THE-DREAM AND ELLIOTT YAMIN FEEL THE VIBE

Def Jam/IDJ R&B rapper/writer/producer The-Dream and Hickory Records’ Idol runner-up Elliott Yamin crack the HITS Vibe-Raters Sweet 16 this week as March madness officially gets underway in the record biz.

The-Dream’s new album, Love vs. Money, hits the streets next Tuesday (3/10), with two multi-format smashes leading the way. “Rockin’ That Thang” is Top 5 Urban and Top 15 Crossover, while “My Love,” with Mariah Carey, is scoring at WBLK, WAMO, WVEE, WBTP, WGCI, WJLB, KKDA, B96, WRDW, KKFR, XMOR and much more. Look for a Jimmy Kimmel Live appearance March 13, with a slot on Snoop’s new MTV variety show, Dogg After Dark, already taped. Look for upcoming appearances on BET’s 106 & Park (3/10) and a secret MySpace show in L.A. (3/12). Check out his Vibe-Raters profile here.

Yamin follows up his gold debut and platinum single, “Wait for You,” with the sophomore Hickory Records album Fight for Love, which hits retail May 5. The American Idol runner-up hits Top 40 and Hot Adult next week with the title track and first single, “Fight for Love,” which received a thumbs-up from more than 250 on AOL Music when it debuted last month. The label is a venture with Sony/ATV Music Publishing, while Yamin is managed by Three Ring’s Jeff Rabhan. For his Vibe-Raters blurb, click here.