At the age of two he moved with his mother to Atlanta, Georgia where she raised him until her sudden death at the age of thirty-five. Afterwards, he was taken in by his grandfather, who was an avid music fan. It was through this relationship that he was introduced to many legendary artists that made up his grandfather's record collection. As soon as he heard the soulful sounds of Sam Cooke and Al Green, The-Dream was hooked. In the third grade he began his musical venture by enrolling in introductory trumpet classes at Grove Park Elementary School. He continued playing the trumpet through high school and later learned to play the drums and guitar.
In junior high and high school his musical influences extended toward such artists such as Timbaland , Missy Elliott, Aaliyah and Tupac Shakur. His talents continued to naturally develop and eventually lead The-Dream to begin singing, rapping and song writing.
In addition, he is an accomplished artist and has created many paintings and sculptures, some of which have been shown at various art galleries throughout Atlanta.
In 2001, The-Dream was introduced to Laney Stewart of Redzone Entertainment. Although their first meeting wasn't very successful, things fared better the second time around and Laney pulled him into his camp. The two immediately collaborated to write for the multi-platinum group B2K.
In early 2003, The-Dream was signed by Laney Stewart to a new publishing deal with Morningside Trail through a joint venture with peer music. Since then he has continued writing for other artists including the newest single "Me Against The Music" for Britney Spears. The-Dream recently worked on Jive artist Nivea's forthcoming sophomore effort (April 2005) including the hit single "Okay" featuring Lil' Jon and Youngbloodz.
In 2006, The-Dream was brought in by Tricky Stewart of Redzone to collaborate with various artists including Bayje (Atlantic), Dear Jane & J.Holiday (Capitol), and Brit & Alex (Interscope).
To kick off the New Year, The-Dream began 2007 with major success. With the help of Tricky Stewart, " umbrella" was created and taken to several different labels with artists ranging from Britney Spears at Jive to Mary J. Blige and Akon. Yet, it was the genius of Karen Kwak that got the record into the hands of Def Jam Record's CEO, LA Reid. Def Jam flew The-Dream and Tricky to LA to record with Rihanna, where they also wrote "Breakin' Dishes," a song off Rihanna's latest release, Good Girl Gone Bad.
Despite his current success, The-Dream never stops dreaming. Look out for The-Dream's future collaborations with hot artists such as Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Karina Pasian, Young Joc, Rihanna, Jay-Z, Jazzy Phae, Keke Palmer, Gia, Tricky Stewart, Don Vito, Wynter Gordon, Shontelle, and Lucy Walsh.
Used To Be
The-Dream Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well, you might be fucked up too
I might be fucked up, well baby girl
How about you?
You used to be my nigga
You used to be that cool bitch
You used to smoke with a nigga
You used to sex me crazy
You used to call me baby
Now all you do it nag me like a 5 year old from the backseat
You used to be so confident
But all that shit came and went
Used to be anti-internet
But now you constantly blogging and shit!
You used to strip for a nigga
Now you ain't got nothing but lip for a nigga
Halfway decent for me, but you dress up for your girlfriends?
Listening to what they say god your ass w/out a husband
Put you in a Benz, you did everything to get me
Ain't done nothing since but keep talking about what it should be
Car, no, daycare, paid all the fucking rent
Know you want to run the world
But first, try running this:
[Chorus]
But y'all don't hear me
Stop fucking with me, woman
Stop fucking with me if you ain't fucking with me
You used to be so sweet
But now you act bitter
Just so I don't hear that shit, I drown my liver in this liquor
You used to be like this man
You used to be my best friend
Now all you do it judge me
And scream out fuck me, but won't fuck me
Oh Hell to the no! Now I'm all up in the clubs
Now I'm all up in the mall
Now you in my cell phone screaming "who's this bitch?"
She's just a friend, yeah that's it
And now you want to trip - ain't that some shit?
Yesterday you didn't give a fuck, now you asking where I been
And you hating on every girl who walks by
Talking about: "where she think she going in that outfit?"
She don't even love me, she loves the competition
Every man out there: I hope you're listening
[Chorus]
There's nothing at home, so I'm searching for love
Tried to get through, but you don't give a fuck
She can't love me, when she doesn't love herself
Feel like I'm sleepin' with somebody else
I'm seeing somebody else, I'm touching somebody else
Now I'm fuckin' somebody else
But go ahead and blame me if it helps
The lyrics to The-Dream's "Used to Be" ft. Casha are about the ways in which a relationship can change over time, and how both partners can end up feeling lost and disconnected from one another. The song presents a situation in which two people who were once very close begin to grow apart, with one partner feeling frustrated and disillusioned by the other's behavior. The song is a powerful exploration of the complex emotions that can accompany a slow and painful break-up, and it demonstrates The-Dream's ability to capture raw emotions through music.
Throughout the song, The-Dream and Casha trade verses that reveal their frustration and disappointment with each other. They highlight the ways in which they have changed and grown apart, with Casha in particular coming under fire for being overly critical, nagging, and generally difficult to be around. Despite the song's bleak message, however, it ends with a glimmer of hope, suggesting that the two lovers may someday find their way back to each other.
Overall, "Used to Be" is a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant song that speaks powerfully to the experiences of many people who have gone through similar struggles in their own relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Say I'm fucked up
Admitting to emotional and mental turmoil within himself.
Well, you might be fucked up too
Positing that his partner has personal issues as well.
I might be fucked up, well baby girl
Acknowledging that he has flaws and issues in his life.
How about you?
Asking if his partner has any flaws or issues.
You used to be my nigga
Referring to his partner as a close friend.
You used to be that cool bitch
Describing his partner as easy-going and fun-loving.
You used to smoke with a nigga
Recalling times when they used to smoke together.
But now you on that bullshit
Accusing his partner of acting irrational and melodramatic.
You used to sex me crazy
Remembering past experiences of having a sexually fulfilling relationship.
You used to call me baby
Reflecting on when his partner used to show him affection and love.
Now all you do it nag me like a 5 year old from the backseat
Complaining about his partner's constant criticism and negative attitude.
You used to be so confident
Recognizing his partner's previous self-assured personality.
But all that shit came and went
Noticing a drastic change in his partner's level of confidence.
Used to be anti-internet
Remembering a time when his partner didn't use or like the internet.
But now you constantly blogging and shit!
Pointing out his partner's new hobby of constantly posting online content.
You used to strip for a nigga
Recalling their past sexual experiences involved stripping.
Now you ain't got nothing but lip for a nigga
Claiming that his partner only talks back to him now instead of being intimate.
Halfway decent for me, but you dress up for your girlfriends?
Noticing his partner's newfound effort to dress up just for her female friends.
Listening to what they say god your ass w/out a husband
Condemning his partner for believing and acting on what her friends say about being in a relationship.
Put you in a Benz, you did everything to get me
Reminding his partner of how she did everything she could to win him over.
Ain't done nothing since but keep talking about what it should be
Accusing his partner of not doing anything productive and spending her time talking about hypothetical situations.
Car, no, daycare, paid all the fucking rent
Listing the things he has provided for his partner, including paying for their living expenses.
Know you want to run the world
Knowing that his partner aspires to achieve a lot in life.
But first, try running this:
Challenging his partner to face the difficult task of maintaining their relationship.
But y'all don't hear me
Feeling like his partner and others aren't listening to him.
Stop fucking with me, woman
Asking his partner to stop messing with him and their relationship.
Stop fucking with me if you ain't fucking with me
Telling his partner to stop pretending to be interested in him if she doesn't really care about their relationship.
You used to be so sweet
Recalling his partner's past gentle and kind nature.
But now you act bitter
Noticing his partner's new bitter and sour attitude towards him.
Just so I don't hear that shit, I drown my liver in this liquor
Admitting to drinking excessively in order to avoid hearing his partner's nagging and complaints.
You used to be like this man
Referring to a time when his partner used to act more maturely.
You used to be my best friend
Remembering a time when his partner was his closest and most trusted friend.
Now all you do it judge me
Complaining about his partner's newfound tendency to criticize and judge him.
And scream out fuck me, but won't fuck me
Pointing out the irony in his partner's desire for physical intimacy yet refusal to be intimate with him.
Oh Hell to the no! Now I'm all up in the clubs
Expressing his anger and frustration through exclamation, stating that he is now going out to clubs.
Now I'm all up in the mall
Noticing that he is now spending his time shopping and hanging out in public places more often.
Now you in my cell phone screaming "who's this bitch?"
Showing his partner's new paranoid behavior by checking his phone and confronting him about other women.
She's just a friend, yeah that's it
Assuring his partner that the woman she is suspicious of is just a friend and nothing more.
And now you want to trip - ain't that some shit?
Expressing his frustration at his partner's sudden change of heart and mood.
Yesterday you didn't give a fuck, now you asking where I been
Pointing out the inconsistency and hypocrisy in his partner's behavior towards his whereabouts.
And you hating on every girl who walks by
Acknowledging his partner's negative attitude towards other women.
Talking about: "where she think she going in that outfit?"
Describing how his partner criticizes other women's fashion choices.
She don't even love me, she loves the competition
Saying that his partner is more interested in competing with other women than loving him.
Every man out there: I hope you're listening
Requesting that other men pay attention to his warning and heed his advice.
There's nothing at home, so I'm searching for love
Admitting that he is looking for love elsewhere because he doesn't feel fulfilled in his current relationship.
Tried to get through, but you don't give a fuck
Admitting that he has tried to make things work with his partner but she doesn't care enough to try as well.
She can't love me, when she doesn't love herself
Realizing that his partner's lack of self-love is affecting their relationship negatively.
Feel like I'm sleepin' with somebody else
Expressing the feeling of being emotionally and physically disconnected from his partner.
I'm seeing somebody else, I'm touching somebody else
Admitting to being unfaithful and cheating on his partner.
Now I'm fuckin' somebody else
Making it clear that he is currently being intimate with someone other than his partner.
But go ahead and blame me if it helps
Suggesting that he is willing to take the blame for their relationship issues if it makes his partner feel better.
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TERIUS NASH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind