Featured Artist: TPain

"Broke up with my girl last night so I went to the club (so I went to the club)Put on a fresh white suit and a Minicos sitting on dubs (sitting on dubs)

I’m just looking for somebody to talk to and show me some love (show me some love)If you know what I mean… Uh-Huh…"

-TPain in "Bartender"

Bartender is one of the first TPain songs I learned and I love it! Something about his smooth, melodic style. His street name is actually "Tallahassee Pain" taken in part because he grew up in Tallahassee, Florida. The other part taken in rememberance of the hardships he triumphed through while living there. Later, as his career grew it became shortened to just "TPain". He was born in 1985, according the Wikipedia. Can you believe he is only 24? He has accompolished so much already I would have guessed he was at least Kanye West's age. (He's not old either) Tpain actually started out with intentions of being a rapper. But as his style progressed and oppurtunities began to find him he found himself singing more and more. Thus, you find, his first album was titled "Rappa Ternt Sanga" We are glad for this turn in destiny. TPain has contributed much to the world of Hip/Hop through his singing and producing. Here I recount just a brief snapshot of his budding career. Wonder what's next?

He has been producing music since age ten when he re vamped his bedroom with a keyboard, beat machine and four-track recorder. He has already dropped three full albums and collaborated with various industry big names since 2005. His albums are Rappa Ternt Sanga, Epiphany, and Thr33 Ringz.

From his first albm you'll remember the hit "I'm N Luv (Wit A Stripper)". On his sophmore album we get "Bartender". With his third album comes the shining hits of "Can't Believe It" with Lil Wayne and "Chopped & Skrewed" with Ludacris.

He has been featured already, in the last year alone, on songs with Rick Ross, 2 Pistols, Ciara, and Ace Hood.

His appearances so far include Jimmy Kimmel Live and Saturday Night Live.

TPain had a Grammy under his belt by age 23 for the song "Good Life" (Along with Kanye West on Mr West's Graduation album)

That's the skinny on TPain. He is not even a quarter of a century but hasn't wasted anytime making music and an international name for himself. Keep you ears auto-tuned for more great things from this artist.

Featured Song: Street Lights

Here is a song of vibrant optomism. it envokes in me a sense of awe at the vast expanse of my future lying ahead of me. At the same time there's this brievity of fleeting oppurtunites that taunt me in every turn I make. Do I still have time to grow? Every once in a while I have to stop and ask myself this too. Here, Mr West has so poetically and with his signature, raw, keen persepective put down in song this introspective question that haunts some of us still. As you read the lyrics or listen to the song, what feelings does it evoke in you? Feel free to leave them as comments here.

Streetlights by Kanye West:
"Let me know, do i still got time to grow

Things aint always set in stone, with that being, let me know

let me

Seems like streetlights glowing happen to be just like moments passing,

in front of me

so I hopped in, the cab and I paid my fair,

See I know my, destinationbut I'm just not there

all the street lights glowing happened to be just like moments

passing, in front of me

soi hopped in, the cab and i paid my fair,

seei know my, destinationbut

im just not there in the streetsin the streets

im just not there in the streets

im just no there

life's just not fair."

Featured Rapper: K'aan

"I think a lot of it has to do with marketing groups, statistics—what works and what doesn't. If peace began to sell, that would be the norm. But right now the consumer is getting really smart. Extreme exposure no longer equals selling records, which I think is a very good scenario for music. Not so much for record labels." - K'aan on why mainstream rap is often violent


"Born in Mogadishu, Somalia, K'naan spent his childhood in the district of Wardhiigleey ("The Lake of Blood") during the Somali Civil War, which began in 1991. His aunt, Magool, was one of Somalia's most famous singers. K'naan's grandfather, Haji Mohamed, is a poet. K'naan is also a Muslim. His name, K'naan, means "traveller" in the Somali language."- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K'naan
I recently stumbled upon this up-coming rapper from Africa. His is a messege of generosity, freedom, and peace. I would love to see kindred artist to K'aan stand up and be heard in mainstream hip/hop cutlure more. K'aan is a true 'hood survivor if there ever was one. In his recent interview on www.motherjones.com he talks of regularly running with friends from gunmen at the age of nine. His early influnces include Eric B. & Rakim. He now lives in Canada after fleeing his home country with family at age 13. He now tours North America with artist like the Marely Brothers. His sophmore albuum is titled "Troubadour" and futures earthy, rythmic ecos of his motherland, Somali. Read the article by MJ @ http://www.motherjones.com/media/2009/02/straight-outta-mogadishu and snatch up some of his tracks from itunes today! Support the future leaders of hip/hop. Artist like this are true voices for their generation , speaking out tirelessly agianst the poverty, crime, and injustice his native land still struggles in today.