CHULA VISTA, Calif. – T-Pain knows that whatever he does – including his latest CD, “rEVOLVEr,” which he calls the best record he’s ever done – there will be people who will just dismiss him as that Auto-Tune guy.

It doesn’t bother him though. While it may be a blow to his ego, he soothes the slams with his ever-hearty laugh – and a glance at his checkbook.

“Say what you wanna say; I’m still rich,” he said, chuckling while sitting in his tour bus. “It’s not going to change anything.”

Indeed, nothing seems to have derailed the 27-year-old singer and producer and his hit-making magic since he made his debut with songs like “I’m Sprung” and “I’m N Luv (Wit a Stripper)” in 2005. Those songs started a platinum-chain reaction of hits, including “Buy U a Drank,” “Can’t Believe It” and “Good Life” with Kanye West, which earned him one of his two Grammy Awards.

His reliance on Auto-Tune, the vocal aide that gives a computerized effect to his voice, became his signature sound. Its use grew so ubiquitous with other acts that it sparked a backlash. Jay-Z famously declared “D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune),” but it still thrives. In fact, T-Pain’s app that lets people add that effect to their voice is a popular one.

The Associated Press: Have you ever considered not using Auto-Tune because of all the criticism?

T-Pain: No. It made me do it more, just to annoy the h--- out of people (laughs). ... It made me realize that when I don’t use it, people don’t pay attention to them songs. I’ve got a song on every album, two songs as a matter of fact on every album without Auto-Tune, and that’s the song that nobody talks about. It’s weird. ...

AP: How have you grown performing in the spotlight, dealing with criticism?

T-Pain: Most of the blogs and stuff, it’s just their opinion. It’s just that one person. They didn’t ask anybody else how they felt. ... It’s just their opinion, and I can ask anybody that. ...

AP: Does this record represent a different T-Pain?

T-Pain: It’s a really different T-Pain. It’s a more confident T-Pain on the album, but I’m, like, scared. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know how this is gonna work out. This album is really good, though. It’s so good that I went back just to listen to all of my other albums, and I was like, “I don’t know why I thought people would like that.”

AP: If you were to go back and look at any bad reviews, would you agree with them?

T-Pain: No. No. That’s just how I express myself. That’s what music was created for, music was created for people to express themselves. Whether they do a good job to you or not, they got those feelings out.