Thesis
Through his use of Auto-Tune, pop singer Faheem Rashad Najm (T-Pain) broke down the barriers of contemporary American pop, hip-hop, and R&B music in 2005 with the initial release of his hit song, “I’m Sprung,” which was highlighted by T-Pain’s robotic-sounding vocals and sliding pitches. Referencing T-Pain’s unrelenting loyalty to his vocal style, the changes in industry vocal standards that followed the release of “I’m Sprung,” and the positive response to the hit song among listeners, we argue that T-Pain should be recognized as the instigator of the contemporary robotic and polished sound that is found in popular music today.
