T-Pain: Talking Pain
October 2005
Akon noticed his talent through hearing an ode to a track of his that T-Pain had made. It became successful and as a result, Akon signed him.
T-Pain is scheduled to release his debut album "Rappa Ternt Sanga" later this year featuring the singles "I'm Sprung" and "In Love With A Stripper."
MVRemix: Why the name T-Pain a.k.a. Talahasse Pain?
T-Pain: It just explains me; it explains where I'm coming from.
MVRemix: It's obvious from "I'm Sprung" that you're influenced by Roger Troutman. Who else influenced your tastes growing up?
T-Pain: Cee-Lo from Goodie Mob. Devin The Dude... Andre 3000.
MVRemix: How did the initial Jive signing arise?
T-Pain: Akon and T.J. Chapman from Talahasse.
MVRemix: And how did you and Akon meet and become friends?
T-Pain: He called me and blah, blah, blah, we talked and you know the usual, that was the hook up.
MVRemix: Tell me about "Rappa Ternt Sanga."
T-Pain: It was my transition from rapping to singing. It was a simple thing, I just stopped caring about what people thought about me and I did what I did.
MVRemix: Can you tell me about guests or producers on the album?
T-Pain: Well I basically produced the whole album. I produced and wrote the whole thing and features - I got Bonecrusher, Styles P, Akon and I'm working on some other people and... [pauses] It should be pretty good.
MVRemix: How did you first begin and learn to produce?
T-Pain: My dad was a producer. I started learning when I was about eight. It just came up from that.
MVRemix: What equipment do you use?
T-Pain: I mean, you know, we got to different studios and they have different stuff.
MVRemix: Is there anything you prefer above other machines?
T-Pain: Just give me an MPC and I'm cool.
MVRemix: Was "In Love With A Stripper" based on a real life experience?
T-Pain: Yes, all my music is based on real experiences so everything on my album is true. [chuckles]
MVRemix: Why did you choose to label your music Hard & B as opposed to R&B?
T-Pain: Hard & B is a more real and not so subtle R&B.
MVRemix: In an interview I did with The O'Jays, they criticized younger R&B singers for their lack of sincerity and emotion attached to their material through their age and a lack of experience. What are your thoughts about those statements?
T-Pain: They suck. [laughs] You know... it... It sucks.
MVRemix: In your opinion, is an artist credible even if they only thrive in the studio with technology?
T-Pain: Yes, they're very credible because even if they can't sing - the person that can't sing may have the best ideas for a song. And just because they can't sing that person may not get a deal or a chance. That really sucks to me.
MVRemix: I've heard a lot about your live show, can you tell me a bit about it?
T-Pain: You know, just the usual. The hood, the ghetto growin' up in the streets.
MVRemix: Is there anything in your live show that you think other artists may not have?
T-Pain: Not really. I mean it's just pretty much... I don't have no spectacular thing or nothin' like that.
MVRemix: A la "Fight Club," "If you could fight any celebrity, who would you fight?"
T-Pain: [ponders] I would fight... Jeez... who would I fight? I don't know. I think I'd fight Flava Flav.
MVRemix: Do you reckon you'd win?
T-Pain: Maybe not, I just wanna see how he fights.
MVRemix: What are your thoughts on the way the US Government has dealt with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina?
T-Pain: They're sucking. They really suck. I don't like that at all. [awkwardly chuckles]
MVRemix: Aside from the album, what else have you been working on? Guest appearances, compilations etc.
T-Pain: I've been writing and producing for other artists, I've been appearing on other people's albums and that kind of stuff and other people's videos and that kind of stuff.
MVRemix: You edited and directed your "Fucked Up" video. Do you have any plans of doing any more visual work?
T-Pain: No myself now that I see how a real professional video looks. I don't think I'm gonna do it myself anymore.
MVRemix: Any last words for your fans or potential fans that are gonna be reading this?
T-Pain: Uh... thanks for the support.
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