T-Pain cashed in his catalog because he did not want unpredictable streaming payments to determine what his children inherit.
The “I’m Sprung” hitmaker explained the decision during a Twitch stream, more than a year after HarbourView Equity Partners acquired his publishing catalog and select master rights. The February 2025 sale was rumored to be worth $100 million.
“You think I’mma leave my kids’ life and their future in the hands of the music industry?” T-Pain, 41, asked. “You got me f–ked up.”
The singer said artists were never consulted when streaming transformed how music generated money.
“Suddenly, out of nowhere and without anybody’s consent, all of our music went from a dollar a song to 0.003 cents per play,” he said. “Nobody asked us s–t”
T-Pain has opened up about his decision to sell his music catalog and select master rights to HarbourView Equity Partners in 2025 for a rumored $100 million.
— WatsUp TV (@WatsUpTV) August 6, 2026
Speaking during a recent Twitch livestream, the singer revealed that declining streaming revenue and his desire to… pic.twitter.com/jQUsHKOfQD
The rapper feels the possibility of royalty rates falling further made a guaranteed payout more appealing than holding onto ownership indefinitely.
“I know exactly how much I want right now,” he said. “I know exactly what I would need to live out the rest of my life.”
The Grammy winner, born Faheem Rashad Najm, has three children, Lyriq, Muziq and Kaydnz, with wife Amber Najm.
When the deal was announced, T-Pain said he was grateful his work would continue reaching listeners. He also made clear that selling the catalog did not mean retiring.
“I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon,” he said.
