Thr33 Ringz [PA]

Performer: T-Pain
Artist: Ludacris; Eddie Griffin; Chris Brown; Ciara; Lil Wayne; Akon; T.I.; Kanye West; Jay Lyriq; Musiq Soulchild; Raheem DeVaughn; Young Cash; Tay Dizm; DJ Khaled
Producer: T-Pain; Akon; Michael Blumstein; Bu Thiam; Rocco Valdes
Distributor: Sony Music Distribution (

Notes: Composer/Lyricist: T-Pain. Arranger: T-Pain. In the year since his number-one second album, EPIPHANY, the celebrated "Rappa Ternt Sanga" has all but solidified his spot as the most prolific guest hook-provider in the hip-hop/R&B world, outpacing both Lil Wayne and label boss Akon. On his bombastic third solo release, THR33 RINGZ, the Florida native does on his own what he does best on others' records, as he lets his unique vocal stylings run wild alongside an impressive guestlist of heavyhitters. Utilizing the vocoder talk-box on virtually every track, T-Pain fluctuates between boastful posturing ("Ringleader Man"), tongue-in-cheek commentary on the trappings of the nightlife (the humorous "Chopped N Skrewed" and "It Ain't Me"), and seductive sweet nothings. On "Can't Believe It," he entices a prospective love-interest with claims that he "could put you in a log cabin somewhere in Aspen" or "in a mansion somewhere in Wis-canson." Kanye West, T.I., Chris Brown, Diddy, Mary J. Blige, and Ludacris are just a few of the big names on hand. Hated on for his over-the-top appearance, his constant use of the electronic Auto-Tune voice filter, plus guest shots on maybe 30-percent of the R&B or hip-hop singles released during the years 2007/2008, T-Pain is the full package in a sidekick's disguise. Like a garish version of his label boss Akon, he's a singer/songwriter/producer who doesn't evolve much over this avalanche of releases and guest shots, but Thr33 Ringz proves he's much more aware of his limitations. First, there's the long guest list here, featuring high-power names like Lil Wayne, T.I., Kanye West, and Akon himself. Then, there's the album's concept, which finds a series of perfectly polished and unsurprising numbers held together by a circus theme, allowing T-Pain to exploit his "Ringleader Man" persona; hyping every act and stunt while pacing the parade for maximum impact. Three tracks in and Ludacris appears on the good-timing "Chopped N Skrewed" where the Southern style of remixing is mimicked with Luda's excellent sense of humor. The futuristic highlight "Blowing Up" finds Ciara seducing T-Pain with quirky references to techno and electronica plus a rock-solid hook. Shame that the ringleader's weird way of rhyming "mansion" and "Wisconsin" is the high point of "Can't Believe It" since guest star Lil Wayne seems on autopilot. Wait 'til the break-up song "Therapy" and you'll get two Wayne-style lines to choose from with T-Pain offering "1234/Get the hell up out my door/5678/I don't need your sex I'll masturbate" while guest Kanye West gives up "You too much pressure doll/You gonna raise my cholesterol." There's no big finish and Akon's dream of turning "every bullet to a Hershey's Kiss" so we can "eat away our fears" is just one example of why "Change" is awful, but this is an otherwise entertaining example of the gimmick-filled R&B/hip-hop album done right. ~ David Jeffries

Rolling Stone (p.90) - 3.5 stars out of 5 -- "THR33 RINGZ shows what sets T-Pain apart. He's an inventive producer, enveloping radio-friendly hooks in Auto-Tune wackiness." Entertainment Weekly (p.72) - "T-Pain winds up with 'Keep Going,' a plodding ballad that proves he can record without any noticeable electronic crutches." Blender (Magazine) (p.82) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[H]e has kept his sound fresh with a bottomless bag of hooks and a grainy rasp that the computers can't buff away."

The chief purveyor of "hard & B," Tallahassee native T-Pain embarked on a solo career in the mid 2000s after leaving local rap group Nappy Headz. The multi-talented songwriter/rapper/singer signed to Akon's Konvict label, and released a string of hit singles that offered a hard-edged, synth-driven update on New Jack Swing's mix of hip-hop and R&B. T-Pain has collaborated with a slew of the biggest names in rap and R&B including Chris Brown, E-40, R. Kelly, Paul Wall, Trick Daddy, T.I., and Kanye West. He released his second full-length, EPIPHANY, on Konvict during the summer of 2007.

Click Here for Shipping Options and Policies

Shipping or Dimension weight in pounds: 0.5