The Dream

Opening himself up to the media

He may be a singer and producer by trade, but The Dream has found that his personal moves have been covered even more intently than his professional life. Being engaged to R&B songstress Christina Milian means that he’s snapped by the paparazzi almost every time he steps out with his fiancé. And if that wasn’t enough, his name often pops up whenever there are reports of the fascinating love triangle that centres around rapper Lil Wayne.

To recap: The Dream is the ex-husband of – and has three children with – R&B singer Nivea, who is now expecting a child with Lil Wayne. As FillingTheVoid previously reported with our exclusive story (http://www.fillingthevoid.co.uk/profiles/blogs/exclusive-the-dream-me-and), The Dream said he’s yet to speak to the Lollipop rapper and will only do so if he really has to. But of course, the six degrees of separation theory hasn’t stopped The Dream from being linked to Weezy, by way of Nivea.

Still, as he gears up for the UK release of his single Walking On The Moon featuring Kanye West, The Dream – born Terius Nash – tells FillingTheVoid that he takes the media interest in his stride.

Are you nervous about making the transition into music as an artist?
It is a big step because I’ve been private with the music thing for such a long time. But at the same time, music has always been a way for me to express myself. I just decided that there’s no sense in killing something that wants to live. I love making music and people will either accept it or they won’t.

There’s a lot of interest in your personal business isn’t there?
I know! I didn’t realise I was that interesting.

Does it bother you?
No, because I don’t set myself up as a person who doesn’t have any faults, or that I won’t fail from time to time. I think it’s important for me to keep myself like that; allow myself to laugh at things and be serious when I need to be serious. I chose to get into this business – the world didn’t choose it for me. So I accept that there are certain aspects of myself that I have to give up.

Recent reports claimed that you and Christina are already married...
(Laughs): No, we haven’t jumped the broom yet. There’s a date planned but I won’t reveal that!

It’s been suggested that the two of you have pimped the media, with some sites calling you ‘media whores’...
I find that pretty weird. People who know me know that I’m pretty anti that type of thing. The things that I do, I’ve always done and the places I’m seen at are generally places I always went to. But when you’re in a relationship with someone who’s also in the business, the media takes a lot more interest.

It’s one thing to be in the media about your current relationship, but do you mind when your former relationship with Nivea hits the headlines?
Nah. Nivea is still a good friend of mine and she’s a good friend of Christina as well. I guess for the media, the news of our relationship was kinda new, but it’s a relationship that ended over two years ago. So it’s kinda weird to me when people pull up things from years ago and treat it like it’s new!

So there’s definitely no bad feeling or cat-fighting between Christina and Nivea?
No, I’d never let that happen!

Is it hard juggling music with fatherhood?
Oh yeah, it’s very hard right now. But it’s the same thing for any parent who has to be away from their kids for long periods of time. My best friend is in the military and he was in Iraq, away from his family for a long time. That’s what some jobs require.

In other news, you produced Mariah Carey’s song Obsessed, which was widely reported to be her dig at Eminem. You knew that record would cause trouble, didn’t you?
Nope. I had no idea. I was just trying to make a number one record!

Did Mariah intend to cause trouble with it?
No, not at all. Why would she wanna cause trouble?

Do you think there’ll be a retaliation?
Well... probably.

The Dream’s single Walking On The Moon is out on August 31 on Def Jam Records