T-Pain - I'm N Luv (Wit a Stripper) (Konvict)

It is difficult to listen to "I'm N Luv (Wit a Stripper)" without feeling like I'm hearing a low-rent R. Kelly knockoff. Singing about strippers may indeed be relatively unique in popular music, but if it's going to be done, I would hope for more imagination or commentary.

Listen to "I'm N Luv (Wit a Stripper)"

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Akon loves belly dancers and his protege T-Pain loves strippers. The fact that the latter states this appreciation so unimaginatively is disappointing. Supporters of T-Pain point out that his song is daring in presenting such unapologetic praise for strippers when they are more often singled out for societal scorn by self-appointed community moral guardians. That is true, but to be truly daring T-Pain may have addressed the social controversy. Instead, we simply hear well-worn words of admiration for female body parts and physical movement. The lack of lyrical imagination in "I'm N Luv (Wit a Stripper)" leads me to believe the word stripper is merely used as an attention getting mechanism not because the song is any different from any other lascivious expressions about the female anatomy.

T-Pain's vocal style has its own pleasing quiet virtues, but using Cher-style vocal modulation (a la "Believe") only hides them or, at its worst, makes him annoying. Despite what some have claimed, T-Pain is not a second coming of Roger Troutman whose true gifts were irresistibly catchy hooks and engaging funk (Listen to "More Bounce To the Ounce") not electronic vocal trickery. I look forward to T-Pain settling into his own singer/songwriter r&b niche avoiding gimmicky efforts at gaining attention. Then we can all enjoy his unique voice and musical talents.