Terius Nash is living The-Dream (Updated November 28, 2012)

Singer, songwriter and producer Terius Youngdell Nash, better known by his pen name The-Dream, has been making music since elementary school. Having mastered the trumpet, the youngster turned to the drums and guitar before the death of his mother would inspire him to write songs. He now has co-writing credits on some well-known smash hits like Justin Bieber's "Baby," Rihanna's "Umbrella" and Beyonce's "Single Ladies."

A meeting with R&B producer Laney Stewart helped The-Dream land his first publishing contract, and after he spent several years writing songs for various artists, it was his work with Chris "Tricky" Stewart (Laney's brother) that created "Umbrella." The song's international success clearly boosted Dream's career and eventually led to a deal with Def Jam Records.

The-Dream has three solo albums to his name. The first, "Love Hate," was written and recorded in just eight days and was released in December 2007. Though Rolling Stone magazine called it "one of the most likable records of the year," the praise didn't rush the singer back into the studio. It was early 2009 before his sophomore project, "Love vs. Money," entered at number one on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and it was followed by "Love King" the following year. A final solo venture was retitled and delayed repeatedly in 2011, and The-Dream eventually released all 10 tracks free on the Internet before making them available for purchase starting December 18, 2012.

Even while recording his own material, The-Dream's main focus has always been writing songs for a wide range of other artists, including Mary J. Blige ("Just Fine), Diddy ("Change"), Mariah Carey ("Touch My Body") and many more. He captured a Grammy Award for Best Rap Song in 2011 for Kanye West's "All of the Lights."