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The best kept secret in music
Press
FLORIDA RAPPER PLIES GETS REAL THIS SUMMER;
BIG GATES/SLIP-N-SLIDE/ATLANTIC DEBUT,
“THE REAL TESTAMENT,” DUE AUGUST 7TH;
FEATURED VERSE CONTEST LAUNCHES ON PLIESWORLD.COM;
“SHAWTY” VIDEO TO PREMIERE ON ALLHIPHOP.COM MAY 28TH
Big Gates/Slip-N-Slide/Atlantic recording artist Plies has announced details of his highly anticipated major label debut. Dubbed “THE REAL TESTAMENT,” the Ft. Myers, FL-bred rapper’s album is set to drop August 7th.
Yesterday, May 17th, marked the official launch of Plies’ “The Real Testament Featured Verse” contest, hosted by the rapper himself on his website, www.pliesworld.com. From now through June 15th, contestants will be able to register online and submit a verse to Plies’ song, “Ain’t Slippin’,” produced by DJ Nasty. The winner will be chosen based on creativity, originality, and aesthetic value, and his or her verse will appear on “THE REAL TESTAMENT.” The winning verse will be revealed on the track August 7th, when the album hits stores.
Plies has also announced details for the world premiere of his eagerly awaited music video, “Shawty,” featuring T-Pain. The companion clip—co-directed by Plies and Edwin Decena—to the rapper’s rising hit will be unveiled Monday, May 28th on the “World’s Most Dangerous Site,” AllHipHop.com, and can be viewed at www.AllHipHop.com.
In ringtone news, the mastertone for “Shawty” is already rocketing up the charts. After only one week of availability, the ringtone debuted at #53 this week on Nielsen’s Ringscan chart, selling more than 7,500 ringtones.
For more information on Plies, visit www.pliesworld.com or www.myspace.com/plies.
- Atlantic Records
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
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Bio
Im not tryin to impress anyone on how hard my struggle was, or how messed up the conditions were where I came from, says Plies. I feel like most of the people in my situation come from the same type of background, the same type of environment.
Hailed as one of the realest n****s you will ever know, the Ft. Myers-based rapper has already established a phenomenal underground and street presence on the strength of his infamous mixtapes and live show. Plies is a realest who happened to learn how to tell his story in rhyme. This is why the streets love him. And he reveals his revelations of earning stripes with the summer 07 release of his Big Gates/Slip-N-Slide/Atlantic debut, THE REAL TESTAMENT.
Born in Ft. Myers, Florida, Plies grew up in the East Dunbar section of the city. Its a small town, but its a town that reflects so much to me. Youve got two separate sides youve got the serious side, then youve got the gutter side. I called it Pakistan because young gits were running around with choppers and shit. Despite coming of age in the Michigan Court Projects, Plies says he wouldnt change it for the world. The only thing adversity does is reintroduce you to yourself.
Plies first became involved in music because of his brother. He started pursuing music, and I saw his vision, explains Plies. It wasnt a dream of mine. It kind of happened accidentally. But at the same time, Im a believer that nothing happens on accident.
Accidental or not, Plies and his brother, Big Gates, started Big Gates Records in the late 90s. The small label had three artists and dropped a handful of independent albums, but not from Plies. In fact, the now rapper refused to touch the mic in the beginning. It wasnt until he became frustrated trying to teach one of his artists a particular hook that Plies grabbed the mic. He never could get the hook down, so the next day I let my brother hear the hook, and he told me to stay on there, recalls Plies. The song, Tell Dem Krackers Dat, spread quickly through South Florida and fell into the lap of Miami-based powerhouse Slip-N-Slide. Impressed by Plies movement, the nationally distributed label quickly made him an offer.
Plies describes his major label debut, THE REAL TESTAMENT, as the most anticipated situation in the streets right now. And rightfully so. On the albums Nitti-produced buzztrack, Got Em Hatin, the Ft. Myers bad boy explains exactly why underachievers are jealous of his 26-inch rims, blue diamonds, and stacks on deck. Over an up-tempo beat of menacing synths, heavy bass drops, and sparse snares, Plies boasts: Some wanna see me broke/Some wanna see me in the Feds/The haters hate you when youre living/Love you when you dead/He just a mad rapper/He aint blew yet/The streets dont feel him/I aint have to go through that.
But Plies is about more than just moneymaking and bussing heads. On the breezy, mid-tempo Shawty, Plies and fellow Florida boy T-Pain serenade their ghetto queens like only a true thug can: Soon as I seen her, told her Id pay for it/Lil mama the baddest thing around and she already know it.
I aint got real problems, says Plies. Ive got the problems that come with being successful, but I aint got real problems. Theres some dude in the world that just got a life sentence today. Thats a real problem. I make reality music. I dont make music thats out of touch. Theres so much in the world that I can talk about thatll help people through their struggles. Its this key philosophy that differentiates Plies from other rappers.
In addition to THE REAL TESTAMENT, Plies wrote the somber, slow-moving song Bid Long (not featured on the album) to specifically address those locked up in the prison system. Atop simple bass and snare and high-pitched piano chimes, he harks about how people tend to turn their backs when you have a 40-year prison sentence: Nobody loves you when you got nothing to give/But when you got it, they love you when youre out here/They was my n****s when they was out/And they are my n****s now/Right now, they need me the most so I got to help them out.
I like to win in life, but to me, every dude whos in the prison system has lost, explains Plies. To me, thats not impressive. Plies has plans to embark on a nationwide prison tour, in hopes of reaching out to those currently locked up who come from the streets.
Im always coming up with reality situations in my music, says Plies. I never run out of shit to talk about. As long as Im in these streets, Ill always have something to talk about.
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