T-Pain recently opened up about how NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal played a pivotal role in reshaping his approach to business.
During an appearance on The Big Podcast with Shaq, the Grammy-winning artist reflected on the lessons he’s learned from O’Neal’s multifaceted career, as per Afro Tech. O’Neal, a basketball icon turned business mogul, has built an empire worth an estimated $500 million, with ventures ranging from Big Chicken restaurants to Papa Johns.
His endorsement deals, including a long-standing partnership with Pepsi, further highlight his business acumen. O’Neal even turned down a $40 million Reebok deal at one point to prioritize affordability, later rejoining the brand as President of Basketball.
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T-Pain took note of O’Neal’s ability to forge lasting partnerships rather than one-off transactions. This insight influenced his own business decisions, including his recent deal with HarbourView Equity Partners, which acquired portions of his publishing catalog and master recordings.
As T-Pain explained, the agreement leaves room for future collaborations beyond music, such as his gaming ventures Nappy Boy Gaming and the Global Gaming League (GGL).
“In the deal, they’re always open to buying anything that I got going on,” T-Pain said. “Now, if Nappy Boy Gaming jumps off or GGL, I’m like, ‘Hey, do y’all want to?’ Not only are they offering to invest in things that I’m doing to make them bigger in order to purchase later, but they’re always open to everything.”
He emphasized how O’Neal’s approach to business—prioritizing long-term relationships over short-term gains—inspired him. “I see how he does business,” T-Pain said. “It’s—it’s never like a one-time thing with Shaq.
“Nobody can ever say, ‘Look what we got Shaq to do.’ It’s always like, ‘Shaq is doing that thing with those people…’ Shaq never does like a transactional thing. It’s never like a—a celebrity-paid advertisement. It’s never anything like that.”
Reflecting on his growth since 2018, T-Pain added, “Once I saw that and I got my business back on track after a while… I’ve been studying things you do, so, you know, that’s really what got my business back on track.”
