Akon, who signed T-Pain, recently expressed an opinion on why his former artist fell off.

"I think one of the major reasons is that T-Pain never left the hood. He just confined his music to urban music. That was it. I saw T-Pain as another me, to be able to cross outside of urban. Go into pop, go into EDM, go into Latin, like—I still think 'til this day he still can do it.  I would do the Latin side," Akon told Vlad TV.

"You and I know better than anybody, urban audiences aren't loyal," he continued. "Every year there's a new n*gga. Every year. So, you gotta take full advantage, maximize your urban presence, and then right as that side n*gga come in, you exit.  Give them the space.  Some people try so hard to hang on. Hip hop, it's a stick and move. It don't stick around long enough unless you continue to reinvent yourself."

Akon responded this afternoon on Twitter without mentioning Akon's name but making very clear who he was talking about.

The very ppl that held me back is tellin y’all how I could’ve been bigger 🤦🏿‍♂️

— T-Pain (@TPAIN) August 26, 2020

I’m not angry at all. I’ve grown. I’ve learned how to keep moving forward and not look back. Some ppl don’t and that’s ok. They’ll get there at their pace. But I’m no longer gonna to allow my past to determine my future. I’m in control. See y’all on the brighter side. Love y’all.

— T-Pain (@TPAIN) August 26, 2020

The very ppl that held me back is tellin y’all how I could’ve been bigger 🤦🏿‍♂️," T-Pain typed.. "I’m not angry at all. I’ve grown. I’ve learned how to keep moving forward and not look back. Some ppl don’t and that’s ok. They’ll get there at their pace. But I’m no longer gonna to allow my past to determine my future. I’m in control. See y’all on the brighter side. Love y’all."