Elsewhere, soulful piano complements a cocky, yet classy Rick Ross verse on “Perfect,” which builds towards a confession from THE-DREAM who admits, “I’d love to hate you, but you’re perfect.” Then, there’s “Powder Coat.” It would be nearly impossible to match the elevated chemistry between three of the culture’s most elite talents, namely Pusha T, Swizz Beatz, and THE-DREAM. Pusha T leaves the production in flames with magnetic mic mastery, and THE-DREAM amplifies the energy with a towering display of falsetto. “Papi Te Ama” breaks down walls, pairing him with Kelly “Dria” Rowland on a bold boundary-breaking banger. Their back-and-forth gives the song multiple dimensions, affirming the versatility, vibrancy, and vitality of Love/Hate II.

This is the biggest sequel in modern R&B. This is history in the making. This is THE-DREAM’s finest hour.

Check out the full tracklisting below.

He initially set the stage for the album with “Tampa” featuring USHER and produced by Pharrell Williams. Rated R&B raved about how, “The-Dream and Usher trade lines about giving a woman the lavish treatment she deserves, while reminding her of where her estranged lover is falling short.” That Grape Juice assured, “He’s pushing excitement for the project into overdrive.” YouKnowIGotSoul praised, “The pairing of The-Dream and Usher remains a gold standard for R&B synergy. With Usher coming off a massive series of career celebrations and The-Dream continuing to shape the sounds of contemporary heavyweights, ‘Tampa’ arrives at a moment where their collective influence is at an all-time high.”

The bedroom-ready “Tampa” notably upholds a tradition of collaboration between these two R&B titans, spanning fan favorites like USHER’s “Cold Blooded” [with The-Dream] in 2024 and The-Dream’s “Forget About Her [feat. USHER] from 2016.

The new album lands hot on the heels of “Bring That Body,” which introduced this new era of the Love/Hate saga. Earlier this year, THE-DREAM hinted at the project’s ambitious scope in Variety, calling it “the first taste of what’s shaping up to be a sonic progenitor of its predecessor,” while teasing contributions from Pharrell Williams, Mike Dean, Swizz Beatz, and more. Meanwhile, VIBE featured “Bring That Body” among “The 50 Hip-Hop And R&B Releases You Need On Your Playlist.”

The single arrived amidst a major recognition from The New York Times, which honored THE-DREAM among The 30 Greatest Living American Songwriters. They noted, “Name a post-aughts R&B smash, and his imprint is probably on it…,” citing contributions to Rihanna’s “Umbrella,” Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It),” Mariah Carey’s “Touch My Body,” and Justin Bieber’s “Baby,” among many others.

THE-DREAM doesn’t chase the moment, he defines it. The track feels less like a return and more like a continuation, reinforcing his role as an architect of the genre’s past, present, and future.

TRACKLIST:

1. 1 of 1
2. Bring that Body
3. Love Sound
4. Tampa (feat. USHER)
5. 24/7
6. Powder Coat (feat. Pusha T and Swizz Beatz)
7. Be My Lady (feat. T.I.)
8. Virgo Type Shit
9. State of Peaches
10. Favorite
11. Obviously / Juxtapose
12. Papi Te Ama (feat. Kelly ‘Dria’ Rowland)
13. No Hands
14. Cold Summer
15. Blow My Mind
16. I, Remember
17. Perfect (feat. Rick Ross)

ABOUT THE-DREAM

THE-DREAM has spent the last two decades writing and producing the soundtrack of a generation. For nearly 20 years, the multihyphenate singer, songwriter, and producer has amassed a prolific repertoire that has helped architect modern R&B, pop, country, and hip-hop. His catalog includes generational and Diamond-certified hits such as Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It),” Rihanna’s “Umbrella,” Mariah Carey’s “Touch My Body,” Kanye West’s “All of the Lights,” and Justin Bieber’s “Baby.”
Never confined to a single genre, he has continued to shape the sound of contemporary music, recently contributing to records like The Clipse’s “All Things Considered,” Rosalía’s “Sauvignon Blanc,” and “Allegedly” with Summer Walker. His work has earned numerous accolades, including the GRAMMY® Award for Album of the Year for his contributions to Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter.

Now, THE-DREAM returns to center stage 19 years later with Love/Hate II, the highly anticipated sequel to his 2007 debut. The project dives head-first into the entangled, complicated, and messy reality of love today. “I want to make a record about where love is now,” he says. “Relationships became cheapened. People used to fight for their love.” The first single, “Bring That Body,” is a fun, breezy teaser that day one fans will immediately embrace.

After selling tens of millions of records and penning some of the most defining love songs of a generation, THE-DREAM remains a true believer and hopes that fans are too. “Until I die, every particle in me is optimistic about love.”

The post The-Dream Releases Long-Awaited Love/Hate II, Featuring Usher, T.I., Rick Ross & More appeared first on The Hype Magazine.