TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

T-Pain Has Been Man In Demand

ADVERTISEMENT

By CURTIS ROSS

cross@tampatrib.com

Published: November 6, 2008

TAMPA - T-Pain claims not to know why he became the go-to guy for hip-hop collaborations.

"I have no idea," the hip-hop artist born Faheem Rasheed Najm says by telephone. "I guess they figured if it worked for one it would work for everyone."

"Everyone" isn't far off the mark. Last year it was impossible to stroll through the R&B and hip-hop charts without seeing the phrase "featuring T-Pain" a time or two (or a dozen).

T-Pain and his trademark vocoder sound (think Cher's "Believe") have been featured on tracks by R. Kelly, Kanye West, Chris Brown, T.I., Bob Wow, Plies, Flo Rida and Akon, among others.

He hasn't done too badly on his own, racking up hits such as "I'm N Luv (With a Stripper)" and "Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin')."

T-Pain's previous album, last year's "Epiphany," reached No. 1 on Billboard's pop and R&B charts, a fate which may be in store for latest, "Thr33 Ringz," to be released Tuesday.

It's already produced a Top 5 R&B hit, "Can't Believe It," featuring Lil Wayne.

T-Pain says he's just now hitting his stride.

"It's definitely a big progression. I kind of know a little more what I want to do," he says of "Thr33 Ringz."

"I think it takes everyone two albums to find themselves. It took me that long," he says.

He won't single out any particular tracks.

"I mean all of them stand out to me," he says. "Compared to 'Epiphany,' the music is more full. I'm speaking more maturely about subjects. There's a lot more maturity on this album."

The Tallahassee-born rapper-singer began his career in a group called Nappy Headz, before attracting the attention of Akon with a reworking of his "Locked Up." (T-Pain's title can't be printed here).

Akon signed T-Pain to his Konvict Muzik label, releasing his debut, "Rapper Turnt Sanga," in 2005.

Fans who loved that album and "Epiphany" shouldn't fear T-Pain's growth, he says.

On "Thr33 Ringz," T-Pain, 23, says, he's "just doing my thing and maturing at the same time. It's a natural growth.

"It's the T-Pain sound," he says. "I'm still having fun. It's like being an old teenager."

T-Pain performs Saturday as part of "The Last Damn Show 10," the annual multibill hip-hop and R&B show presented by WiLD 98.7 FM (WLLD, 98.7 FM).

Other performers on the bill include Young Jeezy, Plies, the Game, Gym Class Heroes, the Dream, David Banner, E-40, Nina Sky and Tom G.

CONCERT EVENT

The Last Damn Show 10

WITH: Young Jeezy, T-Pain, Plies, the Game, Gym Class Heroes, The Dream, David Banner, E-40, Nina Sky and Tom G.

WHEN: 5 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Tropicana Field, One Tropicana Drive, St. Petersburg; (727) 825-3137

COST: $20-$49

Reporter Curtis Ross can be reached at (813) 259-7568.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT