After weeks of speculating over which international acts will be performing, for the generally vibrant Montego Bay crowd; Grammy winning Hip-Hop entertainer T-Pain has been added to the versatile lineup for Reggae Sumfest 2008. T-Pain is scheduled to co-headline the final night of the festival along with the internationally recognised reggae legend, Beres Hammond.
Tired of the generic sound of music played constantly on the radio, T-Pain was inspired to create an album that would combine the likes of both Hip-Hop and R&B; the result, the smash hit singles “I’m Sprung” and the lyrically creative track “I’m In Love with a Stripper”. Released from the album “Rappa Ternt Sanga”, I’m Sprung” peaked at number eight on the Billboard Top 100 Charts, helping the newly acclaimed solo artist sell over 800,000 copies of his work. The track’s remix with Vybz Kartel boosted his airplay status in Jamaica and left many youngsters wanting more. Since then, T-Pain has done everything but fallen off the music scene, appearing on a number of chart topping hits including his Grammy winning collaboration with Rapper Kanye West entitled “Good Life”.
In 2007, fans would get the opportunity to hear some of T-Pain’s personal work with the release of the album “Epiphany”. By maintaining the same Hip-Hop inspired beats as his freshman album, T-Pain was able to win the public over once again with the club banging hits “Buy You a Drink” and “Bartender” featuring Senegalese superstar Akon. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard Charts topping Rihanna’s “Good Girl Gone Bad”, which was also released on the same date.
Fast forward to 2008, now a platinum selling artiste, T-Pain has hit a career high, tying with comrade Lil Wayne for being the first Hip-Hop artists to have been featured in the most songs on the Billboard Charts in a single week. So far the year has proven to belong to both T-Pain and fellow Sumfest act Lil Wayne, which may suggest why they’ve decided to collaborate on an album together. Lately, T-Pain’s tunes have taken over radio stations world-wide, making it impossible to escape the hit maker. He has managed to produce more chart topping hits in a four year period than many artists have been able to in an entire lifetime. Making him without a doubt one of the most anticipated acts for Reggae Sumfest 2008.
