15 Artists Who Have Dreams In Their Music
MLK had a dream...and so did these artists in their songs.
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Dream Machines - Some dreams happen in your sleep while others are thrown onto a record. Everybody dreams, and these following artists have sprinkled the word once or twice on the mic. - Jon Reyes(Photo: Central Press/Getty Images)
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The Game, “Dreams” - Lyrics:Blushin' in this 40 ounce, lettin' the ink from my pen bleed Cause Martin Luther King had a (dream) Aaliyah had a (dream), Left Eye had a (dream) So I reached out to Kanye and (I brought you all my dreams) (Cause I love you, I love you, I love you)...The west coast rapper contemplates various streaks of his personal dreams on his 2005 album The Documentary.(Photo: Romano Nunziato/Demotix/Corbis)
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The Notorious B.I.G., “Juicy” - Lyrics:It was all a dream I used to read Word Up! magazine Salt-n-Pepa and Heavy D up in the limousineAn epic opening line that your grandma probably even knows.(Photo: Des Willie/Redferns)
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Jay Z, “A Dream” - Lyrics:Had a dream I said Bout who he said Bout B.I.G. I said That's big he saidOff his 2002 album Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse, Jay Z brings his dreams together with visions of his old friend and mentor Biggie coming to advise him on how to carry himself in the rap game.(Photo: Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation)
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Beyoncé, “Sweet Dreams” (2008) - Lyrics:You could be a sweet dream or a beautiful nightmare Either way I don't wanna wake up from youGood ol’ Bey goes all poetic on a romance being good or bad.(Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
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Mary J. Blige, “A Dream” - Lyrics:Last night I dreamed That you were here with me And we were in each other's arms It was oh so heavenlyThis remake of Bunny DeBarge’s vocals was taken on by Mary for the Money Talks soundtrack.(Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
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Kendrick Lamar, “Dreams” - Lyrics:What if a dream was reality and reality was a dream? And as complicated as it seems, if things we imagined actually happened?For his Compton State of Mind mixtape the rapper shared with the world how to turn dreams into a reality.(Photo: Leon Bennett/WireImage)
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J. Cole, “Dollar And A Dream III” - Lyrics:Hey, I gotta dollar and a dream, that's all a ni**a got So if it's bout that cream, then I'm all up in the spot I got a dollar and a dream, just a dollar and a dreamThe third part of “Dollar and a Dream” appeared on two previous mixtapes. On his debut, J. Cole makes another installment to illustrate his drive and commitment.(Photo: Robin Marchant/Getty Images for ESPN)
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J. Cole, “Dollar And A Dream III” - Lyrics:Hey, I gotta dollar and a dream, that's all a ni**a got So if it's bout that cream, then I'm all up in the spot I got a dollar and a dream, just a dollar and a dreamThe third part of “Dollar and a Dream” appeared on two previous mixtapes. On his debut, J. Cole makes another installment to illustrate his drive and commitment.(Photo: Robin Marchant/Getty Images for ESPN)
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Lupe Fiasco, “Day Dreamin’” - Lyrics:I dream of you amid the flowersFor a couple of hoursSuch a beautiful dayIn this whimsical track Lupe illustrates how difficult it might be to make your dreams actually come true.(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
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Papoose, “Nacirema Dream” - Lyrics:To everybody in the struggleWe gonna riseFame and fortuneAnd live the Nacirema DreamLet’s go!Papoose takes on the American Dream by spelling American backwards and taking listeners through his personal triumphs and struggles.(Photo: Johnny Nunez/Getty Images)
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Lil’ Wayne, "American Dream" - Lyrics:I'm the dream machine I mean king visionI can see through yo' scene like clear screen, hear me?In this track Lil’ Wayne uses Mike Tyson to talk about his rise in the American Dream.(Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images for iHeartMedia)
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Mariah Carey, “Dreamlover” - Lyrics:Dreamlover come rescue meTake me up take me downTake me anywhere you want to baby nowWhat does a dreamlover do? Takes you up and down, of course.(Photo: Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Qatar Airways)
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August Alsina, “American Dream” - Lyrics:Ever since day one Somebody probably say you wouldn't be nothin' I bet they told you this over and over again on repeat like a re-run Nobody ever told you you could live up To anything you want, don't give up They rather tell you, you're destined for failure That's what they tell you But you just say What about Martin? What about Garvey? What about Rosa? What about Malcolm?August crafts a hopeful and motivational track for following dreams while being told they won’t make it.(Photo: Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images)
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Rihanna, “American Oxygen” - Lyrics:Breathe out, breathe in American oxygen Every breath I breathe Chasin' this American Dream We sweat for a nickel and a dime Turn it into an empire Breathe in, this feeling American, American oxygenRihanna’s low-key anthem was the theme song for last year’s March Madness using idioms to illustrate the American Dream.(Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Turner)
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Eminem, “Sing For The Moment” - Lyrics:That's why we, sing for these kids who don't have a thing Except for a dream and a f**king rap magazine Who post pin-up pictures on they walls all day long Idolize their favorite rappers and know all their songsBiggie’s “Juicy” gets a shoutout on Eminem’s track where he deals with critics not understanding why Slim’s music is speaking to so many kids.(Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images for MTV)