Thr33 Ringz (Konvict/Jive)
We should probably get this out of the way first: T-Pain covers the 1996 Eric Clapton and Babyface smash duet “Change The World” on his third album. The remake/reinvention—fitted with schmaltz strings, acoustic guitar and a maudlin intro by Diddy—is probably the single funniest thing on an album that also includes a song called “Long Lap Dance” and another called “Phantom” that features the chorus, “I’m the phantom in your opera.” And though it’s not meant to be funny, Akon does at one point sing the lyric, “I’d turn every bullet into a Hershey’s kiss/and we could eat away our fears.” Why the re-titled “Change” appears on this set is anyone’s guess, but one assumes that T-Pain really, really likes the song. And that says more about how unmanaged and wonderfully strange T-Pain is and how inspiring his rise to fame has been than anything else. This is an artist—buoyed by more than a dozen Billboard Top 10 pop hits—with no boundaries.
Even more than last year’s Epiphany (Konvict/Jive), Thr33 Ringz—written and produced almost entirely by Pain—is a collection of curios and goofs; odd ideas for songs that may or may not have anything to do with its touted circus theme. “Therapy,” a collaboration with Kanye West, is essentially a vent, an I can’t deal with your foolishness, woman diatribe. “Reality Show,” featuring Musiq Soulchild, Raheem Devaughn and Jay Lyriq, is self-serious crooning and a subgenre shell game—watch Musiq get raunchy! The titanically composed “Karaoke” is a rapped rebuke to imitators and acknowledgement of forbearers Roger Troutman and Teddy Riley. Even hit single “Can’t Believe It” is irreverent; rather than recreate the slam-bang pop hysteria of Lil Wayne’s “Got Money,” T-Wayne have made a soft, simple, devoted love song. Whether its about strippers or not is immaterial. Just as he did on 2005’s revelatory “I’m Sprung,” T-Pain proves himself a sucker for love. Only “Ringleader Man” directly references the Barnum & Bailey-style concept, and even then the line is thin.
T-Pain, unlike when he collaborates with, say, Ludacris for his new single, can do what he wants with his own albums because his mode of operation is rooted in melody. If he wrote it, you’ll hum it. Even when veering wildly away from good sense—and “Change” is hardly a sensical move—there’s an unwitting pop hit right around the bend. It’s a joy that raises a question: If every artist worked with the same unself-conscious glee as T-Pain would new music sound less market-tested? It’s hard to say: Market-testing says T-Pain sells.
Thr33 Ringz hit stores on 11/11/08
Thr33 Ringz Track Listing1. Welcome To Thr33 Ringz
2. Ringleader Man
3. Chopped N Skrewed T-Pain featuring Ludacris
4. Take A Ride Skit
5. Freeze T-Pain featuring Chris Brown
6. Blowing Up T-Pain featuring Ciara
7. Can't Believe It T-Pain Featuring Lil Wayne
8. It Ain't Me T-Pain featuring Akon & T.I.
9. Feed The Lions Skit
10. Therapy Skit T-Pain featuring Kanye West
11. Long Lap Dance
12. Reality Show T-Pain featuring Musiq Soulchild, Raheem DeVaughn & Jay Lyriq
13. Keep Going
14. Superstar Lady T-Pain featuring Young Cash
15. Change T-Pain featuring Akon, Diddy & Mary J. Blige
16. Karaoke T-Pain featuring DJ Khaled
17. Distorted
18. Sweet
19. Bad Side
20. Phantom
home