By Karu F. Daniels, AOL Black Voices
T-Pain has to be a pain in Rihanna's ass.
He didn't get a glitzy media roll-out last week (which included performances on 'The TODAY Show') and isn't spokesperson for one of the most famous brands in the world (CoverGirl cosmetics). Yet he still sold more records than anyone the first week out -- including the Bajan beauty.
The Tallahassee-reared hip-hop soul crooner's latest album 'Epiphany' at the #1 spot on 'Billboard's' Top 200 and R&B Album charts, while the hit single "Buy U A Drank (Shawty Snappin')," continues to top the R&B/Hip-Hop and airplay charts.
Though Rihanna's infectious pop-rock romp of a first single is titled 'Umbrella,' T-Pain still rained on her parade -- pushing 171,126 units.
'Good Girl Gone Bad,' Rihanna's third release (in two years), sold 162,488 copies its first week out. Although she's never debuted in the top spot, her music does sell well in the U.S. and internationally.
And as one of music's rapidly rising and omnipresent stars, T-Pain took over the reins as producer, writer and arranger and enlisted artists such as Akon- who discovered and signed him to his Konvict Muzik label, and Yung Joc on this new project.
Early rave reviews have already started pouring in for the sophomore opus: 'Rolling Stone' magazine gave it three stars and exclaimed "'Epiphany' should be lighting up both bedrooms and the clubs." 'The Washington Post' raved, noting that "...T-Pain's best cuts evoke the dripping grooves of Zapp, the breakneck beats of Baltimore club music, even the punk-funk of Fishbone." And 'The New York Times' proclaimed "... his thumping beats are the secret behind his success."
According to his spokesperson, T-Pain has been crisscrossing the country producing and collaborating for a wide and varied list of mega-artists that include Usher, Britney Spears, R. Kelly, Chris Brown and Busta Rhymes.
His follow-up single 'Bartender' featuring Akon is rapidly moving up the charts as well.
Don't be surprised if you see him on a major tour this summer.
BV Extras:
Celebrate Black Music Month with Black Voices
Watch Rihanna do 'Umbrella' live ...
Comments: (10)
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By: Ayesha on 6/14/2007 10:52PM
Congratulations T Pain and Thanks for representing Tallahassee the way you do...we LOVE YOU, keep up the good work!!
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By: Andrea on 6/15/2007 8:06PM
T-PAIN Do your THANG BABY!!!!! I Have to hear "Bartender" everyday the rest of the album is banging as well and you touched on some real issues that alot folks don't want to or like to talk about (HIV) and I give you mad props for that.I think I can speak for alot of my Floridians when I say WE DAMN GLAD WE GOT YOU!!!KEEP IT MOVIN!!! GIVE EM' THE BUSINESS FLORIDA STYLE T PAIN!!!!!!!!!
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By: LISHA on 6/15/2007 8:08PM
I LOVE T PAIN HE MAKES GOOD MUSIC AND CAN REALLY SING. HE CAN BUY ME A DRANK ANYTIME. ITS NOT SUPRISING HES OUT SELLING RIHANNA SHE CANT SING ANYWAY, IM SURE EVERYONE SAW THAT ON THE MTV AWARDS.
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By: dice on 6/16/2007 2:57AM
if tpain came in #1 why are you showing rihannas video. shes wick wick wack to me!!!
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By: Andrea on 6/16/2007 5:56PM
I find it quite disrespectful and very offensive that someone would come to this blog and try to market their business when this is to show your love for T-PAIN and his success. I don't know if it's just my Florida pride and always and forever more showing love for my people from Florida that made it,but I truly just find it very DAM disrespectful to use this Blog for advertising your business and further more if you from Florida what you really should be doing is showing your boy some LOVE for REPRESENTIN!!! as we say in Florida or any where us TIGHTEN UP!!!
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By: Kamiah on 6/18/2007 9:53AM
Ok i see ya mr teddy p but im glad to see ya boi duin big thangs reppin our hometown 850 ya digg but since u tha current tallyho hero ya Gurl Kamiah 850zNextHero! lol but yeah keep up the good work Im Next tho lol
Kamiah:"850zNexHero!"
~SupahModel~
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By: Essence-Marie on 6/18/2007 12:28PM
T-Pain been on top of S... this year! Everytime I turn around I hear his voice, but he has became one of my favorite artists this year! T-Pain's album is off the chain!
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By: stephanie on 6/18/2007 1:50PM
ok on a real dat boy T-PAIN is doin the damn thang I love that album he really did touch on some tough topics that no one else really cares to elaborate on.like ole girl said he can buy me a drank anytime. I LOVE ME SOME T-PAIN, baby keep doin yo thang.
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By: Miss Lady on 6/18/2007 1:58PM
There's no doubt that T-Pain is talented. But all he sings about is sex. Can we hear something with substance for once?
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By: Chris Hollis on 7/04/2007 3:28PM
T-Pain is one of the most charismatic and creative acts that I've heard from in a very long time which explains his current sizzling success. Personally, there is a Zapp and (if you can believe it) a Stevie Wonder flavor to the sound and beats (along with I presume the shades and hair style}. However, some of the lyrics are too sexually explicit. 'Sounds Bad' and 'Tipsy' are also smokin' jams on the cd that I hope in the future will receive the radio/video play that it deserves.
MadChapBop
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