Love Hate

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For other uses, see Love Hate (disambiguation).
Love Hate
Studio album by The-Dream
Released December 11, 2007
Recorded 2007[1]
Genre R&B, pop[2]
Length 53:09
Label Radio Killa, Def Jam
Producer The-Dream, Carlos "L.O.S. Da Maestro" McKinney, Christopher "Tricky" Stewart
The-Dream chronology
Love Hate
(2007)		 Love vs. Money
(2009)
Singles from Love Hate
  1. "Shawty Is Da Shit"
    Released: July 10, 2007
  2. "Falsetto"
    Released: September 28, 2007
  3. "I Luv Your Girl"
    Released: April 15, 2008

Love Hate is the debut album of American recording artist and producer The-Dream, released on December 11, 2007, by his Def Jam-imprint label Radio Killa. He has stated that the title is an abbreviation for "Love me all summer, hate me all winter". Primarily an R&B and pop outting, Love Hate was produced during 2007 by Christopher "Tricky" Stewart and Carlos "L.O.S. Da Maestro" McKinney. The song includes appearances from rapper Fabolous and The-Dream's prior collaborator Rihanna.

The album was inspired by the works of musical styles derived from the 1980s, taking influence from the works of Prince and Michael Jackson. It was promoted with three singles; "Shawty Is Da Shit", "Falsetto" and "I Luv Your Girl". All three singles charted within the top 30 of the Billboard Hot 100.

The album debuted at number 30 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, selling 59,000 copies in its first week. It has been certified gold in sales by the Recording Industry Association of America and produced three singles that attained Billboard chart success. Upon its release, Love Hate was well received by music critics. It has sold 552,000 copies in the United States.

Contents

Background and recording [edit]

The album was produced by The-Dream, his production partner Tricky Stewart, and Carlos "Los da Mystro" McKinney.[2] Its featured guests were originally listed as Fabolous, Jay-Z, and André 3000, whom The-Dream identified indirectly. The final list was cut down to Fabolous and Rihanna.[3]

The album was written and recorded in eight days with twelve tracks making the final cut.[1] Some of the tracks were written in regards to The-Dream's personal life, most notably "Nikki", written about his ex-wife Nivea and how he has moved on since their divorce.[1] The-Dream explained the title, Love Hate, as short for, "Love me all summer, hate me all winter, because they love you when you hot and when you're cold they don't... I'm hot right now and they love me, but I was cold and they wasn't fuckin' with me."[1] He also discussed how this album was made to set the creative standard that the current industry was lacking, stating:

Music is uninspiring right now. The bar needs to be raised; a creative standard should be set in music. I'm hoping that the real quality in these songs shines through, and leaves a sounding impact on the listeners... It's more of what I'm giving other people. It's like the 80s; it's musical. I'm doing the 'Umbrella' routine to this whole album. All of my records are singles. The album is really visual as well. It appeals to all your senses, similar to 'Thriller'... very 80's, very Prince, sensual, sexy stuff... Artists are gonna have to do some homework to find out who they are.[1]

Recording sessions for the album took place at Larrabee North in Universal City, California, Legacy Studios in New York, with additional recording in Las Vegas, Nevada, Atlanta, Georgia, and Westlake Audio in Los Angeles, California.[4]

Content [edit]
"Livin' a Lie"
"Livin' a Lie" is a duet with singer Rihanna, a pop artist who The-Dream had previously collaborated with on "Umbrella".
"Shawty Is Da Shit"
"Shawty Is Da Shit" takes musical influences from musician Prince, and features Dream singing over a smooth composition.
Problems listening to these files? See media help.

The album's layered production incorporates spacious beats,[5] oscillating keyboards, throbbing synths, and baroque elements such as synthetic strings and harpsichords.[2] Simon Vozick-Levinson of Entertainment Weekly characterizes The-Dream's electronic arrangements as "unorthodox".[6] Tracks on the album share common elements and suite-like sequencing.[2] Allmusic's Andy Kellman dubs Love Hate "a post-Timbaland/post-Neptunes pop album" and calls its sound "state-of-the art pop circa 2007-2008 [...] resolutely luminescent".[2] He describes its rhythms as "rubbery" and "sometimes colored by those swishing, panning effects heard in 'Bed' and its many imitators."[2] Kelefa Sanneh of The New York Times notes a "gooey, robotic ’80s-influenced R&B" and writes that the album "captured the ecstatic sound of pop radio in 2007."[7] Slant Magazine's Wilson McBee views that The-Dream draws influences from "Timbaland's space jams and Prince's gleeful synth lines".[8] Robert Christgau of MSN Music summarized the content of the album, musing:

"True, he pursues other's girls, leaves one shawty because she's not quick enough on the get-down, and moves on to the speedier, needier Nikki when another doesn't immediately accept his tender offer. But mostly he just enjoys himself in bed and makes pop in the studio. In 'Luv Songs,' he does both simultaneously."[9]

Lyrically, The-Dream's persona is that of a lecherous romantic, with lyrics alternately boastful and vulnerable.[2] Drew Hinshaw of PopMatters writes that he "engages in the same brand of improvident hedonism as everybody else these days—snatching woman from their long-term relationships, cheating indiscriminately, brandishing dollars and the things they buy—but his nagging conscience and his ear for tragedy steal centerstage."[5] The-Dream's phrasing is characterized by extended syllables, touches of falsetto,[9] and vocal refrains of "ella" and "eh".[10][11] Sean Fennessey of Vibe characterizes his songwriting as "quirky" and comments that he channels "Prince at his vampy peak, and Bobby Brown, who always led with an assured growl."[10]

Reception [edit]

Commercial performance [edit]

Released on December 11, 2007 by The-Dream's Def Jam-imprint Radio Killa, Love Hate moved 59,000 copies and debuted at number 30 on the Billboard 200.[12][13] Love Hate also peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.[14] The album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on July 24, 2008, for shipments of 500,000 copies in the United States.[15] As of May 2009, the album has sold 552,000 copies in the United States.[16]

Critical response [edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 4.5/5 stars[2]
Robert Christgau A–[9]
Entertainment Weekly A–[6]
The New York Times favorable[7]
The New Zealand Herald 4/5[11]
PopMatters 8/10[5]
Rolling Stone 3.5/5 stars[17]
Piero Scaruffi 7/10[18]
Slant Magazine 3/5 stars[8]
USA Today 3/4 stars[19]

Love Hate was well received by music critics. Allmusic editor Andy Kellman complimented its "unified sound" as one "unlike most modern R&B albums" and commented that neither Timbaland nor The Neptunes have "put together something as consistent or tautly constructed, simultaneously single-oriented and album-oriented, as this."[2] Drew Hinshaw of PopMatters commended The-Dream's "empathy" in his lyrics and stated, "The-Dream has something few hitmakers can claim: a wide-angle lens."[5] In his consumer guide for MSN Music, Robert Christgau called Love Hate "an utterly slight, utterly captivating R&B album" and gave it an A– rating,[9] indicating "the kind of garden-variety good record that is the great luxury of musical micromarketing and overproduction."[20]

Although he noted "some riskless, by-the-book slow jams", Slant Magazine's Wilson McBee perceived "a few flashes of greatness and plenty of potential", writing in conclusion, "a meticulous, consistent sonic arrangement is clearly at work and his songcraft and instincts are mostly spot-on."[8] Sean Fennessey of Vibe commented that Love Hate "never breaks stride, balancing pace with power."[10] Rolling Stone writer Christian Hoard complimented its "memorable melodies" and stated, "[The-Dream] spreads his strong tune-sense across a whole album, ending up with one of the most likeable R&B records of the year."[17] Writer Piero Scaruffi dubbed the album "a poignant kaleidoscope of melodies, orchestrations and beats", and commented that The-Dream "maintains an assertive tone even when disturbed by free-form electronics".[18] Barry Hill Rebecca of The New Zealand Herald mused that Dream's "closest relationship is with his synthesisers", questioning to what degree the vocals of the album were manufactured.[11] Regardless, they noted that track Falsetto was a viable number one single, describing the album as a guilty pleasure.[11]

Track listing [edit]

No. Title Writer(s) Length
1. "Shawty Is Da Shit" (featuring Fabolous) Carlos McKinney, Terius Nash, John Jackson 4:22
2. "I Luv Your Girl"   Nash, Christopher Stewart 4:27
3. "Fast Car"   McKinney, Nash 4:50
4. "Nikki"   Nash, Stewart 4:05
5. "She Needs My Love"   Nash, Stewart 4:29
6. "Falsetto"   Nash, Stewart 4:31
7. "Playin' in Her Hair"   McKinney, Nash 3:14
8. "Purple Kisses"   McKinney, Nash 5:13
9. "Ditch That..."   Nash, Stewart 5:00
10. "Luv Songs"   McKinney, Nash 4:42
11. "Livin' a Lie" (featuring Rihanna) McKinney, Nash, Stewart 4:16
12. "Mama"   Nash, Stewart 4:01

Personnel [edit]

Credits for Love Hate adapted from Allmusic.[21]

  • Chris Athens – mastering
  • Ashaunna Ayars – marketing
  • The-Dream – audio production
  • Mark Goodchild – engineer, editing
  • Mark Gray – assistant engineer
  • Rayna Kay – photography
  • Karen Kwak – A&R
  • Manny Marroquin – mixing
  • Julio Miranda – guitar (acoustic), guitar, soloist
  • Scott Naughton – engineer
  • Alec Newell – engineer
  • Chris Oryan – engineer
  • Dave Pensado – mixing
  • Justin Pintar – mixing assistant
  • Omar Reyna – engineer
  • J. Peter Robinson – art direction, design
  • Angie Romasanta – backing vocals
  • Chris Stewart – director, producer, audio production
  • Rebecca Sweatman – assistant
  • Brian "B Luv" Thomas – engineer
  • Andrew Wuepper Mixing – assistant

Charts [edit]

Chart (2008) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard 200[13] 30
U.S. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums[14] 5

See also [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e "SOHH Soulful Exclusive: Def Jam's New Signee, The Dream, on Track to Become the Next Ne-Yo". SOHH. 2007-08-07. Archived from the original on 2012-11-13. Retrieved 2007-09-28. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Kellman, Andy. Review: Love/Hate. Allmusic. All Media Guide Retrieved on 2009-09-29.
  3. ^ "What Dreams are Made of". The Pop Culture Junkie. 2007-09-03. Retrieved 2008-09-18. 
  4. ^ "The-Dream - Love/Hate CD Album". Muze. CD Universe. Retrieved 2012-03-10. 
  5. ^ a b c d Hinshaw, Drew. Review: Love/Hate. PopMatters. Retrieved on 2009-09-29.
  6. ^ a b Vozick-Levinson, Simon. Review: Love/Hate. Entertainment Weekly. Time Retrieved on 2009-09-29.
  7. ^ a b Sanneh, Kelefa. Few Big Albums, but Small Ones Sounded Just Fine. The New York Times. The New York Times Company Retrieved on 2009-11-28.
  8. ^ a b c McBee, Wilson. Review: Love/Hate. Slant Magazine. Retrieved on 2009-09-29.
  9. ^ a b c d Christgau, Robert (February 2008). "Inside Music: Consumer Guide". MSN Music. Microsoft. Retrieved 2012-03-10. 
  10. ^ a b c Fennessey, Sean. Review: Love/Hate. Vibe: 85. 2008-12.
  11. ^ a b c d Barry, Rebecca. Review: Love/Hate. The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved on 2009-09-29.
  12. ^ "Umbrella' Writer The-Dream Preps Solo Debut". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2007-08-07. Retrieved 2007-09-28. 
  13. ^ a b "Groban Remains No. 1, Becomes '07's Best-Seller". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2007-12-17. Retrieved 2007-12-19. 
  14. ^ a b "Artist Chart History: The-Dream". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2008. Retrieved 2007-12-19. 
  15. ^ "Gold & Platinum". RIAA.com. 2008. Retrieved 2007-12-19. 
  16. ^ Concepcion, Mariel. The-Dream, Keyshia Cole Plan Tour. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media Retrieved on 2010-03-31.
  17. ^ a b Hoard, Christian (January 24, 2008). "The-Dream: Lovehate". Rolling Stone (Jann S. Wenner). Music Reviews section. Archived from the original on 2012-03-10. Retrieved 2012-03-10. 
  18. ^ a b Scaruffi, Piero. "The History of Rock Music. The-Dream: biography, discography, review, links". Piero Scaruffi. Retrieved 2012-03-10. 
  19. ^ Jones, Steve. Review: Love/Hate. USA Today. Retrieved on 2009-09-29.
  20. ^ Christgau, Robert (2000). "CG 90s: Key to Icons". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 2012-03-10. 
  21. ^ Credits: Love Hate. Allmusic. All Media Guide Retrieved on 2010-03-31.

External links [edit]

The-Dream
Studio albums
Singles
Featured singles
Related articles
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