2008 American Music Awards

The-Dream and friend

Since you're known as a hit songwriter [“Umbrella,” “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)”], how many people come up to you at events like this going, “Hey, can you work on my next project?”
It’s incredible. We have to try to sneak in. I usually just try to skip the carpet, but my label is like, “Um, you’re an artist now. We need you to walk the red carpet.” But it’s flattering, because four years ago, I wasn’t writing for anybody.

You’re nominated for Breakthrough Artist of the Year. Did you do anything to campaign to get your fans to vote for you?
No, I just hired like 20 of my friends that wasn’t doing anything and just paid them to keep voting. [Laughs] No, I'm kidding.