Usher Becomes Social Media Pariah Over T-Pain Remarks & Fans Demand An Apology

BY Erika Marie 18.9K Views
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Usher, T-Pain, Auto-Tune
T-Pain recently revealed he fell into a depression after Usher told him his use of auto-tune "f*cked up music" for "real singers."

He's known as one of the happiest, feel-good artists in the industry who only wants to put a smile on people's faces, so it came as a shock to T-Pain's fans when he revealed he fell into a depression because of something Usher said to him. We previously reported on a clip of Netflix's This is Pop where T-Pain detailed a story that allegedly occurred back in 2013 as he was on a flight to the BET Awards. Usher was also among the guests and the singer shared that a flight attendant woke him up to tell him that Usher wanted to speak to him.

What became of the conversation, said T-Pain, was his fellow hitmaking artist telling him that his use of auto-tune "f*cked up music" for "real singers." T-Pain then questioned if he really messed up the music industry. "I didn't understand. Usher was my friend... Did I f*ck up music? And that is the very moment—and I don't think I realized this for a long time—that's the very moment that started a four-year depression for me."

Reactions to this clip were swift, especially from other music industry professionals who came forward on social media to sing T-Pain's praises. They remarked how talented he is and how he didn't ruin anything but changed the game. Some people remarked that it seemed odd that Usher would make such a comment to T-Pain only to return with his auto-tune-heavy hit single, "OMG."

It's obvious that T-Pain is loved in the industry and fans know that even without auto-tune, the man has pipes. Meanwhile, the public is demanding that Usher issues an apology to T-Pain and he's being dragged until it happens. Check it out below.

About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.