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The-Dream Explains ‘Make-Up Bag,’ Featuring T.I.

Hitmaker’s latest single is from forthcoming LP, Love King. By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by Matt Elias The-Dream Photo: MTV News When guys are in the doghouse with their girlfriends or wives, there are two ways to get themselves out: saying they’re sorry, which will likely keep them in the doghouse a bit longer — or showing that they’re sorry. The-Dream’s latest single, “Make-Up Bag,” embraces the latter strategy. “The song itself originated from just trying to find a great make-up gift,” The-Dream explained to MTV News from the Los Angeles set for the song’s video. “Some people like cards, some girls like yachts and whatnot. But this particular girl that I’m talking about just likes bags — that’s her thing, and that’s what this song is about that. I know everybody is saying, ‘Well, I don’t got five stacks for a make-up bag.’ Well, maybe that’s not actually what your girl likes anyway. It may be something else. It’s just about trying to find what they like. And if you got a real good girl she’s not gonna let you spend $5,000 on a bag anyway.” The track, written by The-Dream and produced by his frequent collaborator Christopher “Tricky” Stewart,” is slated to be the second single from the singer’s forthcoming Love King, due this summer. Fellow Atlanta native T.I. guests on the song, his first high-profile collaboration since the rapper’s release from federal prison and a halfway house earlier this year. The two artists have been locked down in the studio as of late; The-Dream told MTV News last month that he will appear on T.I.’s next album . He described T.I. as being in the zone, when he discussed his slew of new material. “Tip is in a zone, man,” he said. “He’s in one of those things. But me just being a lyric guy, what makes songs, I think, hits is when it comes from the heart and you really are saying something you mean. And you can feel it through the passion.” Next up, The-Dream will reading the clip for “Make Up Bag” and prepare for the release of his project, which he’s hinted could be his last solo LP. “It’s the last album, period,” he said in March. “I really would like it to be the last one if I could — in a perfect world. “In the back of my mind, I’m thinking [how] a fighter fights,” The-Dream continued. “You don’t retire on top. [Michael] Jordan didn’t retire on top. I’m not saying I’m the best [like him], but I’m the best at what I can do. And I can stop now and say, ‘This album is pretty good.’ ” Are you excited to hear The-Dream’s new album? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists The-Dream

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The-Dream Explains ‘Make-Up Bag,’ Featuring T.I.

The-Dream Says New Album May Be His Last

I really would like it to be the last one if I could,’ he says of upcoming album Love King. By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by Shaheem Reid The-Dream Photo: MTV News Is he or isn’t he? The-Dream has been threatening to stop making albums after his next release, Love King , but the hitmaking songwriter admitted his declaration comes with a catch. “It’s the last album, period,” he told MTV News on Monday (March 8). “I really would like it to be the last one if I could — in a perfect world.” The Atlanta native already has two critically acclaimed albums under his belt, 2007’s Love Hate and 2008’s Love vs. Money. And he’s scored a number of chart-topping tracks as the pen behind “Umbrella” and “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It).” His dedication to his craft as a hired songwriter is in part why he would like to finish his run of personal projects after the forthcoming Love King. However, he said, what he wants versus what may actually happen could very likely be two different things. “In the back of my mind, I’m thinking a fighter fights,” he explained. “You don’t retire on top. [Michael] Jordan didn’t retire on top. I’m not saying I’m the best [like him], but I’m the best at what I can do. And I can stop now and say, ‘This album is pretty good.’ ” For Love King, The-Dream said he plans to evolve as a performer. Because of his hectic schedule working with others, he previously didn’t have the chance to polish his skill set like he wanted. He joked about his weight, saying he works better for others when he’s eating red velvet cupcakes — but that diet clashes with his desire to be a slimmed-down performer. “Doing those things [for everyone else] prohibited me from being a certain individual or shedding 10 pounds when I wanted to,” he offered. At the end of last year, the singer hinted at impending retirement when he spoke about his next project. “The first two albums came out and it really was just about music,” he said. “This album, it has to be a lot more — whether that’s marketing, all of the things that the big guys get. We have to turn and put those things on me as an artist also. … Now we have to treat it like it means something to the building. I think everybody is there. We have an incredible staff at Def Jam, of course. Now we gotta buckle up for me and put them dollars up.” Who do you think about The-Dream’s retirement plans? Would you be happy if he stopped performing to focus on being a songwriter for other stars? Let us know in the comments below, or upload a video to Your.MTV.com ! Related Artists The-Dream

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The-Dream Says New Album May Be His Last