Tallahassee-based MC and vocalist T-Pain (born Faheem Najm) came up in a rap group called Nappy Headz but went pro as a solo R&B artist after he recorded I'm F**ked Up, a personal take on Akon's Top Ten hit Locked Up. The rapper was just a 19-year-old when Akon heard T-Pain's voice and realized there was more depth to the version than the title implied, he got in contact with "rappa ternt sanga" (who also produces and writes) and signed him to his Jive-distributed Kovict Muzik label. Produced and written mostly by T-Pain, Rappa Ternt Sanga was released in December 2005, led by the Top 20 single I'm Sprung. T-Pain has a unique singing style that almost sounds like rapping at times. It would be safe to say that T-Pain can be considered the modern day Roger Troutman of hip-hop and R&B. He blends his voices with electronic enhancements to create a unique sound. Rappa Ternt Sanga, beyond containing a few strong tracks with plenty of range between them, shows promise. T-Pain has a seductive vocal style (he does sound somewhat similar to his mentor), plenty of effective hooks, and strong productions.
The first single, I'm Sprung is a catchy tune about the crazy that love, not lust, will make you do. T-Pain built the song from experience as he is now married to the woman that he wrote the song about. I'm Sprung has been followed up by bravely stated I'm In Luv (Wit A Stripper). Here he reveals truthful, and almost embarrassing, feelings for exotic dancers. Houston rapper Mike Jones joins T-Pain on this track. Mike Jones isn't the only rap artist who appears on Rappa Ternt Sanga. The 18-track album includes appearances from Bone Crusher, Styles P, Trick Daddy and Youngbloodz. T-Pain's mentor Akon is featured on tracks U Got Me, and Ur Not The Same. His matchless songwriting skills shine through out the album, showing a rare range and compassion found in younger artists. Mid-tempo tracks like the cathartic Going Through A Lot lead listeners deeper into his musical psyche while the autobiographical Fly Away shares accounts of the relationship he has with his father. You Not the Same finds T-Pain pleading for a love interest to revisit the personality that he grew to appreciate.
Who ever coined the phrase "never judge a book by its cover" must have had a premonition about 20-year old singer/songwriter/rapper/producer T-Pain when they thought it up. At a time when image is considered just as important as vocal capability, T-Pain is introducing music fans to a new sound as well as a brand new look for R&B singers. Born to a pair of entrepreneur parents, T-Pain learned how to do things for himself as a youngster. At the tender age of ten he turned his bedroom into a mini sonic sanctuary with a keyboard, beat machine and four-track recorder. That same day he made a beat, rapped over it and he's been doing it ever since. His first foray into music industry was a productive one. He was one-fifth of the rambunctious rap outfit Nappy Headz who enjoyed moderate success in the early 2000's. Being that he is the middle of five children, he had no problem sharing the spotlight. But after the group's flame burned out he dreamed of pushing the envelope and earlier this year he delivered. Disenchanted with the R&B he was hearing on the radio T-Pain flipped the script and started recording his own brand, called Hard & B. While his moniker, short for Tallahassee Pain, was created to represent the struggle of growing up in the oft-overlooked Florida state capitol, the self-admitted fast driver also has fun with his music. Raised to be unapologetic and independent T-Pain is poised to be a threat to status quo of R&B music. Overall, Rappa Ternt Sanga is a solid release from promising newcomer. It's not your typical R&B album. T-Pain has crafted a sound that is all his own.
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