For T-Pain there was no other choice. He felt that music is his life and acted on it since he was a little kid. At the age of 10 he turned his bedroom into a home studio and there was no turning back. Coming from Florida he got South in his blood and it shows. T didn’t live in South Beach swimming in the ocean and looking at beautiful ladies. He is from Tallahassee, the state capitol. For those unfamiliar with the city, it’s located on a hill with no Oceanside and it’s usually hotter there than in most other Florida cities. So, with less distraction, this Muslim kid began his path to music.
By the age of 17 he already had his own label, Hard&B. the first break he got was soon after when Akon signed him to his Konvict Music. By 2005 his debut album was an absolute hit. Rappa Ternt Sanga was the name and it had 2 of his best-known hits on it: I’m Sprung and I’m N Luv (Wit a Stripper). He even made a video with MySpace’s favorite, Tila Tequila.
Come 2007 T-Pain’s 2nd album dropped. There is definitely something very unique about this singer. 2 of his songs off of his first album were very successful radio hits and his follow-up titled Epiphany already produced another mega-hit Buy U a Drank. Don’t rush to title all of his music as R&B thou. T-Pain’s approach to music is open-minded, just as his lyrics. You’ll find your hard-core slander in some songs and words of love and compassion in others. You’ll see him sing and rap, talk about strippers and easy life and then about important issues like HIV. His song titles are filled with what would seem as misspellings. Only most know that this is how people talk and write amongst each other. He’s not making mistakes. He just does his art the way he wants to do it and he’s pulling it off.
As with any new artist, Teddy doesn’t have a wall full of Grammys or a ‘best of’ compilation with songs going back 10 years. He is a happy 22 year old kid who loves music. Coming to New York last month he did 2 shows, one at the infamous SOBs and the other at the 2007 Hot 97 Summer Jam. Watching him on stage makes you understand why everyone says that Southern Rappers have more fun. Non-stop smiling and dancing, cracking jokes and rocking the mic as if at a karaoke bar with friends, T makes his presence felt and makes sure the audience has fun right along with him. You can read more about him at Summer Jam here: Summer Jam 2007: pix of Ciara, Lil Wayne, Swizz Beatz, Luda, Jeezy, more. To his show at SOBs he came with Young Joc. Joc’s album just dropped and he is on Buy U a Drank with T-Pain. The 2 young Southern guys rocked the house as if it was MSG. the crowd was going wild right with them and although predominantly female, his guy fans were drawn into his performance just the same.
What’s next for T? His album’s doing well, approaching Gold status only a month after its release. His Bartender video with Akon is another hit off of it. Teen Choice 2007 Awards already nominated Buy U a Drank. He is on Screamfest Tour 2007 with T.I. and Ciara. Thinking less of what is next for him and more of what is now he is just doing what he’s always wanted to do. He makes music that makes people feel good.
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