T-Pain: Death of Big Ass Chain (D.O.B.A.C.)

“Bill Gates don’t dangle diamonds in the face of peasants when he’s Microsofting in the place” -Andre 3000 on “Red Velvet” by Outkast I’ve seen some clownish, buffoonish activity in my day, but T-Pain just took the cake, ate the cake and sh***ed the cake all over the internet earlier this week. OutKast recorded a […]

“Bill Gates don’t dangle diamonds in the face of peasants when he’s

Microsofting in the place”

-Andre 3000

on “Red Velvet” by Outkast

I’ve seen some clownish, buffoonish activity in my day, but T-Pain just took the cake, ate the cake and sh***ed the cake all over the internet earlier this week.

OutKast recorded a song called “Red Velvet,” where the legendary group chastised the Hip-Hop baller that blings a bit too much in hard times.

T-Pain recently took to the stage a concert with a pendant that said, “BIG ASS CHAIN.” Mind you, the chain that held the big a** pendant was actually pretty small, but that’s beside the point.

I have to ponder what he was thinking when he bought it. He offered the following insight:

“10lbs. 197kts. Very very real I don’t know what fake feel like.$410,000. Hola señor recession proof. With 32 cars.Oldest child 5 and already got 4 million in her own account.I dont do dumb s**t like this till I know the fams good. So don’t judge me frm what I buy.Judge me frm what I do.Cuz it’s so many artists that put themself before their family.but thanx yo.”

– T-Pain

I have to disagree with him, except with the part about it being “dumb s**t.” At least he knows!

JUST because you are rich doesn’t excuse you from irresponsible behavior as a citizen. Sure, T-Pain is fully allowed to do whatever he wants with his money. I REPEAT T-Pain is allowed to do with his money however he so pleases! But does that mean we have to accept it as a societal norm or something we strive to do?

No.

We are in a recession and everybody I know is feeling a steady pinch from the economy. Furthermore, it is actions such as this that have gotten Americas in this current quandary – reckless, thoughtless spending. Those that don’t have it are doing everything to get by. Those that do have should have some sort of innate desire to help those that don’t, even if it’s a minor gesture like Diddy shunning ice in these trying times.

T-Pain could have change lives with that money -that $410.000 – which was spent on the silliest object ever. A chain. Oh never mind the notion that people died over the creation of such a gaudy piece of junk. Never mind the fact that it is something straight out of a CB4 parody. Never mind the fact that, in this writer’s opinion, the big a** things is just corny!

Imagine, if you can, T-Pain dividing that 410k and giving it to needy college students. Or inner city schools in need of an after school program. What about families where one or both parents has been laid off. How about a self-serving business in the hood that mploys people and also put money back in T-Pain’s pocket?

Wake up.

Pain gave over 410k to a jeweler for a chain, which is highly likely not worth the purchase price. Again that’s his prerogative as a seemingly grown a** man.

I suppose, I take objection to the message it sends to all, regardless of race, creed age or background. It seems that we remain hung up on the same, old foolishness. It seems like people, often times Black men, feel compelled – almost possessed – to demonstrate their value or worth through external adornment. “Hey look at me, I’m worth more than all of you, f***kers! I have bigger, shinier stuff around my neck.”

And whether or not this hunk of junk is real or not, there’s going to be some wanna-be MC father of 3 in the ‘hood or ‘burbs that is going to emulate T-Pain. This is the same dude that has 30-inch rims, as his kids need a better education or vitals for survival.

There have been a number of T-Pain activity going on in Hip-Hop and it just gets worse when the peasant rise up. The chain snatchers got Yung Berg in Detroit and took his colorful Transformer chain on a world tour. They got 50 Cent on stage at a concert in Africa. They jacked Sean Kingston when some fool sent his jewels through the mail. And the stories go on and on.

Oh, remember when T-Pain himself got his chain snatched a few years ago. People are starving out here and they no longer have the same love and respect for their artists.

“Keep bragging.”

-Ad lib on OutKast song.

I don’t know about the rest of the readers, but I feel disrespected as a member of Hip-Hop right now. I don’t hate T-Pain, but I certainly wish he had thought a lil’ more about the type of energy he puts out in the world. Hell, I know his kids are straight, but why not keep them “straighter” instead of foolishly spending huge sums of money on a “big a** chain pendant.” I don’t hate the guy, I just want to see him do better, as most of us strive to do.

Is that too much to ask?

Probably, yo.

I wish I had all the money T-Pain had. I’d probably do some stupid s**t like try to save the world.

Good Guy aka Every Man is a columnist on AllHipHop.com and his columns appear every Thursday or when he sends them over.

Of course his views are not necessarily that of AllHipHop.com, but secretly wish we had a big chain.