T-Pain, born Faheem Rashad Najm, is a renowned American singer and rapper known for creatively using Auto-Tune to produce distinctive, electronically altered vocals. His innovative approach blended R&B and hip-hop, influencing many artists in the 2000s. Today, artists like Lil Wayne, Kanye West, Future, and Travis Scott continue to draw inspiration from T-Pain’s use of Auto-Tune to sing.
| Birth name | Faheem Rashad Najm[1] |
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| Also known as |
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| Born | September 30, 1984 Tallahassee, Florida, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1999–present |
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| Spouse |
Amber
(m. 2003) |
| Children | 3 |
| Website | tpain.com |
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T-Pain’s music career took off after joining Akon’s Konvict Muzik label. His debut single “I’m Sprung” (2005) became a huge hit, reaching No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. Follow-up single “I’m ‘n Luv (wit a Stripper)” featuring Mike Jones also did well. His debut album Rappa Ternt Sanga (2005) launched his career. Subsequent albums Epiphany (2007) and Three Ringz (2008) solidified his success with hits like “Buy U a Drank” and “Can’t Believe It”. Later albums Revolver (2011) and Oblivion (2017) continued his output, though with varying degrees of success.
T-Pain’s guest appearances on hits like “Low” by Flo Rida and “Good Life” by Kanye West further boosted his career. He featured on nine top-ten singles, including two chart-toppers: “Kiss Kiss” with Chris Brown and “Low” with Flo Rida. “Low” was a massive success, earning diamond certification and ranking among the decade’s top songs. T-Pain’s collaborations also earned him Grammy wins for “Good Life” and “Blame It”. Beyond his music, T-Pain founded Nappy Boy Entertainment, signed artists like Travie McCoy, and explored voice acting in films and TV shows.
T-Pain’s guest appearances on hits like “Low” by Flo Rida and “Good Life” by Kanye West further boosted his career. He featured on nine top-ten singles, including two chart-toppers: “Kiss Kiss” with Chris Brown and “Low” with Flo Rida. “Low” was a massive success, earning diamond certification and ranking among the decade’s top songs. T-Pain’s collaborations also earned him Grammy wins for “Good Life” and “Blame It”. Beyond his music, T-Pain founded Nappy Boy Entertainment, signed artists like Travie McCoy, and explored voice acting in films and TV shows.
T-Pain has been married to Amber since 2003 and they have three kids together: Lyriq, Muziq, and Kaydnz Kodah. Beyond his personal life, T-Pain has faced challenges, including a 2009 golf cart accident that left him with injuries and missing teeth. He made a quick recovery and returned to performing. In 2013, he cut off his iconic dreadlocks, embracing change and reinvention. Tragedy struck in 2016 when his niece, Javona Glover, was fatally stabbed in a Walgreens store. T-Pain’s also an avid gamer, building a large following on Twitch with 1 million followers as of 2025. He’s friends with streamer Cr1TiKaL and has appeared in his streams, even standing in for him once. T-Pain’s known for his tattoos, some of which reference internet memes and online culture.
T-Pain’s music career began with the rap group Nappy Headz in 1999. He was discovered by Chase Entertainment’s Rocco and Mike Blumstein, who signed him to a record deal. T-Pain’s stage name reflects his hometown struggles in Tallahassee. After releasing his debut mixtape “Back @ It” in 2004, Akon discovered T-Pain’s cover of “Locked Up” and offered him a deal with Konvict Muzik, promising mentorship. T-Pain’s debut album “Rappa Ternt Sanga” (2005) went gold, with hits like “I’m Sprung” and “I’m ‘n Luv (wit a Stripper)” featuring Mike Jones.
2007, Favorite Male Artist (Nominated)
T-Pain’s BET Award nominations and wins include:
– 2008: Won Best Collaboration for “Good Life” with Kanye West
– 2009: Won Best Collaboration for “Blame It” with Jamie Foxx
He was also nominated for various other BET Awards, including Best Male R&B Artist, Viewer’s Choice, and multiple Best Collaboration categories.
BET Hip Hop Awards nominations include:
– 2008: Won Best Hip-Hop Video for “Good Life” with Kanye West
Year
Nominee / work
Award
Result
2008
“Bartender” (featuring Akon)
Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals
Nominated
“Good Life” (with Kanye West)
Best Rap Song
Won
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
Nominated
“Kiss Kiss” (with Chris Brown)
Nominated
2009
“Got Money” (with Lil Wayne)
Nominated
“Low” (with Flo Rida)
Nominated
Best Rap Song
Nominated
Tha Carter III (as featured artist & producer)
Album of the Year
Nominated
2010
“I’m on a Boat” (with The Lonely Island)
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
Nominated
“Blame It” (with Jamie Foxx)
Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals
Won
Best R&B Song
Nominated
Three Ringz
Best Contemporary R&B Album
Nominated
