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T-Pain answers his critics with a string of hits
AP Music Writer
CHULA VISTA, Calif.
T-Pain knows that whatever he does — including his latest album, “rEVOLVEr,” which he calls the best record he’s ever done — there will be people who will just dismiss him as that Auto-Tune guy.
It doesn’t bother him though. Though it may be a blow to his ego, he soothes the slams with his ever-hearty laugh — and a glance at his checkbook.
The 27-year-old singer and producer made his debut with songs such as “I’m Sprung” and “I’m N Luv [Wit a Stripper]” in 2005. Those songs started a platinum-chain reaction of hits, including “Buy U a Drank,” “Can’t Believe It” and “Good Life” with Kanye West, which earned him one of his two Grammy Awards.
His reliance on Auto-Tune, the vocal aide that gives a computerized effect to his voice, became his signature sound. Its use grew so ubiquitous with other acts that it sparked a backlash.
Q. Have you ever considered not using Auto-Tune because of all the criticism?
A. No. It made me do it more, just to annoy the hell out of people (laughs). ... It made me realize that when I don’t use it, people don’t pay attention to them songs. I’ve got a song on every album, two songs as a matter of fact on every album without Auto-Tune, and that’s the song that nobody talks about.
Q. How have you grown in dealing with criticism?
A. Most of the blogs and stuff, it’s just their opinion. It’s just that one person. They didn’t ask anybody else how they felt. ... It’s just their opinion, and I can ask anybody that. It doesn’t have to be a journalist. I can just go on Twitter and say, “Hey guys, how did I do tonight?” (Laughs.) That’s what I look to, I look to the people who actually came there for a concert, and not somebody who came there looking for some bad stuff to say, because that’s what makes your blog interesting.
Q. Does this record represent a different T-Pain?
A. It’s a really different T-Pain. It’s a more confident T-Pain on the album, but I’m like scared. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know how this is gonna work out. This album is really good, though. It’s so good that I went back just to listen to all of my other albums, and I was like, I don’t know why I thought people would like that.