Dream, Interrupted
Encyclopedia
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
. Dream, Interrupted was released exclusively in the United Kingdom
(under Danny's birth name, Daniel Swain) on August 14, 2006 (see 2006 in music
) prior to seeing a stateside release the following year.
, F.O.O.D.
and Charm
) that showcased both his rapping and his production
skills; Dream, Interrupted helped shift the spotlight solely on Danny's production
. Presumably, the record was released under Danny's full name in an effort to distinguish himself from Danny!
, his rapping alter ego
.
The title itself is an allusion to Danny's well-publicized 2006 "retirement" in which he decided to briefly discontinue, or "interrupt", his long-time goal, or "dream", of hitting it big in the music industry. With the success of his third studio album Charm and his subsequent signing to Definitive Jux
Records for an EP
and music video
, Danny has since released a sequel to Dream, Interrupted, aptly titled Dream, Fulfilled
.
Dream, Interrupted opens and closes with, appropriately, portions of The Sylvers
' "Cry Of A Dreamer". Excerpts from a Marvin Gaye
interview are placed within the clips. The album's tagline
, "23 years. 23 beats. 46 minutes. You do the math." helped listeners grasp the reason for Danny's choice of quantity of tracks and the overall length of the album (though the tagline is erroneous, as both the "Intro" and "Outro" aren't instrumentals at all, making the album comprise only 21 beats). The most common theory regarding Dream, Interrupteds format is that the number "23" was meant to represent the age of both Danny! the rapper and Daniel Swain the producer at the time of its release; the sum of 23 and 23, of course, is 46. This was later confirmed during an interview.
The instrumental titles contain either subtle references to events in Danny's career, ethereal connotations or utter nonsense
. The "hidden" meanings behind song titles have been debated on several hip-hop
message boards.
's Donuts
, another instrumental album lauded in 2006 with an underlying theme and track titles containing seemingly subtle meanings.
Musically, Dream, Interrupted picks up where Charm left off, with the album balancing a sophisticated yet very distinctly upbeat sound with a somber undertone. Over the course of the past few years Danny's production style has evolved from sped-up, "chopped" soul samples typical of most of his contemporaries to more ambient, jazz-infused offerings that seem to be a hybrid
of drum & bass, bossa nova
and electronica
. This could be attributed to his recent experimentation with sampling songs from out-of-print foreign film soundtracks, specifically from France
, Italy
and Japan
, as well as sound library records from England
. Thus, Danny's musical "evolution" is first documented here on such songs as "Listen", "Twilight Mist" and "Sea of Tomorrow". Occasionally, however, Danny will revert to the sound he first introduced on his earlier work; examples on Dream, Interrupted include "I'm Not Ready", "This Time Around" and "Salon Des Refuses".
The scarcity of the record in the UK, the virtual nonexistence of copies in the United States, and the meager promotion of the album overall made Dream, Interrupted one of Danny's most mysterious and sought-after projects in late 2006, until it was re-released digitally the following year. For a while following its initial release little else was known about the album outside of its promotional tagline and the occasional interview that Danny would mention it in, when prompted. In 2008 Danny's third instrumental album Dream, Extinguished
would significantly eclipse the amount of scantiness and subsequent pirating of Dream, Interrupted due to its abrupt cancellation. Dream, Interrupteds lack of publicity was a sharp contrast to the ubiquity of Charm, released precisely five months prior.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
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...
, and the fourth release under Danny's personal 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...
. Dream, Interrupted was released exclusively in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
(under Danny's birth name, Daniel Swain) on August 14, 2006 (see 2006 in music
2006 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2006.-January:*January 10 – Eric Burdon releases his album Soul of a Man and begins touring with a new band....
) prior to seeing a stateside release the following year.
Overview
Prior to the release of Dream, Interrupted, Danny had released three studio albums (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....
, F.O.O.D.
F.O.O.D.
F.O.O.D., released under Danny!'s 1911 Music/Badenov Records imprint in 2005 , is the second full-length studio album from the American rapper/producer...
and Charm
Charm (album)
Charm is the critically acclaimed third studio album from American rapper/record producer Danny! and the first of his records to be released commercially...
) that showcased both his rapping and his production
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...
skills; Dream, Interrupted helped shift the spotlight solely on Danny's production
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
. Presumably, the record was released under Danny's full name in an effort 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
Alter ego
An alter ego is a second self, which is believe to be distinct from a person's normal or original personality. The term was coined in the early nineteenth century when dissociative identity disorder was first described by psychologists...
.
The title itself is an allusion to Danny's well-publicized 2006 "retirement" in which he decided to briefly discontinue, or "interrupt", his long-time goal, or "dream", of hitting it big in the music industry. With the success of his third studio album Charm and his subsequent signing to 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...
Records for an EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
and music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
, Danny has since released a sequel to Dream, Interrupted, aptly titled Dream, Fulfilled
Dream, Fulfilled
Danny!'s second instrumental hip hop album, Dream, Fulfilled, was released on April 23, 2007 under the American rapper/producer's 1911 Music/Badenov Records imprint...
.
Dream, Interrupted opens and closes with, appropriately, portions of The Sylvers
The 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 :...
' "Cry Of A Dreamer". Excerpts from a Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
interview are placed within the clips. 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 beats. 46 minutes. You do the math." helped listeners grasp the reason for Danny's choice of quantity of tracks and the overall length of the album (though the tagline is erroneous, as both the "Intro" and "Outro" aren't instrumentals at all, making the album comprise only 21 beats). The most common theory regarding Dream, Interrupteds format is that the number "23" was meant to represent the age of both Danny! the rapper and Daniel Swain the producer at the time of its release; the sum of 23 and 23, of course, is 46. This was later confirmed during an interview.
The instrumental titles contain either subtle references to events in Danny's career, ethereal connotations or utter nonsense
Nonsense
Nonsense is a communication, via speech, writing, or any other symbolic system, that lacks any coherent meaning. Sometimes in ordinary usage, nonsense is synonymous with absurdity or the ridiculous...
. The "hidden" meanings behind song titles have been debated on several hip-hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
message boards.
Music
With many of the tracks clocking in at just over two minutes long, the concise exploration of various tracks made Dream, Interrupted very similar in style to J DillaJ Dilla
James Dewitt Yancey , better known by the stage names J Dilla and Jay Dee, was an American record producer who emerged from the mid-1990s underground hip hop scene in Detroit, Michigan...
's Donuts
Donuts (album)
Donuts is an instrumental hip hop album by producer J Dilla. Donuts was released on February 7, 2006, his 32nd birthday, and only three days before his death...
, another instrumental album lauded in 2006 with an underlying theme and track titles containing seemingly subtle meanings.
Musically, Dream, Interrupted picks up where Charm left off, with the album balancing a sophisticated yet very distinctly upbeat sound with a somber undertone. Over the course of the past few years Danny's production style has evolved from sped-up, "chopped" soul samples typical of most of his contemporaries to more ambient, jazz-infused offerings that seem to be a hybrid
Cross-genre
A cross-genre is a genre in fiction that blends themes and elements from two or more different genres.-Examples:*Action comedy *Comedy-drama or dramedy *Comedy-horror...
of drum & bass, 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...
and electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
. This could be attributed to his recent experimentation with sampling songs from out-of-print foreign film soundtracks, specifically from France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, as well as sound library records from England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Thus, Danny's musical "evolution" is first documented here on such songs as "Listen", "Twilight Mist" and "Sea of Tomorrow". Occasionally, however, Danny will revert to the sound he first introduced on his earlier work; examples on Dream, Interrupted include "I'm Not Ready", "This Time Around" and "Salon Des Refuses".
Availability
For reasons still unknown, Dream, Interrupted was initially released in compact disc format in various parts of the United Kingdom. As a result, very few copies exist in the US and only a handful of music editors have ever even seen the actual record stateside. However, all of Danny's independent releases have been distributed in limited quantities, presumably due to a lack of a substantial budget.The scarcity of the record in the UK, the virtual nonexistence of copies in the United States, and the meager promotion of the album overall made Dream, Interrupted one of Danny's most mysterious and sought-after projects in late 2006, until it was re-released digitally the following year. For a while following its initial release little else was known about the album outside of its promotional tagline and the occasional interview that Danny would mention it in, when prompted. In 2008 Danny's third instrumental album 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...
would significantly eclipse the amount of scantiness and subsequent pirating of Dream, Interrupted due to its abrupt cancellation. Dream, Interrupteds lack of publicity was a sharp contrast to the ubiquity of Charm, released precisely five months prior.
Track listing
- "Intro" – 1:47
- Contains a sample from "Cry Of A Dreamer" by The SylversThe SylversThe 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 :...
, from the 1973 album The Sylvers 2. - 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...
- Contains a sample from "Cry Of A Dreamer" by The Sylvers
- "Sky's The Limit" – 1:50
- Produced by Daniel Swain
- "Can't Let It Go" – 1:43
- Contains a sample from "Portuguese Love" by Teena MarieTeena MarieMary Christine Brockert, better known by her stage name Teena Marie, was an American singer, songwriter and producer...
, from the 1981 album It Must Be Magic. - Produced by Daniel Swain
- Contains a sample from "Portuguese Love" by Teena Marie
- "You're On My Mind" – 1:38
- Contains a sample from "All I Want" by HiroshimaHiroshima (band)Hiroshima is an American jazz fusion/smooth jazz band formed in 1974 by Sansei Japanese American Dan Kuramoto , Peter Hata , June Kuramoto , Johnny Mori , Dave Iwataki and Danny Yamamoto...
, from the 1980 album Odori. - Produced by Daniel Swain
- Contains a sample from "All I Want" by Hiroshima
- "Salon Des Refuses" – 1:24
- Produced by Daniel Swain
- "Love (Is What You Make It)" – 1:46
- Contains a sample from "Time Is Love", by Black IvoryBlack IvoryBlack Ivory was a R&B group from Harlem, which had a number of hits in the 1970s, including "Don't Turn Around", "You and I" , "I'll Find a Way ", "Spinning Around", "What Goes Around ", "Will We Ever Come Together", and "Mainline." -Career:The group features songwriter and prolific...
, from the 1972 album, Baby Won't You Change Your Mind. - Produced by Daniel Swain
- Contains a sample from "Time Is Love", by Black Ivory
- "Loss For Words" – 1:50
- Contains a sample from "Lost Inside Of You" by Al Hudson & the Soul Partners, from the 1978 album Spreading Love.
- Produced by Daniel Swain
- "Jaded" – 2:00
- Contains a sample from "Superstar", by Bette MidlerBette MidlerBette Midler is an American singer, actress, and comedian, also known by her informal stage name, The Divine Miss M. She became famous as a cabaret and concert headliner, and went on to star in successful and acclaimed films such as The Rose, Ruthless People, Beaches, and For The Boys...
, from the 1972 album, The Divine Miss M. - Produced by Daniel Swain
- Contains a sample from "Superstar", by Bette Midler
- "Same Song" – 1:50
- Contains a sample from "City of Angels" by The MiraclesThe MiraclesThe Miracles are an American rhythm and blues group from Detroit, Michigan, notable as the first successful group act for Berry Gordy's Motown Record Corporation . Their single "Shop Around" was Motown's first million-selling hit record, and the group went on to become one of Motown's signature...
, from the 1975 album of the same name. - Produced by Daniel Swain
- Contains a sample from "City of Angels" by The Miracles
- "Stardust" – 1:32
- Produced by Daniel Swain
- "Dream On" – 1:18
- Contains samples from "Amanda" by Dionne WarwickDionne WarwickDionne Warwick is an American singer, actress and TV show host, who became a United Nations Global Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organization, and a United States Ambassador of Health....
, from the 1971 film soundtrack The Love Machine. - Produced by Daniel Swain
- Contains samples from "Amanda" by Dionne Warwick
- "Twilight Mist" – 2:18
- Produced by Daniel Swain
- "Child of the Night" – 1:48
- Contains a sample from "If Your Heart Isn't In It" by Atlantic StarrAtlantic StarrAtlantic Starr was a 1980s R&B band. Among their biggest hits were "Always" and "Secret Lovers."- History :The group was started in 1976 in White Plains, New York by trumpeter Duke Jones , drummer Porter Carroll Jr., bassist Clifford Archer, percussionist and flautist Joseph Phillips, and three...
, from the 1986 album As The Band Turns. - Produced by Daniel Swain
- Contains a sample from "If Your Heart Isn't In It" by Atlantic Starr
- "Best Of Me" – 2:59
- Produced by Daniel Swain
- "Diggin' On You" – 2:07
- Contains samples from "Questions" by Carrie LucasCarrie LucasCarrie Lucas, is an American female R&B musician, born in Carmel, California. In 1976 she was signed to Soul Train Records. Lucas made six albums over seven years with Soul Train and Solar Records.-Career:...
, from the 1978 album Street Corner Symphony. - Produced by Daniel Swain
- Contains samples from "Questions" by Carrie Lucas
- "I'm Not Ready" – 2:53
- Contains a sample from "Stay With Me", by CherrelleCherrelleCheryl Anne Norton, better known by her stage name, Cherrelle , is an American R&B singer who gained fame in the 1980s...
, from the 1984 album Fragile. - Produced by Daniel Swain
- Contains a sample from "Stay With Me", by Cherrelle
- "Born To Wander ('Til I'm Dead)" – 1:51
- Produced by Daniel Swain
- "Passion Fruit" – 1:33
- Produced by Daniel Swain
- "This Time Around" – 1:52
- Contains a sample from "Didn't We" 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 1969 album Sunshower. - Produced by Daniel Swain
- Contains a sample from "Didn't We" by Thelma Houston
- "Listen" – 3:40
- Produced by Daniel Swain
- "Sea of Tomorrow" – 2:36
- Produced by Daniel Swain
- "Outro" – 1:17
- Produced by Daniel Swain
- "Just A Dream...?" – 2:18
- Contains samples from "Doing It My Way", by Bobby WomackBobby WomackRobert Dwayne "Bobby" Womack is an American singer-songwriter and musician. An active recording artist since the early 1960s where he started his career as the lead singer of his family musical group The Valentinos and as Sam Cooke's backing guitarist, Womack's career has spanned more than 40...
, from the 1974 album Looking For A Love Again. - Produced by Daniel Swain
- Contains samples from "Doing It My Way", by Bobby Womack
Credits
- 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, Composer - 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...
- Art Direction, Creative Director
External links
- [ "Dream, Interrupted" audio snippets] courtesy of Allmusic