The-Dream signed a deal with
Def Jam Recordings in 2007, following the success of
Rihanna's 2007 hit "
Umbrella", which he wrote and produced with production partner
Christopher "Tricky" Stewart. That year, he also completed his debut studio album
Love Hate, which was the debut release of the label. The-Dream has since released his second studio album,
Love vs. Money, with his third,
Love King, released in June 2010. In 2008, the then-Executive Vice President of
Def Jam Recordings Shakir Stewart, organized a meeting for
Electrik Red with The-Dream and
Tricky Stewart, who cosigned Electrik Red to Radio Killa. The-Dream and Stewart then became the group's executive producers for their debut album
How to Be a Lady: Volume 1, which was released on May 26, 2009. In an arrangement with chairman and CEO of
Interscope Records,
Jimmy Iovine, The-Dream was allowed to choose several artists to work with from the label's roster. The-Dream chose to work with
Christina Milian on her fourth studio album
Elope, among others. They collaborated in early 2009 and soon after he signed Milian to Radio Killa Records. The-Dream said that when he was building his label, he chose to work with Milian because he believed she was a talented singer. He said "it was one of these things where [when] you try to grow an artist, you can either grow them from the ground or you can come in and say, 'This artist needs this, that's all.' And that part of me I have, which is what she didn't have." ==Artists==