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Faheem Rasheed Najm (born September 30, 1985), who goes by his stage name T-Pain, is anAmerican singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, and actor. His debut album, Rappa Ternt Sanga, was released in 2005. In 2007, T-Pain released his second studio album Epiphany, which reached number one on the Billboard 200. His third studio album, Thr33 Ringz, was released in 2008. T-Pain has earned two Grammy Awards alongside artists Kanye West and Jamie Foxx.
T-Pain is the founder of the record label Nappy Boy Entertainment, established in 2005. Throughout his career as a singer, T-Pain is known for using & popularizing the Auto-Tune pitch correction effect. Throughout the years of 2006-10 T-Pain was featured on more than 50 chart topping singles, his most successful feature to date was in Flo Rida’s debut single « Low » which has since been certified 6x Platinum.
Early life
Najm was born in Tallahassee, Florida on September 30, 1985, where he also grew up. His stage name is short for « Tallahassee Pain » and was chosen because of the hardships he experienced while living there. Najm was brought up in a Muslim household, but has expressed his disinterest in the concept of religion. At just three years old he got his first taste of the music business. A friend of the family, gospel jazz artist/producer Ben Tankard allowed him to hang out and « twist the knobs » at his recording studio. At age ten, Najm turned his bedroom into a music studio, using a keyboard, a beat machine and a four-track recorder.
Career
2004–2006: Early career and Rappa Ternt Sanga
T-Pain joined the rap group Nappy Headz in 2004 and later recorded « I’m Fucked Up », a cover version of Akon’s single « Locked Up ». Recording artist Akon heard the song and immediately signed T-Pain to Konvict Muzik, his label. After being discovered, T-Pain began singing instead of rapping. T-Pain subsequently recorded and released his debut album, Rappa Ternt Sanga, on December 6, 2005. The album reached number thirty-three on the Billboard 200, and has since been certified Gold by the RIAA, for reaching sales of 500,000 units.
The album was preceded by the lead single, « I’m Sprung », which was released in August 2005 and reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and number nine on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The second single, « I’m N Luv (Wit a Stripper) », featuring Mike Jones, was released in December 2005 and reached number five on the Hot 100 and number ten on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The third and final single from the album, « Studio Luv », was released in October 2006 but failed to chart.
2007–2008: Epiphany
In mid-2006, T-Pain began work on his second album, now with the Zomba Label Group as well as Konvict Muzik and Jive Records. The album, titled Epiphany, was released on June 5, 2007. The album sold 171,000 records in its first week, reaching number one on the Billboard 200.
The record has since sold 819,000 records in the United States.
The album was preceded by the lead single « Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin’) » featuring Yung Joc in February 2007. The single reached number one on both the Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, becoming his first single to top charts. The album’s second single, « Bartender », featuring Akon was released in June 2007 and reached number five on the Hot 100 and number nine on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The third and final single from the album, « Church », was released in October 2007 but failed to chart in the United States.
Speaking in May 2007 to noted UK R&B writer Pete Lewis, of the award-winning Blues & Soul about his reason for naming his second album ‘Epiphany’, T-Pain stated: « One of the two dictionary meanings of epiphany is ‘a sudden moment of insight or revelation’. And to me the title ‘Epiphany’ signifies the moment I realized that, to make the best music I can, I needed to just go in the studio and be myself, and not concentrate so hard on following other people’s formulas. »
While promoting his second album, T-Pain made guest appearances on multiple songs by other artists. T-Pain was featured on « I’m a Flirt » (remix) by R. Kelly with T.I., « Outta My System » by Bow Wow, « Baby Don’t Go » by Fabolous, « I’m So Hood » by DJ Khaled with many other rappers, « Shawty » by Plies, « Kiss Kiss » by Chris Brown, « Low » by Flo Rida, and « Good Life » by Kanye West. In two weeks in late 2007, T-Pain was featured on four top ten singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart
« Good Life » with Kanye West later won the BET Award for Best Collaboration and was nominated in several other categories. In 2008, the single won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Song.
2007–2009: Thr33 Ringz
In 2007, T-Pain began work on his third album with Rocco Valdes, Akon and Lil Wayne. The album was also his first under his Nappy Boy Entertainment.
T-Pain’s third studio album, Thr33 Ringz, was released on November 11, 2008. The album sold 168,000 records in its first week, reaching number four on the Billboard 200. A mixtape, Pr33 Ringz, was released in early 2008 before the album.
The album was preceded by three singles. Its lead single, « Can’t Believe It », featuring Lil Wayne, was released in July 2008. The single reached number seven on the Hot 100 and number two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The album’s second single, « Chopped ‘N’ Skrewed », featuring Ludacris, was released in September 2008. The single reached number twenty-seven on the Hot 100 and number three on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The third and final single from the album, « Freeze », featuring Chris Brown, was released in October 2008 and reached number thirty-eight on the Hot 100 and number thirty-nine on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Guest appearances on Thr33 Ringzincluded T.I., Lil Wayne, Ludacris, DJ Khaled, Ciara, Chris Brown and Kanye West among others. Pr33 Ringz was the introduction mixtape for the album.
In 2008, T-Pain continued to appear on numerous rap singles, such as « She Got It » by 2 Pistols, « Go Girl » by Ciara, « The Boss » by Rick Ross, « Cash Flow » by Ace Hood, « Shawty Get Loose » by Lil Mama, « One More Drink » by Ludacris, and « Go Hard » by DJ Khaled with Kanye West. T-Pain and Ludacris collaborated to perform « Chopped ‘N’ Skrewed » and « One More Drink » on American late-night television programs Jimmy Kimmel Live! on ABC in November 2008 and on NBC’s Saturday Night Live in the same month. T-Pain appeared again on SNL in February 2009 (on the episode hosted by Bradley Cooperwith musical guest TV on the Radio) in the SNL Digital Short. T-Pain also supported the album in 2009 with his Thr33 Ringz Tour, which included sold out shows across North America. T-Pain and rapper Lil Wayne formed the duo T-Wayne in 2008. The duo released a self-titled mixtape in late 2008; it charted on the Billboard 200 in January 2009. Their debut album was going to be released in 2009, but never was.
2009–2012: RevolveR
In May 2009, T-Pain made an appearance on a live-action episode of Aqua Teen Hunger Force as Frylock, where he made his debut as an actor. He collaborated with country-pop singer Taylor Swift for the CMT Music Awards, and performed « Thug Story », a parody of Swift’s hit single « Love Story ». In an interview with MTV, T-Pain announced that he would release his fourth studio album in November 2009 and that its title was UBER. He stated that although he originally wanted to release the album in the summer of 2010, his label had pushed the release forward. Regardless of these announcements, the album wasn’t released in 2009. An iPhone application called « I Am T-Pain » features an auto tuner, allowing fans to record and modify their own voice to accompany an instrumental collection of T-Pain’s music. It was released in September 2009. In July 2009, T-Pain endorsed the 2009 T-Pain Killa Cam-Pain, a grassroots effort to help him become elected aspresident of Florida State University.
In November 2009, T-Pain released the first single from his fourth studio album, « Take Your Shirt Off ». The single only managed to reach number eighty on the Hot 100, and was later dubbed a promotional single. Later, in February 2010, he released the official lead single from his fourth studio album, « Reverse Cowgirl », featuring Young Jeezy. He later release an updated version of the song excluding Young Jeezy’s verse and adding a new bridge. The single reached number seventy-five on the Hot 100 and number sixty-four on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, becoming a mild hit. The single has since been dubbed a promotional single. T-Pain was later featured on the « We Are the World 25 for Haiti » single in February 2010, which reached number two on the Hot 100. In the fall of 2009, T-Pain began work with Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim to produce and star in a television animated musical special based on Freaknik. Freaknik: The Musical aired on March 7, 2010.
In June 2010, T-Pain confirmed that his fourth studio album RevolveR has been completed and mastered, but that it will not be released until album sales increase. He elaborated upon this in August 2010, stating that the album probably wouldn’t be released until 2011. T-Pain’s first feature film, Lottery Ticket, was released on August 20, 2010. In October 2010, T-Pain release his third promotional single, Rap Song. The song charted poorly, peaking at 89 on the Hot 100.
T-Pain released a Nappy Boy mixtape called T-Pain Presents: Nappy Boy All Stars Vol.1 which contained Nappy Boy remixes to « Every Girl », « All The Way Turnt Up » and « Forever ». Later he announced a mixtape for his album rEVOLVEr called prEVOLVEr. the mixtape released three songs, the first being « Hoes & Ladies » which featured Lil Wayne and Field Mob’s Smoke. The other two songs released were contest songs. The contest songs where meant for anyone willing to get on the track and who ever lays down the best verse will feature on the track and the actual album. The first contest song was called « Motivated » which was a rap song and the second song was an R&B song for the singer, called « Merry Christmas. » B. Martin of Albany, NY won the competition and will be featured on the mixtape. « T-Mixes » were made, which are T-Pain’s remixes to some 2010 hit songs. The released remixes were « No Hands », « Black & Yellow », « Loving You No More », « Make It Rain » and « Like a G6 ». Two out of the five T-Mixes were made into the official remixes. They were « Black & Yellow » by Wiz Khalifa and featured him with Snoop Dogg & Juicy J. The other T-Mix that was made into an official remix was « Loving You No More » by Dirty Money, which originally featuredDrake, but the remix features T-Pain and rapper Gucci Mane.
T-Pain was featured on the hit single « All I Do Is Win » by DJ Khaled, along with the remix. He featured on Wisin & Yandel’s single « Imaginate » & Bun B’s single « Trillionaire. » In the last two quarters of 2010, he was featured on hit singles like Pitbull’s « Hey Baby (Drop It To The Floor) » and Nelly’s « Move That Body. » He was also featured on another single by Wisin & Yandel along with rapper 50 Cent called « No Dejemos Que Se Apague. » The last two single’s T-Pain were featured on in 2010 were the official Remixes to Black & Yellow by rapper Wiz Khalifa & Loving You No More.
T-Pain was featured on the first single by DJ Khaled called « Welcome To My Hood » off his new album We the Best Forever. The song featured him along with Rick Ross, Plies, & Lil Wayne. He is also expected to be featured on albums such as Drake’s Take Care, Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter IV, Tech N9ne’s All 6s and 7s, and many more. A new toy called « iAm T-Pain Microphone » will make its way to stores everywhere in 2011, at the price of $39.99. T-Pain is featured on a single called Electroman which is by house artist Benny Benassi. In January, JRandall released a single, « Can’t Sleep », featuring T-Pain. On March 22, 2011 the next single from RevolveR will be released titled « Best Love Song » and features American singer Chris Brown. On his Twitter he stated that he would release his prEVOLVEr mixtape when he gets 500,000 followers and release his album rEVOLVEr when he gets 1,000,000 followers. Also in 2011, he gave another cameo to an Adult Swim show; this time, he appeared on the sixth-season premiere of Squidbillies, performing a version of the theme song in addition to the original song « (I Like) Drivin’ In My Truck » with Unknown Hinson.
On October 7, RCA Music Group announced it was disbanding Jive Records along with Arista Records and J Records. With the shutdown, T-Pain (and all other artists previously signed to these three labels) will release his future material (including RevolveЯ) on the RCA Recordsbrand.
The album rEVOLVEr was eventually released in December 2011, alongside the transatlantic Top 10 single ‘5 O’Clock’, which samples U.K. songstress Lily Allen and features Wiz Khalifa.
2013-present: Stoicville: The Phoenix
On April 1, 2013 after the announcement of T-Pain cutting off his signature dreads, he announced the title of his fifth studio album entitledStoicville: The Phoenix stating, « To me, a Phoenix represents new beginnings. A new era, a new life, I’m rising from the ashes. » The first song off of Stoicville, « Up Down (Do This All Day) », produced by DJ Mustard and featuring B.o.B was officially released on August 13.
Source: Wikipedia
