EPIPHANY - T-PAIN
T-Pain is a troublemaker who prides himself on pretty women, possessions, partying and sex. These frivolous musings take center stage on “Epiphany,” which finds the Tallahassee, Fla.-bred vocalist on the hunt for more late-night trysts (”Back Seat Action,” “69″) and downright mischief. Similar to his omnipresent mentor Akon, T-Pain has effectively branded his Roger Troutman-esque vocal style into something instantly recognizable. But this studio-processed sound becomes bothersome on tracks like the reggae mishap “Shottas.” As usual, his lyrics are far from profound — on “Show U How,” he claims, “I can turn a he into a housewife any day.” But while alcoholic excess bares itself repeatedly — “Bartender,” “Tipsy” and the Yung Joc-featured hit “Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin’),” attempts at depth (like “Suicide,” a song about HIV) prove that T-Pain’s time is better spent at the bar. Billboard
