Tallahassee celebrated its famous son with a celebration to remember that began with a street dedication, a key to the city and a concert with more than 4,000 fans screaming T-Pain's songs into the dark night at Cascades Park.
Just before T-Pain appeared on the Adderley Amphitheater, the crowd heard his signature voice belt out "Tallahassee love" and images of the Florida capitol building and scenes around the city were projected from the stage.
He thanked those who came out and all those involved with the day-long celebration in his honor.
"Everything that went on today was just a dream come true," said T-Pain, from the stage.
T-Pain, whose real name is Faheem Najm, put on a high-energy, high-production show filled with his top songs and collaborations spanning a near 20-year career in the music industry. From club bangers to ballads, T-Pain performed songs like "The Good Life" and "Bartender."
He was home, finally, to put on the show he'd always wanted. The 40-year-old married father of three offered a mix of levity with his widely known humor and a sermon of sorts to encourage more unity and collaboration to lift local artists. He told the crowd to be different and, most of all, be themselves.
One thing was clear: T-Pain was touched to be performing as a successful solo artist in the city that raised him, the city tattooed in black ink on his body and the city that bears his rap name, which stands for "Tallahassee Pain."
For one night, all seemed right in T-Pain's world.
Concert-goers like Brittany Nichols, who wore a black t-shirt with T-Pain's face that read "I'm coming home," said she's always been a T-Pain fan.
"Oh, it is definitely a crowd out here," said the Tallahassee native. "It's amazing that he's come back."
Sunday was a celebration, a reunion for many and a walk down memory lane. Once back home, T-Pain drove around the city and talked about his hangout spots and neighborhoods that were like a second home to him.
It only seemed right that one stretch of road, a portion of Pasco Street from Orange Avenue to Tucker Street that ends at Bond Elementary School, would be named "T-Pain Lane" by the city of Tallahassee.
It's the same street he walked as a child from Nims Middle School to the Walker Ford Community Center -- one of his favorite childhood hangouts and where he donated resources for a music studio and other needs once he made it big.
His mom, Aliyah Najm, beamed with pride as she and T-Pain's family exited a sprinter van just before the street dedication. She hugged and greeted people who knew her son before the fame.
She said, "How awesome is it to have a street name after you while you're still living?"
"I'm extremely proud of my son at this moment because of the fact that he's worked so hard to become the gentleman and the person that he is today in the music industry," Najm said. "He had some ups and downs, but he made it through. Now he's being recognized for it."
Shaheed Najm, T-Pain's dad, was equally proud of his musical son and the moment they all got to share as a family and community.
"It means a lot to me to see what we started come full circle," Najm said. "We're very proud and appreciative of what the city is doing today."
Leading up to the big day, both the city of Tallahassee and Leon County played major roles in making the day feel like a hero's welcome. The city orchestrated the street dedication and key ceremonies. Visit Tallahassee, the tourism arm of Leon County government, hosted the bicentennial concert celebration.
Even businesses and others got in on the homecoming rollout. Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare compiled a video of staffers proclaiming their favorite T-Pain songs. While several businesses created special cocktails for the occasion.
Proof Brewing Company had the "Blame It On the Juice." Charlie Park had the "Hometown Hero." Hayward House had the "All I Do Is Win" and the Amicus Brewing Ventures had the "T-Firewater" and a "Painchiller."
"Raise a glass and join in on the TLH pride as we welcome T-Pain back to his hometown," said Visit Tallahassee's Facebook page.
During the dedication, city commissioners commended staffers who worked behind the scenes to make the moment a reality. Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey said T-Pain is an international star worthy to be celebrated, adding he enjoyed being a witness to T-Pain's personal homecoming.
"He has had a tremendous impact on Tallahassee," Dailey said. "He's had a tremendous impact on the kids in Tallahassee, and he's a great role model and a great example. I'm just proud to celebrate with him today."
After the ceremonial street dedication, Dailey presented T-Pain with a golden key to the city. The honor moved T-Pain as he held the key. He cracked a joke about it's size and then said in earnest, "Now open the gates. Open the gates and let everyone do their thing."
"This is solidified, man, that the city is behind me," he said. "You know, there's the proof ... This is very special to me, and I appreciate y'all."
After the dedication, T-Pain took time to take pictures with residents, community leaders and children. The self-proclaimed hometown hero strolled over to crowd of children who were eager to meet him.
He flashed a wide smile, ready to sign autographs on the ceremony program and t-shirts. T-Pain fielded questions from the kids, who wanted to know things like 'What's your favorite song you ever wrote?'"
T-Pain's answer: All of them.
In a brief interview with the Tallahassee Democrat, T-Pain said signing autographs for the kids was one of the biggest highlights of the day.
"It's just goes to show that you can be a regular person. You can be a normal guy. You can treat people well and still be successful," T-Pain said, adding he never predicted any of this when he was growing up in Tallahassee.
"Nobody really expects this, you know" he continued. "The people that usually are real forward about it (saying), 'I'm gonna be successful. I'm gonna do this I'm gonna do that.' Usually it's them forcing their way in and it's short lived. A natural success is much better than a forced entry."
Caleb Johnson, 16, was one of many excited young boys with the Omega Lamplighters, a youth leadership organization for boys ranging from third to 12th grade. They crowded around a barricade, waiting for a chance to meet T-Pain. It was hard for Johnson to believe a star of T-Pain's caliber was just a few feet from where he stood.
"It really humanizes him," said Johnson, a Lincoln High School junior. "We see all these celebrities on the news, see them at these awards shows. But then having him come down to his hometown and just be in a community with the rest of us, it's like, 'Wow.'"
Contact Economic Development Reporter TaMaryn Waters at [email protected] and follow @TaMarynWaters on X.