T-Pain | Interview (2006)

Josiah (U B G): Is it true that you recorded a song with Nivea called ‘Ask for it?’
T-Pain: Yeah. Basically it’s just a track talking about anything that you want or need, just ask for it. The song will appear on my album.

Josiah (U B G): What is your favorite memory of being an R&B artist so far?
T-Pain: I did a show in South Carolina and I got chased by girls.

Josiah (U B G): That’s always a good thing.
T-Pain: Very good!

Josiah (U B G): What can we expect from your upcoming debut album?
T-Pain: A lot of versatility, true stories and something to relate to. Not just a universal relation, not a ghetto relation either but something everyone can relate to.

Josiah (U B G): Who are some of the producers that worked on the album?
T-Pain: Me.

Josiah (U B G): Wow, so you produced the entire album.
T-Pain: Yeah. (Laughing)

Josiah (U B G): It’s interesting because after checking the credits on Charlie Wilson’s album, I saw that you produced a track on there. That was shocking because who would have known that you were also a producer.
T-Pain: Yeah, no one really knows that yet (Laughing). Well, I guess they know now.

Josiah (U B G): How was it working with Charlie?
T-Pain: That was crazy. I never thought I was going to meet him. That was just a really good experience. He’s a very talented guy.

Josiah (U B G): I know Nivea makes a guest appearance on the album. Any other artist making appearances?
T-Pain: Right now I got Bone Crusher, Styles P., and Akon.

Josiah (U B G): How do you feel about R&B tracks today needing the assistance of 16 bars from a rap artist?
T-Pain: I mean, it’s like a Remix. If you would have done it right the first time you wouldn’t need a remix. Sometimes you need help and sometimes you don’t need it. It depends on the vibe of the song. I think it’s just interesting when R&B and Hip-Hop come together, but not all the time.

Josiah (U B G): So would you say that your album is a straight up R&B record?
T-Pain: Yeah basically, but it’s going to have some Hip-Hop on it.

Josiah (U B G): What made you decide to go by the nickname "T-Pain" rather than by your birth name?
T-Pain: Basically, it’s just two different people. T-Pain is the music lover. T-pain, he’s the person that went through all of this to get to where he is.

Josiah (U B G): How did you get signed to Akon’s label?
T-Pain: He called me. He found my cell phone number somewhere. I don’t know how he did that. But he called me on my cell phone. I thought somebody was playing. He called me and was like “I wanna sign you.” So we went through all the paper work and now I’m signed with Konvict.

Josiah (U B G): I heard you took the beat from “Locked Up” and sung over the track?
T-Pain: Yeah, at the time I was doing a “Jacking for beats” CD. Just something to put underground on the streets. The song got out and I guess it got all the way up to Atlanta and he (Akon) called me and it was a wrap.

Josiah (U B G): How did you make the transition from rapping to singing?
T-Pain: I think it was when I stopped caring about what people was thinking about me. It was a slight transition because I was already singing hooks for my rap group. So it wasn’t like a major change, I was already singing. But I started to seriously sing after the group. It would be like sometimes while performing with my group, I wouldn’t wanna sing after everybody’s already heard me rap. I didn’t wanna have to hear what people would have to say but I stopped caring about that.

Josiah (U B G): I heard you came up with the term “Hard & B.”
T-Pain: That just explains me. It’s just a more truthful, soulful R&B. Not the “take your body and all that crap” (Laughing).

Josiah (U B G): Will you ever work with your old group Nappy Headz again?
T-Pain: Yeah, I’m still with them and I’m signing them to my new label Nappy Boy Entertainment. They’re going to be on that label. They also make an appearance on the album.

Josiah (U B G): Will the song “Time to Make Love” appear on your debut album?
T-Pain: It could. We’re actually working on that now. We just did a new version with Field Mob on it.

Josiah (U B G): Tell the fans about the irony of the song “I’m Sprung” and how you are married to the woman you were talking about in the song.
T-Pain: Yeah that was crazy! I don’t know how that happened. I can’t even really explain it. It just happened.

Josiah (U B G): Were ya’ll high school sweet-hearts or something?
T-Pain: Naw, we got married like 8 months after we met each other.

Josiah (U B G): How excited are you about the success of your single, “I’m Sprung?” It’s a hit down South and will hopefully gain rotation over here on the East Coast.
T-Pain: Right. I’m not really excited, excited. You know how when it’s your Birthday is just feels like another day. That’s how I feel right now.

Josiah (U B G): Which female artist would you love to work with?
T-Pain: Wow, that’s a hard question. Umm, I don’t know. That’s kind of hard to say. I would like to work with Ciara because she can dance and I like dancing now.

Josiah (U B G): If you had to choose three music artists to tour with, whom would you pick and why?
T-Pain: Cee-Lo, Andre 3000 and Devin the Dude.

Josiah (U B G): That would be a hot tour. I hope if they read this ya’ll decide to make that happen.
Josiah (U B G): Does T-pain have any hidden talents that no one knows about?
T-Pain: I write and produce all of my stuff.

Josiah (U B G): Have you produced or written anything for anyone lately?
T-Pain: Yeah, I just did a track for 3LW. I did a hook for Juvenile, Young Bloodz, Akon and Trillville.

Josiah (U B G): Any last words for your fans?
T-Pain: Yep, watch out for the Nappy Headz.