Hip-hop star The-Dream has released a surprise Christmas album, IAMSAM, featuring his renditions of some of the biggest hits by Sam Cooke.

The effort was recorded in 2010 while Dream was working on Beyonce's 4.

The album is dedicated to his late mother, who was a fan of Cooke.


"My Mother loved a lot of artists growing up, but the one we shared the most interest in together was Sam Cooke, so tonight I give him back to her," said The-Dream in a statement.

The singer/producer said his mother passed away two days before Christmas in 1992.

The eight track record features "A Change Is Gonna Come," "Twistin' the Night Away," "Cupid," "Bring It on Home," "Chain Gang," "Everybody Loves to Cha Cha," "Nobody Knows" and "You Send Me."