In 2019, award-winning entertainer T-Pain revealed he blew through his first record deal, receiving 40 million dollars. Recently, he revealed the label split his first record deal with his record label 15/85 during a conversation with emerging rapper LaRussell.
At 18, T-Pain signed a record deal with Jive Records following the popularity of his debut single, “I’m Sprung.” The deal included the “Buy U A Drank” hitmaker receiving a 40 million dollar advance in agreeance to a 15/85 split.
“First deal, that whole first joint was 15/85 [split],” T-Pain said. “But they gave me crazy money, so I didn’t even care. Like, bro, they straight-up was like, ‘Alright, deal’s done. Here you go.”
After the revelation, LaRussell asked Teddy P if he received royalty checks from the first deal. “Oh, yeah,” replied T-Pain. “A lot. I still get a lot of royalties. I’m probably never gonna not get royalty checks.”
T-Pain wrote #1 hits for himself and others early in his career. He remembers looking back at his contract with the belief of receiving plenty of money and the paperwork proving otherwise. “I had to go look at my deal, I was like, ‘Oh, I’m about to get paid.’ And they was like, ‘No, the fuck you not,’” he said. “And I was like, ‘Bro, there’s no way.’ And they were like, ‘There’s all the way, ‘cause here’s your signature, you stupid piece of shit.’”
In past interviews, T-Pain revealed having to ask a friend to buy his children Burger King after depleting 40 million. “I had to borrow money to get my kids, Burger King,” he said.
Mismanagement is behind him. It was recently revealed that Teddy earns 60 thousand hourly playing video games. When not playing games, T-Pain is opening a new school and on tour with Pitbull and Lil Jon.