Latest news with #WiscansinFest
USA Today
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
T-Pain fuels retirement rumors after teasing 'big decision' in social media video
T-Pain fuels retirement rumors after teasing 'big decision' in social media video Grammy Award-winning rapper T-Pain dropped a mysterious video on social media that hints at a "big decision" to make after two decades in the industry. In the 43-second clip, published on June 2, the "Buy U a Drank" emcee hinted at taking a step back and thanked his fans for a "making this a great ride." "I gave you all everything for 20 years. I'm grateful to each of you for making this such a great ride," T-Pain said in the video's caption. "Right now, I just need some time for me." He ends the video with the words, "This might be it." While the meaning behind the video is unclear, some users on social media have suggested the rapper could be considering retirement. The USA TODAY Network has reached out to a representative for T-Pain for comment. The hip-hop star, known for his use of auto-tune and deft ability to crank out club-charting hits, has been on the road performing shows all over the country. This musical grind comes after T-Pain (whose real name is Faheem Najm) made a big splash in his hometown of Tallahassee, Florida, in 2024. In November, a street named "T-Pain Lane" was revealed in his honor at a portion of Pasco Street from Orange Avenue to Tucker Street that ends at Bond Elementary School. Later the same day, the rapper performed to a sold-out crowd, his first headliner show in the city, at the Adderley Amphitheater during Tallahassee's bicentennial celebration concert. 'Boots with the fur': T-Pain gets shoutout from Reba McEntire with Super Bowl look He gushed over the opportunity to perform his hits to the adoring crowd, adding that he'd love to bring a variation of his popular "Wiscansin Fest" to the Florida capital. Days after the concert, organizers told the Tallahassee Democrat, part of the USA TODAY Network, that there were talks about making this a reality.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
T-Pain, Wisconsin State Fair Park dispute; alleged discrimination
The Brief T-Pain blasted Wisconsin State Fair Park officials on social media. The artists alleges they discriminated against his "Wiscansin State Fear" event. In a statement, park officials pointed to "missteps in internal communications." WEST ALLIS, Wis. - T-Pain blasted Wisconsin State Fair Park officials, alleging they discriminated against his "Wiscansin State Fear" event set for June. What they're saying In videos posted on social media, the music artist said he had already reached a deal with Wisconsin State Fair Park for the event – which would include car-drifting at the Milwaukee Mile. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android "They just said they don't like the name, and they felt like it was too similar to their name – Wisconsin State Fair, Wiscansin State Fear," he said in a video. "It's a 'Friday the 13th' theme." T-Pain said when his team added carnival rides and karaoke to the event, park officials changed their tune despite having a contract. "He said we can't have carnival rides, because if we have rides there, gangs are going to come," he said. "They're promoting rides and games, how come there are no gangs showing up to these things that you're promoting? Is it because you're doing it, and not Black T-Pain." SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News The other side In a statement, a spokesperson for Wisconsin State Fair Park said: "We take responsibility and apologize for the way this was handled. There were missteps in internal communications that are not representative of the standard at Wisconsin State Fair Park. We were overly ambitious about what we could host and unfortunately, these missteps led to this event not coming to fruition. We are taking steps to ensure a more complete event review process is in place." Dig deeper T-Pain also said park officials were worried performers from his annual "Wiscansin Fest," scheduled for the following day, would attend "Wiscansin State Fear". "The chief of police said they shut it down because he can't staff the event," he said. Trying to find a solution, T-Pain said he promised to hire 100 licensed security guards. He said they declined his offer and instead approached his team about messaging if they opted to go in a different direction. "I'm not getting with your marketing team to make sure ya'll don't look racist as (expletive). That's just what it is," he said. What's next T-Pain has announced his "Wiscansin State Fear" event will still happen; it has been moved to Road America in Elkhart Lake. A Road America spokesperson told FOX6 News they are still finalizing details. The Source FOX6 News reviewed T-Pain's social media posts and reached out to Wisconsin State Fair Park and Road America.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
T-Pain blasts Wisconsin State Fair Park officials for alleging event would draw 'gangs'
Rapper-singer T-Pain is livid with Wisconsin State Fair Park officials, challenging their alleged pushback against plans for the rapper's Wiscansin State Fear car-drifting event at the park's Milwaukee Mile in West Allis June 13. Among the fair's alleged concerns: that the event would attract gangs. The 40-year-old Grammy winner born Faheem Najm aired his grievances in a pair of videos posted on his TikTok and Instagram pages late on May 1 that, combined, ran for nearly 20 minutes. In the videos, he said Wiscansin State Fear would no longer be happening at State Fair Park, and instead will take place at Road America in Plymouth, with additional details to come. In the first video, T-Pain says he first had communications with Wisconsin State Fair officials in February — including an in-person meeting — about his vision for the car-drifting event, including karaoke and carnival games and rides. Park officials approved the plans, even offering the contact for a carnival ride company, T-Pain said, and provided a contract that they signed. The event — put on by T-Pain's Nappy Boy Automotive, and scheduled for the day before his fourth annual Wiscansin Fest at the Rave in Milwaukee June 14 — was announced in March. Soon after, T-Pain says in the video, fair officials protested the name's similarity to Wisconsin State Fair and expressed concerns the event wouldn't be "family-friendly." T-Pain alleges the seven-page agreement made no indication that park officials would need to approve the name of the event, saying in the second video that he still apologized. Nevertheless, T-Pain says, fair officials raised more issues and pulled the plug on the plans. The performer says he was told they were no longer permitting karaoke "because they don't want the artists coming" that were booked for Wiscansin Fest, even though they weren't going to attend, T-Pain says. T-Pain says he also was told the event could no longer have rides and carnival games because "when I bring the rides there, that's when the gangs come," despite the fact that the Wisconsin State Fair has carnival rides and games. "You're doing it, and not Black T-Pain," he says in the second video. T-Pain also says in the second video that he was told the "chief of police" would not be able to adequately staff the Wiscansin State Fear event as planned because another event, Greek Fest, is scheduled at State Fair Park the same day. T-Pain doesn't specify in the video which department the chief of police was from. Robert Fletcher, deputy chief of the West Allis Police Department, told the Journal Sentinel via email "we do not have primary jurisdiction at the fair and have no say in any events being held there." The park has its own police department. T-Pain says he offered to pay for 100 licensed security officers to work at Wiscansin State Fear, but fair officials declined the offer. He also says in the second video he requested to speak with the park's CEO, but that request was denied — although he said fair officials "had the audacity" to request to "get together on messaging" about the event's cancellation at State Fair Park. "No, you don't get to control the narrative," T-Pain says in the second video, later uttering an expletive directed at officials. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reached out to the media relations and marketing teams at Wisconsin State Fair Park May 2 but didn't hear back as of early afternoon. T-Pain started Wiscansin Fest at the Rave in Milwaukee in 2022 as a nod to one of his most famous lyrics, from his 2008 hit "Can't Believe It," in which he rhymes "mansion" with "Wiscansin." The Florida rapper has gotten a lot of mileage from that creative choice, launching a "Wiscansin University" merch line, complete with a funny fake-college website, in 2018. In 2023, T-Pain told the Journal Sentinel he plans to open a real-life Wiscansin University, a music school, in the Milwaukee area, but no details have been revealed since. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: T-Pain blasts Wisconsin State Fair Park officials over car event
