and you were alone in that lane. Now you have byproducts of that who also happen to be your peers. Does that change your mindset at all?
You can’t compete with history. I already did it. That’s like me competing with R. Kelly… I can’t do that. Nothing’s better than something new, but you’re always going to remember what you love. There’s nobody on the planet that’s more doper than I am with this shit. I want to go to shows and see how when Beyonce sings “1+1” it breaks you down.
You had a very public split with Christina Milian how has that influenced your coming new music?
It’s just allowed me to be more real. I’d rather be the bad guy than anybody else be the bad girl because I can handle it. It’s a bad thing that two people can break up, but the truth of the matter is that it happens all the time for different reasons. But what’s wrong with a public breakup is that they never really know the truth. And I won’t be the person who says it. I’m not going to be that type. If something breaks, it’s not something to celebrate.
So you’re saying you’re not the only one who did wrong in that relationship, but at the same time there’s no need for details?
Right. I won’t put something on someone else’s plate that they can’t handle.
… surprised to see from you, being a private person, was that letter you posted on your site some months after your break up. In that letter you admitted to contemplating suicide.
Yep, every day.
…how you were able to rise above it.
You have so many things rushing through your mind and I was trying to figure out how to make it stop. Everything is speculation so it’s like how do I say something so you do understand, but you don’t blame me or blame Christina. But since everyone has me as the bad person, I’ll just be the bad motherf–ker. And eventually I just got over it.
…caught a tweet between you two that made it seem as if you were working musically again.
Mmm-mmm. She asked me but…
You don’t want to mix work and divorce together?
[Shakes head]
For someone who loves a challenge, that’s a little surprising to hear.
Me and Christina already discussed what I think she should be doing and I would never do anything other than what I think is as real as she could be.
And will you, Terius Nash, be going away anytime soon? Last time we spoke you were all about retirement.
Anytime a musician says they’re going to retire they’re lying. I didn’t want to lie. ’ I didn’t go into it with the intentions of lying, but creating music is like crack for me. It’s not even a want. I just can’t stop.
Read the interview in its entirety here.
The-Dream’s free LP ‘Terius Nash – 1977’ drops (digitally) August 31st.
