Rihanna Tapped Chris Brown For Collaboration, The-Dream Says

By Rob Markman

The shock waves from Rihanna and Chris Brown's collaboration on "Birthday Cake (remix)" haven't worn off just yet. Fans have continued to react to the news with a mix of outrage and awe, and even The-Dream, who originally penned the song with Rihanna says he was a bit surprised about the feature as well. "At the end of the day, she's my friend, so whatever she wants to do is whatever she wants to do," The-Dream told Sway when he appeared on "RapFix Live" on Wednesday (February 22), just two days after Rihanna released the controversial remix.

Chris Brown And Rihanna Reunite On 'Cake' Remix

The-Dream remembers first getting the call from Rihanna while driving in Miami. "I think I'm gonna put Chris on it," he remembers the Talk That Talk singer saying to him over the phone nonchalantly. "I don't know which Chris you talkin' about, [but] OK, cool, whatever you say," The-Dream remembers responding.

Of course there is really only one Chris, and The-Dream came to grips with the reality that the two would be coming together in song after the damaging 2009 assault that left Rihanna battered and bruised and Brown public enemy #1. "She's pretty smart too. The same questions that went through my mind, and I'm an artist also, had to have gone through hers," The-Dream told "RapFix Live." "When she raised the question to me, I know she's not crazy. So my thought was you've been thinking about this, you've already thought it out, so evidently you know what reaction you gonna get."

Chris Brown And Rihanna Back Together On "Turn It Up (remix)"

The singer/songwriter said that he was just happy that she gave him enough forewarning that he too could prepare for any type of backlash. Still, despite the rumblings of whether or not Rihanna is sending the right message collaborating with Chris on "Birthday Cake" as well as Brown's "Turn Up the Music" remix, The-Dream says that it all boils down to forgiveness. "Don't say you know how to forgive when you don't," he warned. "Everybody knows what took place, cool. Have the power to really forgive if that's what it is, if not stay on that side of the fence from the beginning."

In no way did The-Dream condone Brown's behavior on that February night in 2009, but he does suggest that it is time for people to move on. "It's easy to kinda throw Chris under the bus all the time, but c'mon, man. OK, we get it," he said.

Do you support Rihanna's decision to work with Chris Brown again? Leave your comment below!

Tags birthday cake, birthday cake remix, Rihanna, the-dream

View the original article here

The-Dream Clears Up Rumors Of Signing To Roc Nation

By Nadeska Alexis

On Tuesday (February 21) The-Dream shared a photo of his jewelry with Twitter followers via Instagram titled “Chained Up,” immediately sparking a bit of chatter. A Jesus piece (also accompanied by his Mary piece) were both standard enough but it was the third necklace, a Roc-A-Fella records chain, that caused a bit of frenzy. Mr. Terius Nash stopped by “RapFix Live” on Wednesday to chat about his current projects and during the discussion he clarified the meaning of the photo, addressing rumors that he might be signing with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation imprint.

The conversation began with The-Dream immediately acknowledging his Twitter photo—“I had my Roc chain on yesterday, but I took it off today,” he said—before breaking down the reason why he was wearing the famed piece of jewelry.

“I think as we were looking at videos and stuff, I’ve [realized that I] had a lot to do with the success over the last five years of that company and that family, on a personal level also,” he explained. “I don’t look at Jay and B like they’re Jay and B—they’re friends of mine.”

“It’s a whole nineties type of that thing that I’ve been doing lately,” he continued. “And I look at the business and the company that Dame and Jay built, Roc-A-Fella Records, as that thing, so it wasn’t about a signing to put on a chain to me, moreso than it was to just uplift that. That’s my family and that’s who I “roc” out with, with that tradition of greatness.”

To put an end to the rumors once and for all, The-Dream added, “We sign our names on certain pages at the same time, but I’m not signing with Roc Nation.”

Tags Beyonce, dame dash, Damon Dash, Jay-Z, rapfixlive, Roc Nation, Roc-A-Fella, the-dream

View the original article here

The-Dream To Appear On RapFix Live Today!

Now that MTV News' fiery Hottest MCs in the Game roundtable debate is complete, it's time to slow things down just a little bit on this week's "RapFix Live."
Whether behind the scenes or out front, The-Dream knows how to craft a hit record. As a songwriter and producer, the Atlanta-based musician has written humongous hits for Beyoncé, Rihanna and Britney Spears; as a singer he's given us "Shawty Is a 10," "Rockin' That Sh--" and "Walkin' on the Moon" featuring Kanye West. On Wednesday, The-Dream will bring all his collective talents to "RapFix Live" as he sits with Sway to speak on his musical exploits and his life outside the studio.

There's no telling what The-Dream will say about his part in Rihanna's "Birthday Cake" remix. On Tuesday, the Bajan pop star released a controversial reworked version of her Talk That Talk track, which The-Dream co-produced, featuring ex-beau Chris Brown.

The-Dream is no stranger to controversy, and in 2010, he and wife Christina Milian separated around the same time questionable photos of The-Dream and his assistant leaked online.

Musically, however, there aren't many questions surrounding The-Dream. His 2011 1977 mixtape was critically acclaimed, and his new single "ROC" is setting the table for his upcoming fourth album.

This week's "RapFix Live" will also feature a new Get in the Game artist, Week in Rotation segment and, of course, the latest in hip-hop news.

Catch The-Dream on "RapFix Live" on Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET on MTV.com, and be sure to join the Twitter conversation using the hashtag #RapFixLive. Send your questions for the artists @MTVRapFix!

Tags RapFix Live, the-dream

View the original article here

The-Dream Talks 'Birthday Cake' Remix On 'RapFix Live'

The-Dream will stop by "RapFix Live" on Wednesday to chat with host Sway and during his visit the producer will undoubtedly be quizzed about his role in creating Rihanna and Chris Brown's controversial "Birthday Cake" remix. Tune in to see what he has to say, and tweet your questions or comment for the The-Dream at @MTVRapFix tagged #RapFixLive.

Tags birthday cake, rapfixlive, Rihanna, the-dream

View the original article here