:Love King

Recording sessions for the album took place at Setal Studio in Miami, Florida, Studio at the Palms in Las Vegas, Nevada, The Nash Estate in Atlanta, Georgia, and Triangle Sound Studios in Atlanta.{{cite web|url=http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=8209056|title=The-Dream – Love King CD Album|publisher=Muze|accessdate=March 10, 2012}} After reports of the album being under production, The-Dream said that the album would be his final studio album.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/267952/the-dream-announces-love-king-will-be-last-album|title=The-Dream Announces "Love King" Will Be Last Album|last=Concepcion|first=Mariel|date=July 24, 2009|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=April 6, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211111158/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/267952/the-dream-announces-love-king-will-be-last-album|archive-date=December 11, 2013|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1633561/20100309/the_dream_rap.jhtml|title=The-Dream Says New Album May Be His Last|last=Rodriguez|first=Jayson|date=March 9, 2010|magazine=Billboard|access-date=April 6, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100402093223/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1633561/20100309/the_dream_rap.jhtml|archive-date=April 2, 2010|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2010/03/29/behind-the-video-the-dream-love-king/|title=Behind the Video: The-Dream – 'Love King'|date=March 29, 2010|website=Rap-Up|accessdate=April 6, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100402095614/http://www.rap-up.com/2010/03/29/behind-the-video-the-dream-love-king/|archive-date=April 2, 2010|url-status=live}} In January 2010, he said that he had finished recording Love King and called it his best album yet.{{cite news|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2010/01/16/the-dream-calls-new-album-best-yet/|title=The-Dream Calls New Album 'Best' Yet|date=January 16, 2010|website=Rap-Up|accessdate=April 6, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100402093145/http://www.rap-up.com/2010/01/16/the-dream-calls-new-album-best-yet/|archive-date=April 2, 2010|url-status=live}}

{{Listen

| pos = right

| filename = Make Up Bag.ogg

| title = 'Make Up Bag'

| description = The song features digital bass tones, A minor piano chords, and a double entendre; the make up bag as a designer handbag purchased to make amends.Richards, Chris. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/28/AR2010062804880.html Review: Love King] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305033536/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/28/AR2010062804880.html |date=March 5, 2016 }}. The Washington Post. Retrieved June 29, 2010.

| filename2 = Turnt Out.ogg

| title2 = "Turnt Out"

| description2 = The sultry, midtempo song has sexually boastful lyrics, flanged guitar riffs, shuffling drums, and floating falsetto vocals.[http://www.rap-up.com/2010/06/17/new-music-the-dream-turnt-out/ Rap-Up.com || New Music: The-Dream – 'Turnt Out'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100624053515/http://www.rap-up.com/2010/06/17/new-music-the-dream-turnt-out/ |date=June 24, 2010 }}. Rap-Up. June 17, 2010. Retrieved May 31, 2011.

}}

Love King expands on the suite-like production style and de rigueur-R&B themes of his previous two albums. The-Dream has described the album as being "deeper than space".{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1632185/20100218/the_dream_rap.jhtml|title=The-Dream Says New Album Love King Is 'Deeper Than Space'|last=Roberts|first=Steven|date=February 18, 2010|publisher=MTV|access-date=April 6, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100329075412/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1632185/20100218/the_dream_rap.jhtml|archive-date=March 29, 2010|url-status=dead}} Pitchfork{{'}}s David Drake noted his musical style as "Tin Pan Alley song concepts and an unceasing sense of musical craft", writing "When a song would be best served by space, he gives it plenty. Every piano chord and finger snap and bass hit is in its right place. He sweats every detail but never loses sight of how the album works as a whole".

Tom Ewing of The Guardian viewed that the mood created for the album "captures the dreamy, shimmering lustfulness of summer", writing that its songs "are built around layers of cascading, pulsing synth melodies, with the overall feeling one of tremulous romantic urgency; even an outright bedroom workout like {{'}}Panties to the Side{{'}} slips into wistful lushness".Ewing, Tom. [https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/jun/24/summer-hits-summer-jams Move over summer hits – the 'summer jam' is here] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314193210/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/jun/24/summer-hits-summer-jams |date=March 14, 2016 }}. The Guardian. Retrieved July 28, 2010. The Guardian{{'}}s Michael Cragg viewed that its "mid-paced songs [...] take the icky sex ballad template perfected by R. Kelly and wraps it in sparse, forward-thinking productions", writing that they "ride crisp, finger-snapping beats augmented by huge synth rushes, while moments of experimentation flutter around the periphery". Noting it as "ear candy", Alex Macpherson of The National wrote that the album features an emphasis on mood over traditional songcraft and elaborated on its music, stating:

{{cquote|He picks up narratives left hanging from previous albums, magnifies recurring themes and takes signature production techniques to extremes. The album's structure – a seamless ebb and flow of interlinked songs – is dizzyingly grandiose, underpinned by a complementary sense of theatre and elegance. Most importantly, though, through these devices, Nash reveals more and more of the contradictions and complexities at the core of his work: the instability generated by his obsessive examination of traditional R&B tropes – love, sex, money – from every possible angle; the frictions of his own fractured self-perception.}}

The-Dream's lyrics are characterized by cockiness and "swagger". Michael Cragg of The Guardian found the lyrics "boastful, ridiculously egocentric and often lyrically hilarious". Anupa Mistry of Urb noted The-Dream's "neutralizing alpha male steez" and commented that "the most carnal, but still so everyday, type of passion informs" the album's songs. According to Alex Macpherson, The-Dream, "in both his lyrics and instrumentation [...] moves back and forth between flippancy and heart-swelling sincerity as if they were one and the same; he plays the role of the unfaithful boyfriend convincingly, largely, it seems, because he knows that he'll find forgiveness soon enough".Macpherson, Alex. [http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100716/REVIEW/707159982/1008 Review: Love King]{{Dead link|date=November 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. The National. Retrieved July 16, 2010. The narrative of "Make Up Bag" involves an unfaithful boyfriend who advises to make amends for his serial infidelity by buying an expensive cosmetics bag for his girlfriend.

The album's title track and first single "Love King" was released on February 17, 2010, through Def Jam's website.{{cite news|url=http://www.islanddefjam.com/artist/news_single.aspx?nid=6236&artistID=7288|title=The-Dream Presents: Love King|date=February 17, 2010|publisher=Def Jam Recordings|accessdate=April 6, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721001759/http://www.islanddefjam.com/artist/news_single.aspx?nid=6236&artistID=7288|archive-date=July 21, 2011|url-status=live}} Following its release, The-Dream said that he would release four singles and four music videos prior to the album's release. "Love King" was later released for digital download on March 16, 2010 through iTunes.{{cite news|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/love-king-single/id360314634|title=Love King – Single|date=March 16, 2010|publisher=iTunes Store|access-date=April 6, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328183238/http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/love-king-single/id360314634|archive-date=March 28, 2010|url-status=dead}} The song peaked on Billboard{{'}}s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs at number 37.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/the-dream/chart-history/bsi/|title=The-Dream Chart History: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=April 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200426010047/https://www.billboard.com/music/the-dream/chart-history/BSI|archive-date=April 26, 2020|url-status=live}} The second single "Make Up Bag" was sent to US urban radio on May 11, 2010.{{cite news|url=http://gfa.radioandrecords.com/publishGFA/GFANextPage.asp?sDate=05/11/2010&Format=5 |title=Urban – Week Of: May 11, 2010 |date=May 11, 2010 |publisher=Radio & Records |accessdate=May 19, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222234517/http://gfa.radioandrecords.com/publishGFA/GFANextPage.asp?sDate=05%2F11%2F2010&Format=5 |archive-date=February 22, 2014 }} It was sent to US rhythmic radio on June 1, 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.islanddefjam.com/artist/news_single.aspx?nid=7111&artistID=7288|title=The-Dream LOVE KING Album Completes Trilogy, Set For June 29 Release On Radio Killa/Def Jam Recordings|publisher=Def Jam Recordings|date=June 9, 2010|accessdate=April 29, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126221555/http://www.islanddefjam.com/artist/news_single.aspx?nid=7111&artistID=7288|archive-date=January 26, 2013|url-status=live}} The song features rapper T.I. and is produced by The-Dream.{{cite news|url=http://www.djbooth.net/index/tracks/review/dream-make-up-bag/|title=The-Dream - Make Up Bag|date=May 5, 2010|publisher=DJBooth|accessdate=May 19, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100509162411/http://www.djbooth.net/index/tracks/review/dream-make-up-bag|archive-date=May 9, 2010|url-status=live}} The single artwork was released on May 19, 2010, and was confirmed to be the second single released from the album.{{cite news|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2010/05/19/single-cover-the-dream-f-ti-make-up-bag/|title=Single Cover: The-Dream f/ T.I. – 'Make Up Bag'|date=May 19, 2010|website=Rap-Up|accessdate=May 19, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100523051836/http://www.rap-up.com/2010/05/19/single-cover-the-dream-f-ti-make-up-bag/|archive-date=May 23, 2010|url-status=live}} "Make Up Bag" was released June 8, 2010 to iTunes.[https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/make-up-bag-feat-t-i-single/id375865643 Make Up Bag – Single] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140618075523/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/make-up-bag-feat-t-i-single/id375865643 |date=June 18, 2014 }}. iTunes Store. Retrieved July 9, 2010. "Turnt Out" was the album's third single as stated on The-Dream's official website and was released via the iTunes Store on June 21, 2010.[http://www.the-dreammusic.com/discography.aspx The Dream: Discography] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101006075432/http://www.the-dreammusic.com/discography.aspx |date=October 6, 2010 }}. Def Jam Recordings. Retrieved October 30, 2011. On July 22, 2010, The-Dream's official website posted a sneak peek of the official music video for "Turnt Out".[http://www.the-dreammusic.com/news_d.aspx?nid=7506 The Dream] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100821125510/http://www.the-dreammusic.com/news_d.aspx?nid=7506 |date=August 21, 2010 }}. Def Jam Recordings. Retrieved October 30, 2011.

Love King was originally scheduled for a December 2009 release.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/268689/the-dream-recording-new-album-for-december|title=The-Dream Recording New Album For December|last=Graff|first=Gary|date=April 6, 2010|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=May 7, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140915094440/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/268689/the-dream-recording-new-album-for-december|archive-date=September 15, 2014|url-status=live}} On September 26, 2009, Rap-Up reported that the album had been pushed back to 2010 release due to The-Dream's busy personal life.{{cite news|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2009/09/26/the-dream-defers-love-king-to-2010/|title=The-Dream Defers 'Love King' to 2010|date=September 26, 2009|website=Rap-Up|accessdate=April 6, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111228213133/http://www.rap-up.com/2009/09/26/the-dream-defers-love-king-to-2010/|archive-date=December 28, 2011|url-status=live}} Pushed back from May 2010, the album was released June 29, 2010, through The-Dream's imprint label Radio Killa Records and Def Jam Recordings.{{cite news|url=http://www.the-dreammusic.com/news/news_d.aspx?nid=6951&aid=7288 |title=Check Out The-Dream's Official Love King Album Cover! |date=May 20, 2010 |publisher=The-Dream Music |accessdate=May 24, 2010 }}{{dead link|date=February 2018|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

In its first week of release, Love King debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 albums chart and sold 58,000 copies.Caulfield, Keith. [http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/957492/emimems-recovery-remains-at-no-1-on-the-billboard-200 Emimem's 'Recovery' Remains at No. 1 on the Billboard 200] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140925224719/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/957492/emimems-recovery-remains-at-no-1-on-the-billboard-200 |date=September 25, 2014 }}. Billboard. Retrieved July 8, 2010. It also entered at number three on Billboard{{'}}s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. In its second week, the album fell to number 12 on the Billboard 200 and sold 23,000 copies.[http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.11702/title.hip-hop-album-sales-the-week-of-7-11-2010 Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Of 7/11/2010] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100714165941/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.11702/title.hip-hop-album-sales-the-week-of-7-11-2010 |date=July 14, 2010 }}. HipHopDX. Retrieved July 14, 2010. It moved to number 30 on the chart and sold 11,600 copies in its third week.Langhorne, Cyrus. [http://www.sohh.com/2010/07/eminem_battles_rick_ross_for_no_1_drake.html Eminem Battles Rick Ross For No. 1, Drake Loses A Step, Big Boi Keeps His Foot In Top 15] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100731035735/http://www.sohh.com/2010/07/eminem_battles_rick_ross_for_no_1_drake.html |date=July 31, 2010 }}. SOHH. Retrieved July 29, 2010. The album did not chart outside the United States.[http://acharts.us/album/56062 Album Performance: Love King] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110619051752/http://acharts.us/album/56062 |date=June 19, 2011 }}. acharts. Retrieved July 17, 2010.

{{Album ratings

| title = Love King ratings

| ADM = 7.3/10{{cite web|url=http://anydecentmusic.com/review/1944/The-Dream-Love-King.aspx|title=Love King by The-Dream reviews|publisher=AnyDecentMusic?|accessdate=December 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220175759/http://anydecentmusic.com/review/1944/The-Dream-Love-King.aspx|archive-date=December 20, 2019|url-status=live}}

| MC = 79/100{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/love-king|title=Reviews for Love King by The-Dream|publisher=Metacritic|accessdate=June 29, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817213654/http://www.metacritic.com/music/love-king|archive-date=August 17, 2010|url-status=live}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web|last=Kellman|first=Andy|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/love-king-mw0002000836|title=Love King – The-Dream|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=June 29, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618062653/http://www.allmusic.com/album/love-king-mw0002000836|archive-date=June 18, 2012|url-status=live}}

| rev2 = The A.V. Club

| rev2score = B+{{cite web|last=Rabin|first=Nathan|author-link=Nathan Rabin|url=http://www.avclub.com/articles/thedream-love-king,42781/|title=The-Dream: Love King|work=The A.V. Club|date=July 6, 2010|access-date=July 6, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100711124428/http://www.avclub.com/articles/thedream-love-king%2C42781/|archive-date=July 11, 2010|url-status=dead}}

| rev3 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev3score = B{{cite magazine|last=Wete|first=Brad|url=https://ew.com/article/2010/06/23/love-king/|title=Love King|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=June 23, 2010|accessdate=June 29, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930193633/https://ew.com/article/2010/06/23/love-king/|archive-date=September 30, 2018|url-status=live}}

| rev4 = The Guardian

| rev4score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web|last=Cragg|first=Michael|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/dec/09/the-dream-love-king-review|title=The-Dream: Love King – review|work=The Guardian|date=December 9, 2010|accessdate=March 5, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611075815/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/dec/09/the-dream-love-king-review|archive-date=June 11, 2015|url-status=live}}

| rev5 = Los Angeles Times

| rev5score = {{rating|3|4}}{{cite web|last=Weiss|first=Jeff|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2010/06/album-review-thedreams-love-king.html|title=Album review: The-Dream's 'Love King'|work=Los Angeles Times|date=June 28, 2010|accessdate=June 29, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100630110435/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2010/06/album-review-thedreams-love-king.html|archive-date=June 30, 2010|url-status=live}}

| rev6 = Pitchfork

| rev6score = 8.6/10{{cite web|last=Drake|first=David|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/14449-love-king/|title=The-Dream: Love King|work=Pitchfork|date=July 13, 2010|accessdate=July 13, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100715231901/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/14449-love-king/|archive-date=July 15, 2010|url-status=live}}

| rev7 = Rolling Stone

| rev7score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine|last=Hoard|first=Christian|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/love-king-198644/|title=Love King|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=June 23, 2010|accessdate=June 30, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930193653/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/love-king-198644/|archive-date=September 30, 2018|url-status=live}}

| rev8 = Slant Magazine

| rev8score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web|last=Henderson|first=Eric|url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/the-dream-love-king/2169|title=The-Dream: Love King|work=Slant Magazine|date=June 28, 2010|accessdate=June 29, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100701232354/http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/the-dream-love-king/2169|archive-date=July 1, 2010|url-status=live}}

| rev9 = Spin

| rev9score = 8/10{{cite web|last=Hogan|first=Marc|url=http://www.spin.com/reviews/dream-love-king-radio-killadef-jam|title=The-Dream, 'Love King' (Radio Killa/Def Jam)|work=Spin|date=June 29, 2010|accessdate=June 29, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120106202436/http://www.spin.com/reviews/dream-love-king-radio-killadef-jam|archive-date=January 6, 2012|url-status=dead}}

| rev10 = Urb

| rev10score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite journal|last=Mistry|first=Anupa|url=http://www.urb.com/2010/07/16/the-dream-love-king/|title=The-Dream – Love King (Review)|journal=Urb|date=July 16, 2010|accessdate=September 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111208221143/http://www.urb.com/2010/07/16/the-dream-love-king/|archive-date=December 8, 2011|url-status=dead}}

}}

Love King was met with generally positive reviews. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received an average score of 79, based on 21 reviews. Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave it 7.8 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus.

Reviewing in June 2010, Los Angeles Times critic Jeff Weiss said The-Dream "manages to put a fresher spin on tired tropes". Rob Harvilla from The Village Voice credited him for "taking objectively terrible ideas—getting emotionally involved with this guy, for example, given his penchant for 'Patrónin{{'}}' and general sexual profligacy—and making them seem like brilliant ideas".Harvilla, Rob. [http://www.villagevoice.com/2010-06-29/music/the-brilliant-stupidity-of-the-dream/ Review: Love King] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100703051105/http://www.villagevoice.com/2010-06-29/music/the-brilliant-stupidity-of-the-dream |date=July 3, 2010 }}. The Village Voice. Retrieved July 3, 2010. The National{{'}}s Alex Macpherson felt that he has an "apparent inability to separate the sublime from the ridiculous" and his competence as a musician: "He covers all bases, and erodes the differences between them". Michael Cragg of The Guardian said that "Love King doesn't win points for subtlety but, as an example of a producer at the top of his game, it's second to none". AllMusic's Andy Kellman felt that the album's flaws are transcended by "his way with a melody, an outrageous line, and an exquisitely adroit rhythm, all components in his immense crazy-quilt song cycle". BBC Online's Mike Diver called the production "superb" and wrote that it "ensures almost every track here is a brilliant earworm of an arrangement".Diver, Mike. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/rp8r Review: Love King] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170420190938/http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/rp8r/ |date=April 20, 2017 }}. BBC Online. Retrieved July 8, 2010. Slant Magazine{{'}}s Eric Henderson said that, like Prince, The-Dream makes "minimalism expansive" and elaborated on how the influence of Prince in The-Dream's music continues "blossoming in unexpected ways":

{{cquote|The intelligence of his production (not limited to but including two 'versions' of 'Sex Intelligent'), the sometimes-janky/sometimes-'brilliant wordplay, the complexity of his eroticism all emerge from Love King in holistic fashion. Here is The-Dream touching down in the same way Prince did with 1999. Like that sprawling double album, Love King{{'}}s journey through the secret life of ass dares to meander, to free associate between tracks, to show just how a little can go a long way.}}

Some reviewers were more reserved in their appraisals. Ben Ratliff of The New York Times applauded The-Dream's "modern" musical approach and "small-scale epiphanies" in the lyrics, but felt that the album "doesn't transcend its highest individual moments".Ratliff, Ben. [https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/28/arts/music/28choice.html Review: Love King] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930193120/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/28/arts/music/28choice.html |date=September 30, 2018 }}. The New York Times. Retrieved June 29, 2010. Rolling Stone writer Christian Hoard described it as "the soul-music equivalent of Dream's beloved Patrón: Not exactly eccentric, but finely crafted and intoxicating". Uncut magazine wrote that The-Dream's "relentless sex-pestering ultimately becomes tiresome but his music can often be magnificent: an aural pavlova of sugar-spun synths and ambrosial harmonies."{{cite journal|title=Review: Love King|journal=Uncut|location=London|date=October 2010|page=94}} MSN Music{{'}}s Robert Christgau gave the album a two-star honorable mention,{{cite web|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|date=February 21, 2012|url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/ew2012-02.php|title=Odds and Ends 006|website=MSN Music|accessdate=June 14, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130810205436/http://robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/ew2012-02.php|archive-date=August 10, 2013|url-status=live}} indicating a "likable effort consumers attuned to its overriding aesthetic or individual vision may well enjoy."{{cite web|url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/bk-cg90/grades-90s.php|accessdate=June 14, 2013|last=Christgau|first=Robert|title=Key to Icons|publisher=Robert Christgau|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120605100815/http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/bk-cg90/grades-90s.php|archive-date=June 5, 2012|url-status=live}} He cited "Florida University" and "Sex Intelligent" as highlights and quipped, "We know this trickster is 'the last romantic' because, in the very same song, he tells his babydoll to present 'panties to the side'".

Pitchfork ranked the album number 30 on its list of the Top 50 Albums of 2010.Staff. [http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/7893-the-top-50-albums-of-2010/3 The Top 50 Albums of 2010] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111026005917/http://www.pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/7893-the-top-50-albums-of-2010/3/ |date=October 26, 2011 }}. Pitchfork. Retrieved October 30, 2011. New York writer Nitsuh Abebe placed it at number two on his year-end albums list, commending The-Dream's "down-to-earth R&B".{{cite web|last=Abebe|first=Nitsuh|url=http://nymag.com/arts/cultureawards/2010/69902/|title=Nitsuh Abebe's Top 10 Pop Albums of 2010 - The 2010 Culture Awards|work=New York|date=December 5, 2010|accessdate=March 15, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111223120833/http://nymag.com/arts/cultureawards/2010/69902/|archive-date=December 23, 2011|url-status=live}} August Brown of the Los Angeles Times ranked the album number nine on her year-end list and stated, "What makes Love King the R&B album of the year is the vulnerability that seeps between every glittering, mirrored edge of its production. [...] He's desperate, he's brazen, he's needy. And he's telling the truth."{{cite web|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2010/12/times-music-writers-pick-their-best-albums-of-the-year.html|title=Times music writers pick their favorite albums of 2010|work=Los Angeles Times|date=December 21, 2010|accessdate=March 15, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120110133625/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2010/12/times-music-writers-pick-their-best-albums-of-the-year.html|archive-date=January 10, 2012|url-status=live}} Rob Harvilla of The Village Voice named Love King the best album of 2010.{{cite web|last=Harvilla|first=Rob|url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2010/12/my_top_10_album.php|title=Rob Harvilla's Top 10 Albums Of 2010|work=The Village Voice|date=December 23, 2010|accessdate=March 15, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209224218/http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2010/12/my_top_10_album.php|archive-date=February 9, 2012|url-status=live}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Love King standard edition

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = Love King

| writer1 = {{hlist|Terius Nash|Carlos McKinney}}

| extra1 = {{hlist|Los Da Mystro|The-Dream}}

| length1 = 4:11

| title2 = Make Up Bag

| note2 = featuring T.I.

| writer2 = {{hlist|Nash|Clifford Harris, Jr.}}

| extra2 = The-Dream

| length2 = 4:43

| title3 = F.I.L.A.

| writer3 = Nash

| extra3 = The-Dream

| length3 = 4:11

| title4 = Sex Intelligent

| writer4 = Nash

| extra4 = The-Dream

| length4 = 5:10

| title5 = Sex Intelligent (Remix)

| writer5 = Nash

| extra5 = The-Dream

| length5 = 4:02

| title6 = Yamaha

| writer6 = {{hlist|Nash|McKinney}}

| extra6 = {{hlist|Los Da Mystro|The-Dream}}

| length6 = 4:55

| title7 = Nikki Part 2

| writer7 = {{hlist|Nash|McKinney}}

| extra7 = {{hlist|Los Da Mystro|The-Dream}}

| length7 = 2:41

| title8 = Abyss

| writer8 = {{hlist|Nash|McKinney}}

| extra8 = {{hlist|Los Da Mystro|The-Dream}}

| length8 = 4:38

| title9 = Panties to the Side

| writer9 = {{hlist|Nash|Christopher "Tricky" Stewart}}

| extra9 = {{hlist|Stewart|The-Dream}}

| length9 = 4:06

| title10 = Turnt Out

| writer10 = {{hlist|Nash|McKinney}}

| extra10 = {{hlist|Los Da Mystro|The-Dream}}

| length10 = 4:25

| title11 = February Love

| writer11 = Nash

| extra11 = The-Dream

| length11 = 6:15

| title12 = Florida University

| writer12 = {{hlist|Nash|McKinney}}

| extra12 = {{hlist|Los Da Mystro|The-Dream}}

| length12 = 5:27

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Deluxe edition (bonus tracks)

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title13 = Veteran

| writer13 = {{hlist|Nash|McKinney}}

| extra13 = {{hlist|Los Da Mystro|The-Dream}}

| length13 = 4:54

| title14 = Priceless

| writer14 = {{hlist|Nash|McKinney}}

| extra14 = {{hlist|Los Da Mystro|The-Dream}}

| length14 = 6:04

| title15 = Take Care of Me

| writer15 = Nash

| extra15 = The-Dream

| length15 = 5:39

| title16 = All Black Everything

| writer16 = Nash

| extra16 = The-Dream

| length16 = 3:53

| title17 = Sorry

| writer17 = Nash

| extra17 = The-Dream

| length17 = 3:40

}}

Credits for Love King adapted from AllMusic.[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1816691/credits|pure_url=yes}} Credits: Love King]. AllMusic. Retrieved June 29, 2010.

{{col-start}}

{{col-2}}

• Lee Blaske – strings
• Los DaMystro – producer
• Steven Dennis – assistant engineer
• Brian Gardner – mastering
• Mark Gray – assistant engineer, mixing assistant
• Jaycen Joshua – mixing
• JP Robinson – art direction, design
• Giancarlo Lino – mixing assistant
• Tai Linzie – photography, art coordinator
• Pamela Littky – photography

{{col-2}}

• Ian Mercel – assistant engineer
• Terius "The-Dream" Nash – producer, executive producer, stylist
• Scott Naughton – engineer
• Luis Navarro – assistant engineer
• Dave Pensado – mixing
• Antonio "L.A." Reid – executive producer
• Melissa Santiago – executive coordinator
• Jason Sherwood – assistant engineer
• Chris Stanford – cover photo
• C. "Tricky" Stewart – keyboards, programming, producer
• Crystal Streets – stylist
• Brian "B-Luv" Thomas – engineer
• Pat Thrall – guitar, engineer, production engineer
• Kristen Yiengst – photography, art coordinator

{{col-end}}

• Song cycle

{{reflist|3}}

• {{Official website|http://www.the-dreammusic.com/splash/}}
• {{Discogs master|type=album|288165}}

{{The-Dream}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Love King}}

Category:2010 albums

Category:Albums produced by The-Dream

Category:Albums produced by Tricky Stewart

Category:Def Jam Recordings albums

Category:The-Dream albums

Category:Sequel albums