The-Dream released a surprise set of recordings yesterday that marked a pretty considerable departure from his usual sultry R&B: an album of Sam Cooke covers called IAMSAM.
The project, as he described on Instagram, is a tribute to his late mother who died Dec. 23, 1992. “My Mother loved a lot of Artist growing up,” he wrote, “but the one we shared the most interest in together was Sam Cooke, so Tonight I give him back to her.”
The covers were recorded in 2010, while the prolific artist/producer was working on Beyoncé‘s 4 album. Stream the full release below: