SXSW 2015: See How T-Pain Spent the Day of His Triumphant Return
The surprise headliner at Friday night's Fader Fort was T-Pain, who played an astonishing 42 songs to close out the evening — quite possibly the most talked about event of a packed weekend. "The reason I'm here is to remind you motherfuckers who I am," he said.
With his first album in nearly four years on the way, we followed the rapper-turned-singer around Austin for a day of interviews, soundchecking and finger-drumming in hotel hallways.
-
T-Pain Arrives
T-Pain arrives at Nice Kicks to do an interview with Sway in the Morning for Shade 45 radio.
-
Nice Kicks
T-Pain at Nice Kicks.
-
Sway in the Morning
T-Pain does an interview with Sway for Shade 45.
-
Touching Down at the Fader Fort
T-Pain arrives at the Fader Fort for soundcheck with his band.
-
Found the Plot
The stage layout for T-Pain's show at the Fader Fort.
-
Sound Check
T-Pain soundchecks at the Fader Fort.
-
Back to the Hotel
T-Pain scrolls through Reddit on his way to his hotel in Barton Creek to do a few interviews.
-
Table Dance
T-Pain drums a beat on the table while waiting for the elevator at the Omni Barton Creek Hotel.
-
Interviews
T-Pain does an interview with Yahoo! Music in his hotel room.
-
Naptime
T-Pain takes a nap before his show.
-
T-Pain Gets Ready
T-Pain prepares for his Fader Fort show.
-
Arriving at the Fader Fort
T-Pain, silhouetted, arrives at the Fader Fort where people are lined up outside. He's tonight's unannounced, headlining "special guest."
-
Nappy Boy Entertainment
T-Pain, outside of his green room backstage at the Fader Fort, wears a chain representing his record label, Nappy Boy Entertainment.
-
Green Room
T-Pain, his band and his entourage wait in the green room backstage.
-
Welcome Back
The crowd at the Fader Fort take cell phone photos as T-Pain takes the stage.
-
Live
T-Pain during his 42-song set.
-
Level 42
A copy of T-Pain's massive, 42-song set list, next to an empty bottle of Hennessy in the green room.
-
Victory
T-Pain smiles and laughs as he watches his Twitter light up.
-
Fans
T-Pain posing for photos with fans after his set.
-
Back to the Hotel, Again
T-Pain, about to take a portrait, after his performance.
-
Unwinding
T-Pain asks his assistant to bring a bottle of Hennessy to his room after a successful performance.