Dream, Fulfilled
Encyclopedia
Danny!
's second instrumental hip hop album, Dream, Fulfilled, was released on April 23, 2007 (see 2007 in music
) under the American rapper/producer
's 1911 Music/Badenov Records imprint
. The record is a sequel to Danny's 2006 instrumental album Dream, Interrupted
and, like its predecessor, was initially released under Danny's birth name (Daniel Swain
) solely in the United Kingdom for reasons still undetermined.
The album cover, as well as the tray card and artwork contained within the liner notes, features various photographs of Uganda
n youth.
. The album's tagline
-- "23 years. 23 more beats. One man. One hour. One destiny." -- also bears similarities to that of Dream, Interrupted. Interestingly enough, the tagline is once again misleading as "Intro" is not an instrumental, giving Dream, Fulfilled a total of 22 full-fledged beats.
Danny has long insisted that neither the song titles on his instrumental albums, nor the elapsed running times, are arbitrarily chosen and are certainly not a coincidence. As a result, theories have again been made on the reason behind the quantity of tracks and the album's playing time due to the re-use of the 23-track format. Though Danny confirmed a once-unclear theory regarding the make-up of Dream, Interrupted months after its release, it is still unknown what the 60-minute playing time on Dream, Fulfilled is meant to represent.
The "hidden" meanings behind the names chosen for instrumentals continue to be a topic of discussion in various circles, adding more mystique to both Dream, Fulfilled and its predecessor. Some song titles, such as "Ms. d'Meener" (which samples an Ahmad Jamal
cover of the 1973 hit single by Foster Sylvers
), are self-explanatory. Others, like "Heavenly Ham", "The Gamps", "Home...?" and "Of Shoes And Ships And Sealing-Wax
", border on referential, nonsensical, and ethereal.
The release of Dream, Interrupted the previous year helped Danny successfully gain some notoriety as a talented producer aside from his tenure as an equally-skilled rapper. In celebration of both the newfound attention focused on Danny's production -- and the record deal offer he received from indie label Definitive Jux
only three months prior—Danny chose to continue the "dream" motif, appropriately giving the album the title Dream, Fulfilled. It was once presumed that Danny released his instrumental albums under his full name as a way to distinguish himself from Danny!
, his rapping alter ego, and Daniel Swain, the aspiring producer. Danny partially confirmed this in an interview, claiming that "Danny!" was still "in retirement" during the production of the two LPs, alluding to his temporary defection from music during the latter part of 2006 and the beginning of 2007.
. Incorporating mixtures of bossa nova
, Euro-pop
, sound library recordings and disco music helped Danny give Dream, Fulfilled a much more superior album, musically, than any of his previous offerings, including his studio albums. Danny Is Dead
would later feature "Check It Out (Find A Way '07)" as a full-length song with lyrics, titled "Check It Out". In 2008, "Misery" would too be revamped as a new track complete with vocals on Danny!'s critically acclaimed And I Love H.E.R.: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
.
In an effort to appease fans and interested buyers, Danny eventually decided to make the record attainable in the US and offered Dream, Fulfilled for sale via iTunes
and various other digital media
retail stores in June 2007. Around the same time he also made his entire catalogue—whose titles were all out of print—available for sale digitally, including the once-scarce Dream, Interrupted. In contrast, the original incarnation of Dream, Fulfilled 's sequel -- Dream, Extinguished
-- has yet to be released commercially for reasons unknown, though the Japanese version has been sold since 2009.
Danny!
Danny!, also known as D. Swain , is an American rap performer and record producer from Columbia, South Carolina, a former student of the Savannah College of Art & Design and, previously, a recording artist for Definitive Jux Records. L.A. Weekly has called Danny! "the best new artist that Def Jux...
's second instrumental hip hop album, Dream, Fulfilled, was released on April 23, 2007 (see 2007 in music
2007 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2007.-January:*January 1 - George Shearing is knighted for services to music in the Queen's New Year Honours List. Evelyn Glennie becomes a Dame...
) under the American rapper/producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
's 1911 Music/Badenov Records imprint
Imprint
In the publishing industry, an imprint can mean several different things:* As a piece of bibliographic information about a book, it refers to the name and address of the book's publisher and its date of publication as given at the foot or on the verso of its title page.* It can mean a trade name...
. The record is a sequel to Danny's 2006 instrumental album Dream, Interrupted
Dream, Interrupted
Dream, Interrupted is an instrumental hip hop album by American rapper/producer Danny!, and the fourth release under Danny's personal 1911 Music/Badenov Records imprint...
and, like its predecessor, was initially released under Danny's birth name (Daniel Swain
Danny!
Danny!, also known as D. Swain , is an American rap performer and record producer from Columbia, South Carolina, a former student of the Savannah College of Art & Design and, previously, a recording artist for Definitive Jux Records. L.A. Weekly has called Danny! "the best new artist that Def Jux...
) solely in the United Kingdom for reasons still undetermined.
The album cover, as well as the tray card and artwork contained within the liner notes, features various photographs of Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
n youth.
Overview
Dream, Fulfilled, like Dream, Interrupted before it, begins with an excerpt from "Cry Of A Dreamer" by The SylversThe Sylvers
The Sylvers were a popular R&B/soul and disco family group during the 1970s. Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, the family would later relocate to Watts, California.- Beginnings :...
. The album's tagline
Tagline
A tagline is a variant of a branding slogan typically used in marketing materials and advertising. The idea behind the concept is to create a memorable phrase that will sum up the tone and premise of a brand or product , or to reinforce the audience's memory of a product...
-- "23 years. 23 more beats. One man. One hour. One destiny." -- also bears similarities to that of Dream, Interrupted. Interestingly enough, the tagline is once again misleading as "Intro" is not an instrumental, giving Dream, Fulfilled a total of 22 full-fledged beats.
Danny has long insisted that neither the song titles on his instrumental albums, nor the elapsed running times, are arbitrarily chosen and are certainly not a coincidence. As a result, theories have again been made on the reason behind the quantity of tracks and the album's playing time due to the re-use of the 23-track format. Though Danny confirmed a once-unclear theory regarding the make-up of Dream, Interrupted months after its release, it is still unknown what the 60-minute playing time on Dream, Fulfilled is meant to represent.
The "hidden" meanings behind the names chosen for instrumentals continue to be a topic of discussion in various circles, adding more mystique to both Dream, Fulfilled and its predecessor. Some song titles, such as "Ms. d'Meener" (which samples an Ahmad Jamal
Ahmad Jamal
Ahmad Jamal is an innovative and influential American jazz pianist, composer, and educator. According to Stanley Crouch, Jamal is second in importance in the development of jazz after 1945 only to Charlie Parker...
cover of the 1973 hit single by Foster Sylvers
Foster Sylvers
Foster Emerson Sylvers is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and multi-instrumentalist...
), are self-explanatory. Others, like "Heavenly Ham", "The Gamps", "Home...?" and "Of Shoes And Ships And Sealing-Wax
The Walrus and the Carpenter
"The Walrus and the Carpenter" is a narrative poem by Lewis Carroll that appeared in his book Through the Looking-Glass, published in December 1871. The poem is recited in chapter four, by Tweedledum and Tweedledee to Alice. The poem is composed of 18 stanzas and contains 108 lines, in an...
", border on referential, nonsensical, and ethereal.
The release of Dream, Interrupted the previous year helped Danny successfully gain some notoriety as a talented producer aside from his tenure as an equally-skilled rapper. In celebration of both the newfound attention focused on Danny's production -- and the record deal offer he received from indie label Definitive Jux
Definitive Jux
Definitive Jux is an independent record label based in New York City, United States. It was co-founded in 1999 by Jaime Meline and Amaechi Uzoigwe. The label was initially known simply as Def Jux, but in 2001, popular hip hop label Def Jam Recordings sued Def Jux over the name similarity...
only three months prior—Danny chose to continue the "dream" motif, appropriately giving the album the title Dream, Fulfilled. It was once presumed that Danny released his instrumental albums under his full name as a way to distinguish himself from Danny!
Danny!
Danny!, also known as D. Swain , is an American rap performer and record producer from Columbia, South Carolina, a former student of the Savannah College of Art & Design and, previously, a recording artist for Definitive Jux Records. L.A. Weekly has called Danny! "the best new artist that Def Jux...
, his rapping alter ego, and Daniel Swain, the aspiring producer. Danny partially confirmed this in an interview, claiming that "Danny!" was still "in retirement" during the production of the two LPs, alluding to his temporary defection from music during the latter part of 2006 and the beginning of 2007.
Music
The majority of the beats on Dream, Fulfilled are, like its predecessor, approximately two-and-a-half minutes long; however, a handful of instrumentals are significantly longer, giving the album a slightly longer playing time than Dream, Interrupted. Dream, Fulfilled marked a continuation in the departure from the sped-up soul samples Danny was first known for on his debut album The College Kicked-OutThe College Kicked-Out
The College Kicked-Out is the debut album from American rapper/producer Danny! . Originally slated for an October 12 release date, The College Kicked-Out finally saw the light of day on November 2 after being delayed by bootlegging....
. Incorporating mixtures of bossa nova
Bossa nova
Bossa nova is a style of Brazilian music. Bossa nova acquired a large following in the 1960s, initially consisting of young musicians and college students...
, Euro-pop
Europop
Europop refers to a style of pop music that first developed in today's form in Europe, throughout the late 1970s. Europop topped the charts throughout the 1980s and ’90s...
, sound library recordings and disco music helped Danny give Dream, Fulfilled a much more superior album, musically, than any of his previous offerings, including his studio albums. Danny Is Dead
Danny Is Dead
Danny Is Dead, the first EP and sixth release from American rapper/producer Danny!, is a half-hour long EP that was released July 17, 2007 on Danny!'s 1911 Music/Badenov Records vanity label...
would later feature "Check It Out (Find A Way '07)" as a full-length song with lyrics, titled "Check It Out". In 2008, "Misery" would too be revamped as a new track complete with vocals on Danny!'s critically acclaimed And I Love H.E.R.: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
And I Love H.E.R.: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
And I Love H.E.R.: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, also referred to as simply And I Love H.E.R., is MC/producer Danny!'s full-length follow-up to 2006's Charm. The record was released to universal acclaim, cited by ABC News and L.A. Weekly as one of the best releases of 2008...
.
Availability
Danny has never yet revealed the reason behind making his instrumental albums only available abroad. Dream, Fulfilled, along with Dream, Interrupted, was a UK-only release; as such, an extremely small number of copies exist in the United States (presumably due to a lack of a substantial budget, however, none of Danny's independent releases have ever been distributed in large quantities). Even in the UK only a limited amount of copies have been circulated, making Dream, Interrupted and Dream, Fulfilled extremely hard to come by.In an effort to appease fans and interested buyers, Danny eventually decided to make the record attainable in the US and offered Dream, Fulfilled for sale via iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
and various other digital media
Digital media
Digital media is a form of electronic media where data is stored in digital form. It can refer to the technical aspect of storage and transmission Digital media is a form of electronic media where data is stored in digital (as opposed to analog) form. It can refer to the technical aspect of...
retail stores in June 2007. Around the same time he also made his entire catalogue—whose titles were all out of print—available for sale digitally, including the once-scarce Dream, Interrupted. In contrast, the original incarnation of Dream, Fulfilled 's sequel -- Dream, Extinguished
Dream, Extinguished
Dream, Extinguished is an instrumental hip hop album by American producer/rapper Danny!. The album is the third and allegedly final installment in Danny's famed Dream... instrumental series and, like its predecessors, bears Danny's anthroponym on its cover—an ominous all-black sleeve—rather than...
-- has yet to be released commercially for reasons unknown, though the Japanese version has been sold since 2009.
Track listing
- "Intro" (L. Sylvers, Swain) – 1:22
- Produced by Daniel SwainDanny!Danny!, also known as D. Swain , is an American rap performer and record producer from Columbia, South Carolina, a former student of the Savannah College of Art & Design and, previously, a recording artist for Definitive Jux Records. L.A. Weekly has called Danny! "the best new artist that Def Jux...
- Produced by Daniel Swain
- "Wait" (Eli, Daniel Swain, Barrett) – 1:25
- Contains a sample from "Love Won't Let Me Wait" by Major Harris, from the 1975 album My Way.
- Produced by Daniel Swain
- "The Train" (O. Paquin, Swain) – 2:34
- Produced by Daniel Swain
- "Come To Me" (A. Jobim, E. Lees, Swain) – 3:18
- Contains a sample from "Dreamer" by Astrud GilbertoAstrud GilbertoAstrud Gilberto is a Brazilian samba and bossa nova singer. She is well known for the Grammy Award-winning song "The Girl from Ipanema".-Biography:...
, from the 1965 album The Astrud Gilberto Album. - Produced by Daniel Swain
- Contains a sample from "Dreamer" by Astrud Gilberto
- "Games They Play" (Hawes, Simmons, Jefferson) – 2:54
- Produced by Daniel Swain
- "No Love (On The Message Boards)" (Winbush, Chainey, Moore, Swain) – 2:12
- Produced by Daniel Swain
- Contains samples from "Do You Really Love Me?" by Rene & AngelaRené & AngelaRené & Angela were an 1980s R&B duo consisting of artist/producers René Moore and Angela Winbush. The group dissolved by the mid 1980s. Both went on to successful solo careers as performers, songwriters, and producers.-Studio albums:-Compilation albums:...
, from the 1980 album Rene & Angela.
- "In These Walls" (Bosco, Capitou, Swain) – 2:32
- Produced by Daniel Swain
- "The Chute" (Morrisey, Swain) – 2:33
- Produced by Daniel Swain
- "Meagan Good" (Stepney, Birdsong, Ayers, Swain, Booker, Henry) – 3:03
- Produced by Daniel Swain
- "Heavenly Ham" (Pitts, Barnes, Swain, Lewis) – 1:25
- Produced by Daniel Swain
- Contains samples from "Heavenly" by Webster Lewis, from the 1980 album 8 for The Eighties.
- "Misery" (Swain, Timoney) – 4:46
- Produced by Daniel Swain
- "Le Pamplemousse" (Rushen, Swain) – 1:50
- Produced by Daniel Swain
- "Pay The Price" (Smith, Swain) – 1:34
- Contains a sample from "Don't Make Me Pay" by Thelma HoustonThelma HoustonThelma Houston is an American singer-songwriter and actress. She scored a number-one hit in 1976 with her cover version of the song "Don't Leave Me This Way", which won the 1978 Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.-Early life & career:Houston is the daughter of a cotton picking mother...
, from the 1977 album Any Way You Like It. - Produced by Daniel Swain
- Contains a sample from "Don't Make Me Pay" by Thelma Houston
- "I Just Wanna, Pt. 2" (Archer, Saadiq, Swain ) – 2:50
- Contains a sample from "Untitled (How Does It Feel)Untitled (How Does It Feel)"Untitled " is a song by American R&B and neo soul musician D'Angelo, released January 1, 2000 on Virgin Records in the United States. It was issued as a radio single in promotion of his second studio album, Voodoo . Written and produced by D'Angelo and Raphael Saadiq, the song was originally...
" by D'angeloD'AngeloMichael Eugene Archer , better known by his stage name D'Angelo, is an American R&B and neo soul singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and record producer. He is known for his production and songwriting talents as much as for his vocal abilities, and often draws comparisons to his influences,...
, from the 2000 album Voodoo. - Produced by Daniel Swain
- Contains a sample from "Untitled (How Does It Feel)
- "The Gamps" (Sylvers, Swain) – 2:32
- Produced by Daniel Swain
- "Out Of Time" (Armstrong, Bell, Bendiksen, Swain) – 2:21
- Produced by Daniel Swain
- Contains samples from "Along The Beaches" by Lisa Bell, from the 2005 album It's All About Love.
- "Of Shoes And Ships And Sealing-Wax" (Clarke, Swain) – 2:35
- Produced by Daniel Swain
- "Summer Samba" (Jobim, Swain) – 1:44
- Contains elements from "Bolinha de Papel", by João GilbertoJoão GilbertoJoão Gilberto Prado Pereira de Oliveira, known as João Gilberto , is a Brazilian singer and guitarist. His seminal recordings, including many songs by Antônio Carlos Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes, established the new musical genre of Bossa nova in the late 1950s.-Biography:From an early age, music...
, Herbie MannHerbie MannHerbert Jay Solomon , better known as Herbie Mann, was a Jewish American jazz flutist and important early practitioner of world music...
and Antonio Carlos JobimAntônio Carlos JobimAntônio Carlos Brasileiro de Almeida Jobim , also known as Tom Jobim , was a Brazilian songwriter, composer, arranger, singer, and pianist/guitarist. He was a primary force behind the creation of the bossa nova style, and his songs have been performed by many singers and instrumentalists within...
. - Produced by Daniel Swain
- Contains elements from "Bolinha de Papel", by João Gilberto
- "Ms. d'Meener" (Sylvers, Swain) – 2:38
- Produced by Daniel Swain
- "Check It Out (Find A Way '07)" (Gilberto, Swain) – 3:49
- Contains a sample from "Technova" by Towa TeiTowa Teiis a DJ, artist and record producer in Yokahoma, Japan.Tōwa debuted as a member of Deee-Lite, from the U.S. label Elektra Records in 1990, and shot to fame via their international hit single, "Groove Is In the Heart"...
, from the 1995 album Future Listening!Future Listening!Future Listening! is the debut solo album from Japanese electronic musician Towa Tei. It was Tei's first release after his departure from dance music act Deee-Lite....
. - Produced by Daniel Swain
- Contains a sample from "Technova" by Towa Tei
- "The Magic Is Gone" (Lynne, Swain) – 4:04
- Produced by Daniel Swain
- Contains samples from "Strange MagicStrange MagicFor the greatest hits collection of the same name, see Strange Magic: The Best of Electric Light Orchestra."Strange Magic" is a song written and performed by the Electric Light Orchestra. It can be found on the 1975 Face the Music LP....
" by Electric Light OrchestraElectric Light OrchestraElectric Light Orchestra were a British rock group from Birmingham who released eleven studio albums between 1971 and 1986 and another album in 2001. ELO were formed to accommodate Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne's desire to create modern rock and pop songs with classical overtones...
, from the 1975 album Face The Music.
- "Still Got Love For You" (Caldwell, Swain) – 2:46
- Contains a sample from "My Flame" by Bobby CaldwellBobby CaldwellBobby Caldwell is an American singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who, despite a prolific musical output over his 30-year career, is still best known for his 1978 hit single "What You Won't Do for Love". While he has always maintained a devoted fan base in the United States, a legendary...
, from the 1978 album What You Won't Do For Love. - Produced by Daniel Swain
- Contains a sample from "My Flame" by Bobby Caldwell
- "Home...?" (Gonet, Swain) – 3:00
- Produced by Daniel Swain
Personnel
- Daniel SwainDanny!Danny!, also known as D. Swain , is an American rap performer and record producer from Columbia, South Carolina, a former student of the Savannah College of Art & Design and, previously, a recording artist for Definitive Jux Records. L.A. Weekly has called Danny! "the best new artist that Def Jux...
- executive producer, producer, art direction, creative director - Olivia Bruyere - keyboards
- Paul W. Caine - A&R
- Sinclair Devereux - bass
- Gus Jones - vibraphone
- Eric Morris - piano
- Morgan Sherman - acoustic guitar
- Audrey Vicks - strings
- Adam Zapple - synthesizer
External links
- [ "Dream, Fulfilled" audio snippets] courtesy of Allmusic