Pain From Tallahassee to Music Stardom

T-Pain

Faheem Rashad Najm was born September 30, 1985, better known by his stage name T-Pain, he is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer.  His stage name is short for "Tallahassee Pain", and was chosen because of the hardships he experienced while living there. At just three years old he got his first taste of the music business when a friend of the family, gospel jazz artist/producer Ben Tankard, allowed him to spend time and "twist the knobs" at his recording studio. At age ten, Najm turned his bedroom into a music studio, using a keyboard, a beat machine and a four-track recorder.T-Pain joined the rap group Nappy Headz in 2004 and later recorded "I'm F**ked Up", a cover version of Akon's single "Locked Up". Recording artist Akon heard the song and immediately signed T-Pain to Konvict Muzik, his label. After being discovered, T-Pain began singing instead of rapping. T-Pain subsequently recorded and released his debut album, Rappa Ternt Sanga, on December 6, 2005. The album reached number thirty-three on the Billboard 200, and has since been certified Gold by the RIAA, for reaching sales of 500,000 units.

In mid-2006, T-Pain began work on his second album, now with the Zomba Label Group as well as Konvict Muzik and Jive Records. The album, titled Epiphany, was released on June 5, 2007. The album sold 171,000 records in its first week, reaching number one on the Billboard 2007. The record has since sold 819,000 records in the United States.

The album was preceded by the lead single "Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin')" featuring Yung Joc in February 2007. The single reached number one on both the Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, becoming his first single to top charts. The album's second single, "Bartender", featuring Akon was released in June 2007 and reached number five on the Hot 100 and number nine on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The third and final single from the album, "Church", was released in October 2007 but failed to chart in the United States.

In 2007, T-Pain began work on his third album with Rocco Valdes, Akon and Lil Wayne. The album was also his first under his Nappy Boy Entertainment.

T-Pain's third studio album, Thr33 Ringz, was released on November 11, 2008.The album sold 168,000 records in its first week, reaching number four on the Billboard 200. A mixtape, Pr33 Ringz, was released in early 2008 before the album.

The album was preceded by three singles. Its lead single, "Can't Believe It", featuring Lil Wayne, was released in July 2008. The single reached number seven on the Hot 100 and number two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The album's second single, "Chopped 'N' Skrewed", featuring Ludacris, was released in September 2008. The single reached number twenty-seven on the Hot 100 and number three on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The third and final single from the album, "Freeze", featuring Chris Brown, was released in October 2008 and reached number thirty-eight on the Hot 100 and number thirty-nine on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Guest appearances on Thr33 Ringz included T.I., Lil Wayne, Ludacris, DJ Khaled, Ciara, Chris Brown and Kanye West among others. Pr33 Ringz was the introduction mixtape for the album.

In 2008, T-Pain continued to appear on numerous rap singles, such as "She Got It" by 2 Pistols, "Go Girl" by Ciara, "The Boss" by Rick Ross, "Cash Flow" by Ace Hood, "Shawty Get Loose" by Lil Mama, "One More Drink" by Ludacris, and "Go Hard" by DJ Khaled with Kanye West. T-Pain and Ludacris collaborated to perform "Chopped 'N' Skrewed" and "One More Drink" on American late-night television programs Jimmy Kimmel Live! on ABC in November 2008 and on NBC's Saturday Night Live in the same month. T-Pain appeared again on SNL in February 2009 (on the episode hosted by Bradley Cooper with musical guest TV on the Radio) in the SNL Digital Short. T-Pain also supported the album in 2009 with his Thr33 Ringz Tour, which included sold out shows across North America. T-Pain and rapper Lil Wayne formed the duo T-Wayne in 2008. The duo released a self-titled mixtape in late 2008; it charted on the Billboard 200 in January 2009. Their debut album was going to be released in 2009, but never was.

He collaborated with country pop singer Taylor Swift for the CMT Music Awards, and performed "Thug Story", a parody of Swift's hit single "Love Story". In an interview with MTV, T-Pain announced that he would release his fourth studio album in November 2009 and that its title was UBER. He stated that although he originally wanted to release the album in the summer of 2010, his label had pushed the release forward. Regardless of these announcements, the album wasn't released in 2009. An iPhone application called "I Am T-Pain" features an auto tuner, allowing fans to record and modify their own voice to accompany an instrumental collection of T-Pain's music. It was released in September 2009. In July 2009, T-Pain endorsed the 2009 T-Pain Killa Cam-Pain, a grassroots effort to help him become elected as president of Florida State University.

In November 2009, T-Pain released the first single from his fourth studio album, "Take Your Shirt Off". The single only managed to reach number eighty on the Hot 100, and was later dubbed a promotional single. Later, in February 2010, he released the official lead single from his fourth studio album, "Reverse Cowgirl", featuring Young Jeezy. He later release an updated version of the song excluding Young Jeezy's verse and adding a new bridge. The single reached number seventy-five on the Hot 100 and number sixty-four on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, becoming a mild hit. The single has since been dubbed a promotional single. T-Pain was later featured on the "We Are the World 25 for Haiti" single in February 2010, which reached number two on the Hot 100. In the fall of 2009, T-Pain began work with Cartoon Network's Adult Swim to produce and star in a television animated musical special based on Freaknik. Freaknik: The Musical aired on March 7, 2010.

In June 2010, T-Pain confirmed that his fourth studio album RevolveR has been completed and mastered, but that it will not be released until album sales increase. He elaborated upon this in August 2010, stating that the album probably wouldn't be released until 2011. T-Pain's first feature film, Lottery Ticket, was released on August 20, 2010. In October 2010, T-Pain release his third promotional single, "Rap Song". The song charted poorly, peaking at 89 on the Hot 100.

With 60 hit songs under his belt and two Grammy trophies on his mantle, T-Pain has cemented himself as one of the most influential artists of all time. But even he needed a bit of time to himself to reload. After an eight year run of #1 hits, albums, tours and a plethora of cameo appearances, T-Pain found himself  living a life full of exactly what his name implies.

Upon releasing his 2011 album rEVOLVEr, the “Rappa Ternt Sanga” took an abrupt, but well-deserved, break from the spotlight. But it wasn’t to enjoy his spoils. His non-stop lifestyle was beginning to take a toll on his personal life and it was beginning to affect his creative “I was becoming somebody that I didn’t like,” he says. “I was living an unhappy lifestyle and it started affecting my family. I was hurting and scaring a lot of people.” At the height of his career that included a popular smartphone app and a Super Bowl commercial, T-Pain decided to take a two year hiatus from releasing music. Where that would be a death knell for other artists, it wound up being a second birth for T-Pain. In the fall of 2013 a rejuvenated T-Pain returned with one of his biggest hits to date, the DJ Mustard-produced single “Up Down (We Do This All Day)” featuring B.o.B. After returning to his familiar spot in the top ten of  the charts for 28 straight weeks and counting, he’s continuing the comeback in 2014 going with the club smash “Drankin Patna.”

His fifth album, Stoicville: The Phoenix is scheduled to follow and T-Pain promises that it he’s back to being the artist that he originally intended to be.“I want to be able to say that I put out an album that I believed in and that I liked,” he says. “Every song on the album is something that came out of my heart.” With this refreshed spirit, T-Pain is now spanning the globe on his “I Am T-Pain” tour with dates selling out in the United States, Europe, Australia and all points in between. Where fans will surely recognize the music and appreciate the new energy, they will also see the external changes T-Pain has made as well. He’s lost much of the weight he put on during his down time and he even shaved off his trademarked dreadlocks. “That was one of the hardest things to change about me,” he admits. “But I figured that if I could make that big of a change, everything else would change immediately, and it did.”

With many artists in the marketplace building successful careers borrowing from a sound that T-Pain helped create, it’s only right that he return to claim his throne. Only this time, don’t expect him to take another break, he’s going as hard as ever.

Clarence "Blowfly" Reid: Where It All Began

Clarence "Blowfly" Reid

Publisher’s note: I remember well during the mid to late 1980’s, as I began to work within the Miami music scene, I met many musicians who had enjoyed success. As I introduced myself, several would always ask if I was related to Clarence Reid. Easy assumption because we both shared the same last name, and we both were working in music. By that time though, Clarence “Blowfly” Reid had achieved legendary status not only in Miami but all around the world. He would easily be labeled a trail blazer for the new batch of X-rated rappers soon to burst upon the scene. We lost Blowfly earlier this year in death, but he will never be forgotten. I thought it was time to pay tribute to one of the most influential musicians from the state of Florida. For those of you who know little about “Blowfly”, take this opportunity to read his bio below.

Edward Reid

Before there was Kool Keith, Old Dirty Bastard or 2 Live Crew - before there was hip hop, for that matter - there was Blowfly, performing X-rated songs with a funky groove. Born 60 years ago in Cochran, Georgia, Miami's Clarence Reid has recorded more than 40 albums during his illustrious career. He got his nickname as a child when his grandmother, after hearing him sing dirty versions of then popular songs - like "Suck My D**k" for "Do The Twist" - proclaimed, "You is nastier than a blowfly."

In reality, there's a split personality involved in this man's music: there's Blowfly, the outrageously garbed creator of trash classics such as "Shittin' on the Dock of the Bay" and "Porno Freak," and then there's Clarence Reid, who has recorded more than a dozen "clean" albums over the years and penned songs for the likes of K.C. and the Sunshine Band, Gwen McRae, Betty Wright, and Sam and Dave. Many people cite Blowfly as being the first rapper with his 1965 "Rap Dirty" record, which was re-recorded for disco giants T.K. Records after the smash success of Sugar Hill Gang's "Rapper's Delight." Blowfly himself credits the "soul talking" Southern radio DJs of the '50s and '60s as the pioneers of rap, but he is without dispute the first rapper to have a song banned, after an Alabama record store was busted for peddling "Porno Freak." Blowfly was also sued by the President of ASCAP for his "What a Difference a Lay Makes." (The music publishing honcho also happened to be the composer of the popular "What a Difference a Day Makes.") Blowfly's sounds are a staple of modern-day hip hop. His music has been sampled by many rappers, including The Jurassic 5, (whose hit "Quality Control" is backed by the outro from Weird World Of Blowfly) Ice Cube, Atmosphere and Puff Daddy.

In 1991, Blowfly hooked up with Fishbone and Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist/wild man Flea to record "Shake Your Thang" (clean) b/w "Shake Your Ass" (X-rated), both of which are included on the soundtrack of Blow's legendary film, The Twisted World of Blowfly. The resulting relationship led to a series of shows with Flea and the Fishbone at Club Lingerie in Hollywood, Ca and multiple "Nuttstalk" tours with Fishbone over the next decade. In 2003, Blowfly was interviewed by Miami-based journalist/drummer Tom Bowker for a cover story in the Broward-Palm Beach New Times. When asked why he hadn't played a Miami area gig in 20 years, he replied "I don't have a band down here." To which Bowker replied "Want one?" Two months later, Blowfly's new band played Bowker's bachelor party and never looked back. In 2004, Bowker and his fellow bandmates -- keyboard player Mr. Lock (ex-everything for the Otis Redding progeny funk combo The Reddings), guitarist Chris Chavez and bassist Jon-Jon (now replaced by Rob Sherber) -- teamed up to record Fahrenheit 69, Blowfly's first album dedicated to new, original material since 1988's Blowfly for President. When word got out that Blowfly was recording a new record, guest artists lined up to get in on the freaky fun, including: Afroman (of "Because I Got High" fame) Slug (MC for Epitaph/Rhymesayers rap sensations Atmosphere), and Bay Area Electroclash freaks Gravy Train!!!! (Kill Rock Stars). After more having more flirtations than a Hollywood Starlet, Fahrenheit 69 was picked up by longtime fan and punk icon Jello Biafra and released to rave reviews on his Alternative Tentacles label in June 2005.

Since then, Blowfly has toured coast to coast in the US on his first headlining tour in decades, blowing the roof off of clubs and landing on festival bills with the likes of Har Mar Superstar, The Ravonettes, Dash Rip Rock, Rudy Ray Moore, Link Wray, Yo La Tengo, Kool Keith, Fatlip and RJD2 among others.

Over the years, Blowfly's seen a lot of his contemporaries fall by the way side. His survival can partially be credited to the fact that while Blowfly is totally whacked in the head, Reid is a God-fearing, Bible-carrying Christian. "I never drink, never smoke, and I never use drugs," confesses Reid. "I may go to hell, but it won't be for those things!"

Criteria Studios: Historic Hit Making in North Miami!

Criteria Recording Studio was established in 1958 as an outgrowth of founder Mack Emerman's hobby. Originally a trumpet player, Mack's jazz leanings led him to begin recording in his home and later on-site. Criteria was the first in the Southeast with monaural disc mastering and stereophonic recording in 1954. The purchase of the original building in '58 saw the beginnings of a business in earnest. The facility quickly became a haven for technology advancements. Multitrack recording saw it's birth with the advent of 3 track recording in 1958 followed by four track recording in 1966 both firsts in this part of the country. Our spiffy 8 channel console was the cutting edge of technology in 1964. The studio was also one of the first to utilize a live stereo chamber way back in 1966. We like to think that the traditions established back then continue today.

The original building housing Criteria was constructed in 1956. Purchased in 1958, acoustic modifications were completed and the history began. Since it was the only room at the time, there was no need for a studio designation. That however, was soon to change. In 1966 work was begun on the first building designed and constructed as a recording Studio from the ground up in the Southeast. Completed in January of 1967, this massive room comfortably held a 72 piece orchestra. Used extensively to record the early music for the Jackie Gleason Show, it has undergone a number of renovations since then. Its most recent being a dramatic 1990 overhaul featuring as its centerpiece completely restored vintage NEVE 8078. This room became Studio A, while the original studio became known as Studio B.

By the end of 1969 and 1970, both studios were booked around the clock and months in advance. With the monster success of projects including James Brown's "I Feel Good", Aretha Franklin's "Young, Gifted and Black", Derek & the Dominoes "Layla" and Brook Benton's "Rainy Night in Georgia" it was almost impossible to get in the doors. In early 1971 construction began on Criteria's third recording space: Studio C.

In early 1972 Studio C was completed. The next ten years were a succession of chart topping musical landmarks. From Eric Clapton's "461 Ocean Blvd.", (where Golden Beach's Mayor now lives) Fleetwood Mac's "Rumors", Black Sabbath's "Heaven & Hell" to the Bee Gee's "Saturday Night Fever". As with all of our rooms, Studio C's acoustics and equipment were modified as superior technology became available. The most recent renovation was completed in 1997. A complete control room overhaul was coupled with an incredible sounding new console: an API Legacy. just in case you were wondering; the muses are still there...

As the 1970's danced on and the platinum record count went up, history repeated itself. Despite the construction of Studio C, every room at Criteria had a waiting list. So we built Studio D. This recording space offered a warm intimate setting. The control room was dominated by a custom built automated MCI 532 console. Based on a long and beneficial relationship, Criteria and MCI founder Jeep Harned found themselves on top of the recording world. Introduced to Criteria by legendary producer/engineer Tom Dowd in the late 1960's, Harned's innovative designs helped Criteria stay at the forefront of technology. Equipment, like that console, custom designed to the demanding specifications of our clientele set a standard we try to live by today. In the early 1990's an SSL 6048 replaced the venerable MCI.

In 1979 the music business took a dive. The era of crazy record label spending was at an end. The days of "... here's a bag of money- call us when the record's done" were over. Massive studio closures occurred nationwide. Criteria endured, however there were some changes. The practice of staff engineers was abolished. Many went on to great things; among them were Don Gehman, Alex Sadkin, Albhy Galuten and Karl Richardson. In addition, the space occupied by the original studio B was retired as a recording studio and converted into storage.

All bad things must come to an end; and so the recession eventually petered out. The 1980's saw a string of artists leading they way. Among them, Julio Iglesias, The Romantics, Bow Wow Wow, John Denver, Meatloaf, Peter Frampton, Bob Seger and Ted Nugent. With the business on the rise, 1981 saw the undertaking of Criteria's most ambitious expansion: Studio E. The addition to the existing structure included new offices, expansive private lounges and even a waterfall. Designed by John Storyk, Studio E incorporated Cuban tile, pecky cypress, stained glass and 27 foot peaked ceilings. Upon its opening, the control room featured a custom built massive 56 channel MCI console and twin 24 track machines. Once the studio was complete, Criteria's disc mastering facility was relocated to the new wing directly atop Studio E.

With the increasing sophistication of technology, 1984 saw Criteria take delivery of the first SSL in the state. It was installed into the still relatively new Studio E. Later the same year, it was joined by the first digital multitrack and two track (Mitsubishi) recorders. In 1998 the control room was completely gutted and redesigned by acoustician George Augspurger. Stay tuned for more news on that or give us a call if you can't wait...

With the rousing success our first SSL, a second was delivered in mid 1986. The space previously occupied by the Criteria Cutting Center was modified to accommodate the second console and opened as a mix suite. It became the new Studio B. As for the disc mastering room, it was reopened as Fuller Sound. Still located in the Criteria complex, longtime mastering engineer Mike Fuller purchased the company and promptly installed a NEVE DTC console. He put in other stuff too, but that's his story...

Eight years later, our clientele began hinting in no uncertain terms that forty-eight channels for a world class mix room was inadequate. Studio B, (that's the new one remember) underwent a complete redesign under the watchful eye of George Augspurger. The result houses a Solid State Logic 4096G plus. And if our clients ever decide to leave it empty for a day or two you're welcome to come work there.

So there you have it.

Trevor Fletcher

Studio Manager

2016 Tortuga Music Festival in Ft Lauderdale

Blake Shelton

Huka Entertainment is pleased to announce Rock The Ocean’s Tortuga Music Festival, now a three-day event, has added even more amazing performers to its already stellar music line-up. Joining country superstar headliners Blake Shelton, Tim McGraw and Dierks Bentley will be: Billboard’s Top New Country Artist of 2015 and rising star Kelsea Ballerini, innovators of deep southern soul St. Paul & the Broken Bones, high-energy, straight country honky-tonker Jon Pardi, Kristian Bush, whose debut solo album was dubbed by Country Weekly as the "feel-good album of the year" and the beautiful duo Muddy Magnolias who Elle Magazine described as a “country, soul, and R&B cocktail that's heavy on harmony and candid, occasionally gritty, lyrics.” The fourth annual festival returns to the sands of Fort Lauderdale Beach Park in Florida on April 15th, 16th and 17th. Fans will enjoy a one-of-a-kind Tortuga experience at our oceanfront event, including sun, friends, songs, and sand as well as an exclusive viewing deck with a pool for VIP attendees.

Also joining the headliners in the initial wave of performers announced are: genrebending multi-platinum star Sam Hunt, “Die A Happy Man” hit-maker Thomas Rhett, country chart-topper Billy Currington, raucous country-rocker Kip Moore, legendary rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd, funk and soul fusion band Michael Franti & Spearhead, powerhouse vocalist Randy Houser, “Freaks Like Me” crooner Joe Nichols, “Buy Me A Boat” dynamic live performer Chris Janson, “Smoke” supergroup A Thousand Horses, Florida native southern rock swamp band JJ Grey & Mofro, “Ex’s and Oh’s” blues pop-sensation Elle King, iHeartRadio personality Bobby Bones and his comedy band the Raging Idiots, “Little Bit Of You” singer Chase Bryant, country quintet Old Dominion and “Burning House” songbird Cam. Tortuga brings the best emerging artists as well and this year is no exception with: LANco, Waterloo Revival, Native Run, Walker County, Tucker Beathard, Old Southern Moonshine Revival, Ryan Hurd, Courtney Cole, and Drew Baldridge.

Regular priced festival tickets are now available, with three-day General Admission at $199 and VIP at $899. Complete festival pricing can also now be found at www.tortugamusicfestival.com. 

Tim Mcgraw

Last year’s sold-out festival drew a record-breaking attendance of more than 75,000 music fans from all over the world. Proceeds from Tortuga Music Festival ticket sales have contributed more than $250,000 toward marine and ocean research and conservation organizations to date.

Produced and promoted by HUKA Entertainment, Tortuga Music Festival features the hottest artists in country, rock and roots music as well as Rock The Ocean’s Conversation Village, which hosts more than a dozen organizations dedicated to marine research and conservation. The event serves to celebrate the festival’s ocean side setting while raising awareness of issues impacting the world’s oceans and supporting marine research and conservation, as well as protection of the festival’s namesake – sea turtles that nest annually along South Florida’s Atlantic seaboard.

For additional information, and to sign up to be the first to receive updates, including lineup announcements, ticket on sales, special offers and more, visit Tortuga Music Festival on the following platforms:



Web: www.tortugamusicfestival.com 

Twitter: @FestivalTortuga 

FB: www.facebook.com/TortugaMusicFestival