Thr33 Ringz - Dark Publications

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Editorial Reviews:

Album Description
Explicit Version. 2008 release from the Hip Hop artist, producer and songwriter. It's evident T-Pain has another hit on his hands with the album's first single, 'Can't Believe It,' featuring Lil Wayne which is a about "getting a girl to ride with you," says T-Pain. Other tracks on the album include 'Freeze', featuring Chris Brown, an up-tempo jam that is destined to be the dancefloor hit of the year, 'Chopped & Screwed', a lyrically clever urban anthem featuring Ludacris, 'Karaoke', a personal and controversial declaration to the industry featuring DJ Khaled and 'Therapy', a collaboration with Kanye West.

Customer Reviews: Read 12 more reviews...

3 out of 5 stars

Well-produced mainstream hip hop November 13, 2008
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

If you're looking for musical or lyrical hip hop genius, this isn't it. However, T-Pain has figured out the mainstream hip hop formula, and he executes it well on Thr33 Ringz. Yes, T-Pain alters his voice a lot, but since I've come to expect it and it's part of his sound, I didn't find it difficult to get past. The slew of guest artists (Ludacris, Chris Brown, Akon, Kanye West, T.I., etc.) keeps the album interesting. Each of the songs has a bit of the distinct flavor of the guest artist, which helps take away from some of the monotony.

Generally, it's an entertaining listen if you're into the radio-friendly R&B and pop-infused type of hip hop. After my second time through the album, my favorites are Freeze (with Chris Brown), which is a lot of fun, and Chopped & Screwed (with Ludacris), which is characterized by the song title. I was initially surprised by the sample of Eric Clapton's "Change the World" in the similarly titled "Change," but it was appropriately used for the album's requisite "the world has so many issues" track.

I could do without the skits and other spoken parts of the album, but that is a personal preference since I'd rather just hear the music. Also, I'm disappointed that "Can't Believe It" was the first single released. I suppose it makes marketing sense since Lil' Wayne is so popular right now, but he is simply terrible on this track and there are far better songs on the album. All in all, the first half of the album is stronger than the second half, but it's worth the $14 I paid for it at a retail store.

2 out of 5 stars

T-Pain - Thr33 Ringz 4/10 November 12, 2008
5 out of 9 found this review helpful

It's hard to like anything T-Pain puts out beyond the superficial, sugary pop value of any of his numerous trivial pop singles, and that applies to the hip-hop world's universal sidekick's third album. Known mostly for his prevalent use of Auto-Tune, his ability to play the exact same role on every song he guests on, and his desire to buy women drinks, T-Pain doesn't try to go any deeper than he normally does on Thr33 Ringz, wisely deciding to embrace his persona as a ringleader in a R&B circus surrounded by guest stars who save the album from being entirely an Auto-Tune lovefest.

Despite the whole Auto-Tune effect signaling the death knell of talented vocalists and authentic music, on certain songs, such as "Ringleader Man," he doesn't use it to the extent that he sounds like a robotic pop android, instead only subtly adjusting his pitch. Even better, more often than not the production is what you would expect from a record full of T-Pain; lilting slow jam grooves designed for the bedroom and bouncing, thumping club anthems, and when you hear the beat behind otherwise unremarkable songs like "Therapy" and "It Ain't Me," it makes up for the primarily lackluster lyrics and vocal performances.

T-Pain has truly called up all his old debts on Thr33 Ringz, as the guest stars include Kanye West, Akon, T.I., Lil Wayne, Ciara, DJ Khaled, and Chris Brown. In fact, it's hard not to find a song without a guest spot, but that's usually for the better. Some guest stars rescue an otherwise terrible song (Ludacris on the horrifically ADHD single "Chopped N Skrewed"), while others simply phone in a performance that sounds as generic as T-Pain himself (Lil Wayne on "Can't Believe It" is a big offender).

Unfortunately, what really tend to drag this album down are the repetitiveness of the songs themselves, T-Pain's one-track vocal style, and the decision to include a series of lame skits that only stunt the record's momentum. Then again, most listeners don't come to T-Pain and company looking for deep insights into life and love. And for the would-be club-goer and wannabe thug with a taste for melody and semi-romantic sentiments, Thr33 Ringz is a suitable enough album for one night.

4 out of 5 stars

T-Pain - Thr33 Ringz November 13, 2008
3 out of 4 found this review helpful

Well i guess i cant really hate on T-Pain anymore. I will be the first one to admit that after his first album, i was hoping he would fall off the face of the earth because it was so terrible. I was calling him a one hit wonder. But now, in November 2008, three years after his debut, and about 2,093 guests verses or hooks later, T-Pain is still on top and doesnt appear to be slowing down. He just knows how to make hits. Period. While the man probably sounds like Ray J without his signature vocoder, he still makes it work and just keeps on churning out hits singles and albums. And honestly, i almost feel guilty for saying this but, Thr33 Ringz is actually a pretty good album lol. For someone who uses a vocoder about 95% of the time, he really made a pretty good album. I mean, this is definetly not your typical R&B album, if you can even call it R&B. But the music is catchy, and some of it is even sexy. The album is FULL of potential hit singles and guest appearance. Unlike his previous albums though, the guest stars are actually good. The one thing that i definetly wish he would have done differently is do a few more songs by himself. He only does three actual tracks by himself. But only two of those songs are actually worth listening to. "Ringleader Man" is a great track where he just pretty much says hes running the game, which in all honesty, he is. And then he comes back with another strippers anthem in "Long Lap Dance", which is currently my favorite track on the album with its grown and sexy feel. And then on "Freeze" with Chris Brown, he trys to recapture the success of "Kiss Kiss" which is very obvious. "Chopped N Screwed" is a sure to be hit with Luda's killer verse and with the sheer danceability of the track. And then on "Therapy", T-Pain tells his woman literally "1234/Get the hell up out my door/5678/I dont need your sex ill masterbate" over this very breezy track with Kanye. Another standout is "Reality Show" with Musiq, and Raheem Devaughn. I really like that he put those two soul singers on this track to add that grown n sexy vibe. Its another track that is just infectious with its catchiness. Like i said, I'm just as surprised as you probably are that T-Pain is still on top, but honestly after Three albums in three years, and a couple hundred hit singles, it really doesnt look like hes going anywhere so we mide as well accept him for what he is, and understand that he is talented. Don't hate! T-Pain do your thang boy!

Grade:
B

5 out of 5 stars

T-Pain's back! November 23, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful

There is no way you will ever get closer to the utopia you experience when you listen to this outstanding album. I hope for the sake of every being in the universe that we will see many, many more T-Pain albums in the future. When I first caught a glance of this CD at Walmart, I turned and fell to my knees while time literally stopped. Once I regained consciousness I quickly filled a crate with the album and handed the cashier a flying elbow drop! When I placed the CD onto the tray of my stereo system, I knew at once that my life had culminated to that point, my purpose was to witness the sick, wicked, and nasty beats that were about to pulsate through the earth itself and energize my very life force. When the tray recalled itself back into the stereo console, it was as though the final puzzle piece of human existence had been put into place. Rainbows began to pour inexplicably out of the speakers and onto my terrace. The windows flew open and T-Pain himself floated in on a winged platinum unicorn. He gave me a $5 gift certificate at Radio Shack and told me that I was the chosen one. He said that He and I would lead mankind out of poverty and strife forever. He said we must hurry, unimaginable evils were gathering and following him and there was not much time before he would have to face them. As we prepared to embark a low rumble could be heard in the distance. Hardly decipherable at first, but it began to grow louder, and apparently closer. The sky darkened rapidly and took on a red-orange tint. The rumble grew exponentially louder and more fierce, and the ground began to shake. Without warning an enormous crack in the planet's surface appeared and a great mountain of rock and molten lava shot up from the center of the earth with the force of ten trillion mighty buffalo. Satan himself stood before us, in all of his evil majesty. Despite this apocalyptic series of events, T-Pain was not at all intimidated. He stood fast, and with a mighty cry of 'OOOOOOHHH YEAHHHHHH!' he was suddenly 250 feet tall and was made entirely of gold. Satan lunged towards T-Pain with blinding speed, but T-Pain was suddenly gone. Satan spun back around just in time for a vicious drop kick to the throat. Again, T-Pain disappeared, leaving Satan dazed and confused. As Satan tried to recover T-Pain leapt at him from out of nowhere with a punishing sunset flip, sending The Dark Lord directly into a black hole on the other side of the universe. T-Pain explained to me how his musical talents inspired the Greek God Zeus, and so Zeus gave him super powers and ultrasonic vocal cords. I told him he's the illest, the true chief warrior. The bottom line is I used to steal cars and buses all the time, but ever since I heard this album I only smash fire hydrants. I no longer sleep or eat or talk, I just absorb the lyrical extremes that this album surpasses time and again and train to fight 50 Cent. Everything that you've ever done, are doing now, or will ever do is a complete waste of time unless it directly involves T-Pain. If you don't own this album, I sincerely hope that this review has helped you realize what a clueless and wretched piece of waste you really are.

5 out of 5 stars

First T-Pain album November 12, 2008
This is the first time that I have listened to a T-Pain album. I was very surprised by his work as I was skeptical that I could take a whole album of him singing in his trademark computerized voice. I did not listen to it expecting to hear anything that would clear up the meaning of life, so if you are one of those types this may not be the album for you. However, if you are just loking for some good songs with some nice beats and good production then you should be very pleased with this effort. I in particular like the cuts "Therapy" and "Chopped and Skrewed" as well as the one he did with Ciara. There is only one track out of all of them that I just do not really listen to. I was dissapointed in the marketing that they did with an incomplete album for $10 so make sure you are aware of the upgraded deluxe version as it has 4 additional songs which you will pay extra for. Not much of a bonus as a bonus is free! However I really like the album. Not sure if it's a classic meaning I will have it in rotation over six months from now but it will definitly get a lot of play in my cd player.

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