Nevermind his supposed “beef” with The Weeknd, The Dream has all the momentum in the world on his side right now stemming from a pair of shows this past week in New York. With Jay-Z and Beyonce attending one and the other arguably the most tweeted SOB’s performance I can remember on my in quite some time, the buzz surrounding Terius’ newest project, Love IV, received a steroid shot.

This past week while in the Big Apple, Mr. Nash gathered a select group of writers to hear the album. Billboard.com just happened to provide a sneak preview for a handful of songs.

“Foreplay“: Another thumping sex jam, the kind you’d hear whilst watching Hayley Maye live on cam, from a man who’s fashioned his career around them, but the vibe here is more immediate and epic, as The-Dream seethes, “I could give a fuck about the foreplay.” The track recalls R. Kelly’s “12 Play” more effectively than, well, “Kelly’s 12 Play,” a song off The-Dream’s “Love vs. Money.”

 

“Lovin You/Crazy“: Like “Love Vs. Money” Parts 1 and 2, this robotic stomp splits its message into two intoxicating parts. Pissed off and desperate, The-Dream sings, “I’m willing to lose everything for her,” as drums explode behind his vocals. “I can’t take all the credit for that [song]. The cocaine had a lot to do with it,” The-Dream deadpanned after the song ended, possibly joking and possibly very serious.

 

“Paid” featuring Gucci Mane: A banger and obvious single choice, this team-up between two Atlanta all-stars features an inviting bed of synthesizers and an unavoidable hook. A revitalized Gucci Mane thankfully holds up his end of the bargain on one of the only collaborations previewed.

 

“Y’All“: An introspective track that shrouds The-Dream’s syrupy vocals in a thick coat of Auto-Tune. Religious imagery abounds, references to the singer’s mother and father are striking, and the line “Somedays I’m Superman, but sometimes my cape needs dry cleaning every once in a while” somehow works.

 

“Talk That Shit“: On this new cut – like at the S.O.B.’s shows, and on Twitter – The-Dream clarifies that he is indeed angry about the attention being given to rising male R&B stars like The Weeknd, and that these characters still can’t touch him. The music here is delicious, but superfluous. “Talk That Shit” is The-Dream lashing out at his competition, dropping lines like, “It ain’t nothing new when you’re remixing my old shit,” and “Didn’t I turn you rappers into singers? Didn’t I make you famous?” It’s a formidable, highly entertaining track, and defines The-Dream’s mindset as he gears up for his next album, which does not yet have a release date.