20 Years Since ‘Rappa Ternt Sanga,’ T-Pain Is Just Getting Started

Daniel Benavides, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

T-Pain is headed back to the stage — not just to perform, but to say thank you.

The Grammy-winning singer, producer, and auto-tune pioneer announced the TP20 Tour today, a celebration of his 20-year impact on music. But as the artist made clear in a cryptic and emotional social media post, this isn’t just another tour — it’s a tribute to the fans who helped shape his journey.

"If I learned one thing in the last 20 years, it’s that music doesn’t live on charts. It lives in people," T-Pain wrote on social media. "And this isn’t a tour, it’s a thank you to everyone that was there in 2005 and to everyone who’s just catching the wave."

If I learned one thing in the last 20 years, it’s that music doesn’t live on charts. It lives in people. And this isn’t a tour, it’s a thank you to everyone that was there in 2005 and to everyone who’s just catching the wave.

The TP20 Tour: Celebrating the last 20 years of… pic.twitter.com/VCp3SaxaKU

— T-Pain (@TPAIN) June 3, 2025

The TP20 Tour promises to honor both the past and future of an artist who redefined the sound of a generation. From his breakout hit "I'm Sprung" to anthems like "Buy U a Drank," T-Pain's catalog helped transform hip-hop, pop, and R&B — not just with his signature auto-tune style, but with his songwriting, humor and heart.

Though he once faced criticism for his use of vocal processing, T-Pain has long outlasted the fad claims. His viral 2014 Tiny Desk concert proved he never needed pitch correction to shine, and his recent collaborations — from Kehlani to Snoop Dogg — have shown that his influence continues to ripple through a new era of artists.

Tickets for the TP20 Tour go on sale Friday at tpain.com/tour.

While full tour dates have yet to be announced, fans across generations are already buzzing about the possibility of hearing the classics live — and witnessing what T-Pain hinted is just the beginning of his next 20 years.

"Nobody is ready for what’s next," he wrote. And given his history of reinvention, it’s a warning — and a promise.

Watch: E-40’s Tiny Desk Debut Is a Celebration of Bay Pride and Legacy

 

Bay Area rap icon E-40 brought Vallejo flavor and hyphy energy to NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts on Monday, kicking off Black Music Month with a spirited, career-spanning set that celebrated his legacy in hip-hop and his hometown roots.

Backed by a live band and in front of an intimate audience, the veteran MC born Earl Stevens ran through a medley of his biggest hits, including "Tell Me When to Go," "Choices (Yup)" and "U and Dat." Throughout the set, he showcased not only his signature slang and unmistakable delivery but also the cultural pride and storytelling that have made him a cornerstone of West Coast rap for over three decades.

“Tell the people that Water is back!” he declared midway through the performance, nodding to both his longtime nickname and his return to the spotlight.

The set marked E-40’s first appearance on the popular YouTube concert series, which has become a landmark platform for both emerging and legendary artists. Known for revealing raw talent in stripped-down formats, Tiny Desk has previously featured performances from artists like T-Pain, Too Short, Kehlani and LaRussell.

The band elevated the energy of each track. On "Choices (Yup)," musicians leaned into the mic to echo the iconic “yup” and “nope” ad libs, creating an organic, in-the-room feel. During "U and Dat," background vocalist and music director Bosko Kante filled in seamlessly for T-Pain’s auto-tuned hook.

E-40 also used the platform to promote his entrepreneurial ventures, sipping from a glass of his Earl Stevens Mangoscato and reminding viewers it’s available at Costco and Total Wine.

Between verses, he shouted out his longtime friends and collaborators, including a heartfelt tribute to the late Stomp Down. The performance was not only a musical celebration but a nod to the community that built him.

Despite a career that spans generations, E-40 remains culturally relevant. His music still blares from Bay Area car stereos and his impact extends beyond music, with a road named after him in Vallejo and surprise political appearances — including a surreal cameo at a Joe Biden rally.

With Monday’s set, E-40 joins a growing list of Bay Area legends who’ve brought their game to the Tiny Desk stage. The show continues to affirm the cultural weight of the Bay, one classic track at a time.

‘I Feared His Wrath’: Inside the Explosive Testimony Rocking Sean Combs’ Sex Trafficking Trial

 

Testimony continued Monday in the federal trial of music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs, highlighted by emotional statements from a former employee alleging fear, coercion, and intimidation, alongside hotel records showing unusual cleaning charges associated with Combs' stays.

"Mia," testifying under a pseudonym, concluded her appearance on the witness stand following intense questioning from defense attorney Brian Steel. Mia testified she never reported alleged physical and sexual abuse by Combs to law enforcement or company human resources, fearing immediate termination and public humiliation.

“Human resources only punished me unjustly," Mia said, adding that if she had spoken out, she would have been branded as "a crazy person making everything up."

She detailed being coerced into promoting events and projects on social media as part of her job, explaining that failure to do so would result in being "screamed at, humiliated, made fun of, and my job would be threatened." Mia said that even posting birthday messages for Combs on social media was considered mandatory, and failing to do so would lead to consequences.

Defense attorneys highlighted messages Mia sent to Combs after the alleged abuse, including birthday greetings and expressions of support. Mia testified that maintaining a positive front was part of her survival strategy. “Because when he was happy, I was safe,” she said. She also said she remained psychologically under his control even after she stopped working for him.

Mia said she felt unable to leave her job, fearing retaliation, loss of credibility, and threats to her physical safety. “I just knew his power and his wrath,” she testified.

Following Mia's testimony, Sylvia Oken, director of sales and marketing at the Beverly Hills Hotel, took the stand, presenting records showing unusual cleaning expenses during Combs’ hotel stays. Bills revealed charges such as $500 for “oil damage” and $300 for cleaning drapes. Oken noted Combs frequently used the alias "Frank Black," referencing rapper Notorious B.I.G.'s "Frank White."

In a related development, Marion "Suge" Knight, co-founder of Death Row Records and currently serving a 28-year prison sentence for manslaughter, spoke out after his name was mentioned multiple times during the trial. Knight urged Combs to testify, stating, "I think it'd be a great thing to let Puffy tell his truth. Tell the real truth, and bring everybody accountable."

Knight emphasized that while Combs committed "terrible things," these actions were influenced by the environment and industry culture he was exposed to. He added, "I feel that people in [Combs'] life, going on his journey growing up, they failed him."
People.com

The trial is expected to continue with testimony from Eddie Garcia, a former security employee at the InterContinental Hotel, who is anticipated to testify under an immunity order. Prosecutors have indicated that additional witnesses, including forensic video expert Frank Piazza and Combs' former employees Derek Ferguson and Bryana Bongolan, may also be called to testify in the coming days.