T-Pain

Lil Wayne's New Video: The Play-N-Skillz-Produced "Got Money"

Breaking Down The Grammy Nominations (Or: Hey, Some Love For DFWd!)

The 2009 Grammy nominations were announced last night, which means, yep, we're being INUNDATED with press releases from ecstatic and eager publicists touting their clients' successes.Like we have any say in the matter. Yeah, right.But, by my count, DFWd's doing OK here. Here's a breakdown of area ar ... More >>

Bonus MP3: Play-N-Skillz feat. Jay-Z -- "Checkin' My Fresh"

It's good to be Play-N-Skillz right now. The song you produced for Lil Wayne's Tha Carter III, "Got Money (feat. T-Pain)", was kind of a big deal, and it certainly didn't hurt the disc on its way to becoming the best selling disc of '08. And now, the song's been nominated for a Grammy--and the album ... More >>

More Love For Play-N-Skillz's Efforts On Lil Wayne's Disc

MTV News' hip-hop department has announced today it's picks for the top 28 commercially release hip-hop singles of the year (which, I guess, means no remixes are eligible), and lookie there, right at No. 19, yep, that's Lil Wayne's "Got Money (feat. T-Pain)", as produced by area hotshots Play-N-Skil ... More >>

Who's The Odd Man Out In The Lil Wayne Concert Lineup?

We've been privy to the Lil' Wayne concert for a while now, but only recently did I start hearing radio drops for it that announce who else would be sharing the stage with him: Keyshia Cole (OK), T-Pain (I can see that), and Gym Class Heroes (WTF)? Not taking anything away from GCH because they fuck ... More >>

Top Ten Dance Albums of 2008

Any knucklehead with DSL and a laptop can now make an electronic track. With a half hour of clicking and fiddling, you can sample enough cheesy beats and mashups to clog arteries from here to Berlin. Simple dropdown mouse maneuvers can transform electro tracks into progressive house tracks (from dry ... More >>

Top Ten Hip-Hop Albums Of 2008

A couple of weeks ago, an expert on the Harry Potter series told an audience of high school kids how lucky they were to have this Big Shared Experience--these seven books and 41,000 words in common. What does Harry Potter have to do with hip-hop in 2008? In an age when many year-end lists should ... More >>

Top Ten Pop Songs of 2008

Pop music often gets a bad rap for being disposable or vapid, and in many cases that's true. (Katy Perry, Danity Kane and the Pussycat Dolls, step right up!) But every year, a few irresistible bits of innovative ear candy rocket up the charts and seep into our subconscious. The following ten singles ... More >>

Last Night: Lil Wayne at American Airlines Center

Lil Wayne, T-Pain, Keyshia ColeAmerican Airlines CenterDecember 19, 2008 Better Than: Listening to a whole bunch of records in which T-Pain and Lil Wayne are just the featured acts. Check out our photos from the show here.As if, at any point over the course of this past year, there was still doubt ... More >>

Weekend Roundup: Lil Wayne, T-Pain, Ohgr, 12 Stones, Some Kid From Degrassi

Now that you've had, oh, about three hours to settle back into the work week, I guess it's time to fondly look back on the weekend that was, eh? Let's get right into it.Lil Wayne and T-Pain at American Airlines CenterLooking back on it now, my glorious prose doesn't really do Lil Wayne's entrance on ... More >>

Hitsville: The Year in Music, by the Numbers

You don't need a half-wit music critic to tell you it's been a remarkable year for America, one historians will be discussing and researching for centuries to come. War, financial collapse, politics, technology: All have been dinner-table topics for many Americans. Racial barriers in 2008 were de ... More >>

The End Of The End Of Year Lists (No, Really, This Time): The Top Concerts Of 2008

Melanie GomezFind our slideshow of our favorite concert photos of 2008 right here.I didn't get to Dallas until February, so apologies to any great shows that took place in January--I missed them. But over the past eleven months, I saw plenty of live music--both with touring bands and locals. How man ... More >>

Did You Know That Norah Jones Guests On The Lonely Island's Album?

Yep, it's true. The Grammy-winning Dallas native (who also has some punk leanings, remember) makes a guest appearance on Incredibad, the debut album from Andy Samberg and Crew's The Lonely Island. Jones joins the comedians, who are best known for "Jizz In My Pants" and T-Pain collaboration "I'm On ... More >>

Taylor Swift, Butch Walker and Others Offer Up Their 2008 Favorites

...Oh, and we got a few well-known out-of-towners to share some of their favorites too

Pop Quiz, Music Snobs!

What the hell happened with music in 2008? Well, let's see if you know.

T-Pain

Thr33 Ringz (Nappy Boy Entertainment)

Money Talks

With Lil Wayne's latest single, Play-N-Skillz cements its reputation as a production team—and maybe Dallas' reputation as a source of hip-hop?

With R. Kelly, It's Thrill-a-Minute

Hang on while we take you on an up-and-down history of R. Kelly's life

Kanye West

Graduation (Island Def Jam/Roc-A-Fella Records)

Lazare's Bar Hosts A Grand Opening, But Will Anyone Remember?

Anastasia JakseThe new mojitos: blueberry on the left, raspberry at right. "Blame it on the a-a-alcohol...," DJ Christopher Tracy puts his spin on Jamie Foxx and T-Pain's rap song amidst a forest of black and red balloons. Blame it on the alcohol, indeed. Or the 'any excuse to party' ethic that dri ... More >>

Get On a Boat

Anastasia JakseThe new mojitos: blueberry on the left, raspberry at right. "Blame it on the a-a-alcohol...," DJ Christopher Tracy puts his spin on Jamie Foxx and T-Pain's rap song amidst a forest of black and red balloons. Blame it on the alcohol, indeed. Or the 'any excuse to party' ethic that dri ... More >>

Today In Music News: T-Pain Gets His App On, Bret Michaels' Hair Speaks Out and Lydon Is Back On The Scene

Your daily dose of national music news for Tuesday, September 8, 2009... Wanna sing like T-Pain? There's an app for that! Now the other side of the story: Bret Michaels hair piece breaks it's long silence. Johnny Lydon plans to reform a version of PiL to celebrate the 30th anniversary of its ... More >>

Play-N-Skillz Launch Label, Sign Local Artist

The proud owners of a new major label imprint.​ Yesterday, two-time Grammy-winning Dallas hip-hop production duo Play-N-Skillz announced a deal it has signed with Universal Music Group urban imprint SRC/Universal to launch its own imprint, which will be called G4 Muzik. After the jump, the full pr ... More >>

Watch: Play-N-Skillz -- "Xxpensive"

Dallas natives and brothers Juan and Oscar Salinas, who combine to form Play-N-Skillz, have won a couple Grammy awards. And, in case you forgot as much, they're happy to remind you a couple times in the above video.Of course, that's not the sole purpose of its creation (though, certainly, it appear ... More >>

Which Musicians Will Kick the Bucket in '10?

Dallas natives and brothers Juan and Oscar Salinas, who combine to form Play-N-Skillz, have won a couple Grammy awards. And, in case you forgot as much, they're happy to remind you a couple times in the above video.Of course, that's not the sole purpose of its creation (though, certainly, it appear ... More >>

The Best Story You Will Hear All Day Involving T-Pain And An Area Strip Club.

A week ago today, for whatever reason, T-Pain was in Dallas and, better yet, at XTC Cabaret for a little fun (one assumes). The details of what happened next, however, are a little fishy. Doesn't really sound like fun, though.

Erykah Badu Lends Rick Ross His Latest Hook--And She'll Be Directing The Song's Video, Too.

Ms. Badu, if you're nasty.​Rick Ross introduced his so-called "epic trilogy" to hip-hop fans back in 2008 when he first released "Maybach Music" with Jay-Z on his sophomore album, Trilla. He released the second installment last year on his Deeper Than Rap album with some help from T-Pain, Lil Wayn ... More >>

Lottery Ticket: Mo' Money, No Problems in This Happy Fantasy.

Ms. Badu, if you're nasty.​Rick Ross introduced his so-called "epic trilogy" to hip-hop fans back in 2008 when he first released "Maybach Music" with Jay-Z on his sophomore album, Trilla. He released the second installment last year on his Deeper Than Rap album with some help from T-Pain, Lil Wayn ... More >>

The Problem With... Flo Rida's "Club Can't Handle Me"

There are only a few people that will ever try naming themselves after a pun of their home state.

Watch: Play-N-Skillz Show Bun B Around Dallas For Trill OG's Latest Single, "Ridin Slow."

Bun B​A few weeks back, on the same weekend when Dallas-based super-producers Play-N-Skillz were hosting auditions for their in-development MTV reality show, the Brothers Salinas also welcomed a Texas hip-hop legend and long-time collaborator to town. Turns out Juan and Oscar Salinas, who produced ... More >>

Listomania: The 15 Best NFL Team Anthems

​This whole "Super Bowl" thing has been pretty unavoidable this year -- and, for obvious reasons, infinitely more so in these parts than in years past. Then again, with media all over the place, thousands of out-of-town-guests, and an alleged 100,000 hookers (or not) converging in the metroplex ... More >>

A wacky Daytona 500 is won by a young driver who cut his NASCAR teeth in Texas.

​This whole "Super Bowl" thing has been pretty unavoidable this year -- and, for obvious reasons, infinitely more so in these parts than in years past. Then again, with media all over the place, thousands of out-of-town-guests, and an alleged 100,000 hookers (or not) converging in the metroplex ... More >>

Play-N-Skillz To Produce Again For Lil Wayne: Duo Confirms That Tha Carter IV Will Feature Wayne, T-Pain Collaboration Over Their Beat.

Steve VisneauPlay-N-Skillz​Dallas-based hip-hop super-producers Play-N-Skillz have wasted no time making good use of their G4 Muzik label's freshly created blog. Over the past few weeks, they've shared some new music, revealed that they're shooting a music video with Bun B in town today, and, well ... More >>

Play-N-Skillz Goes Electro: Grammy-Winning Duo Remixes Kanye, Collabs With David Guetta

Seems Play-N-Skillz is on a new tip these days. A couple weeks back, the Grammy-winning, Dallas-based production duo behind such hits as Chamillionaire's "Ridin'" and Lil Wayne and T-Pain's "Got Money" released an electronic remix of Kanye West's "All of the Lights" (see the video for their remix a ... More >>

Play-N-Skillz Sue Lil Wayne -- And His Entire Posse -- For $1 Million Over "Got Money" Rights

Steve VisneauPlay-N-Skillz​For two years now, Juan and Oscar Salinas, the Dallas-based production duo known as Play-N-Skillz, have publicly and repeatedly claimed that they had never received payment for their work on the 2009 Grammy-winning T-Pain and Lil Wayne collaboration, "Got Money," from L ... More >>

Meet Wiz Khalifa, Big Sean and Curren$y's Secret Weapon: Fort Worth Producer Cardo

Cardo's a dude worth knowing.​Ronald La Tour very clearly remembers the first time he met Wiz Khalifa. It was a few years back at this point, when Khalifa was just starting to make a name for himself, releasing mixtapes at an impressive clip and earning endless praise for each. After some fruitful ... More >>

In Defense of... Eminem, Royce Da 5'9" and Bruno Mars' "Ligthers"

Two project albums from prestigious hip-hop duos have been released this summer. Jay-Z and Kanye West, of course, released Watch The Throne last week. But, back in June, there was another: Eminem and collaborator-turned-enemy-turned-friend-once-more Royce Da 5'9" released Hell: The Sequel under th ... More >>

Beats by Dallas' Own Hip-Hop Doctors

Two project albums from prestigious hip-hop duos have been released this summer. Jay-Z and Kanye West, of course, released Watch The Throne last week. But, back in June, there was another: Eminem and collaborator-turned-enemy-turned-friend-once-more Royce Da 5'9" released Hell: The Sequel under th ... More >>

Symbolyc One Explains How He Came Up With Kanye West and Jay-Z's "Excellence" Joint

Symbolyc One's on fire.​In this week's paper, you'll find a heads up of sorts about what's really going on in Dallas hip-hop these days -- essentially it's no longer the rappers making waves so much as it's the producers. And that's not just fluff. As noted in the article, in the past couple of ye ... More >>

The Problem With... T-Pain's "5 O'Clock (feat. Wiz Khalifa and Lily Allen)"

It looks like T-Pain is playing the waiting game for his forthcoming album Revolver, which he finished recording two summers ago. He's been keeping busy in the mean time: This past summer, T-Pain released a mixtape called prEVOLVEr, which featured a few tracks without any Auto-Tune assistance for ... More >>

The Dallas Observer Music Awards Showcase and The Rest of Your Weekend Shows...

​This is one of our favorite weekends of the year, where a good handful of acts nominated for the Dallas Observer Music Awards perform all over Deep Ellum on Saturday night. The much-anticipated headliners, Toadies, Old 97's, Centro-Matic and Sarah Jaffe will perform on Elm Street in the lot acros ... More >>

The Problem With.... Flo Rida's "Good Feeling"

Flo Rida has only become more and more interchangeable and average since he transitioned from R&B party music like 2008's "Low" to poppish party music like 2009's "Right Round." At this point, he oughta change his name to Cam Ofloj. Or something similar.