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Plies - Da Realist
| Boston |
| On his blunt and true critique of the hip-hop industry and the fawning media, Plies says, "To be the best rapper, you gotta tell lies." On his third and finest CD in 16 short months, the Florida-based MC has emerged as one of hip-hop's best by dropping unvarnished, aggressive songs with unsparing detail. He's improved his game here by cutting the thug-love nonsense to a minimum (though the hooky "Want It, Need It" is terrific). It's not that we haven't been here before, but Plies brings menace and an unnerving swagger to every line. This could be pure formula, but there's more to it than surface noise and nastiness. In deft v??rit?? verses, Plies spins tales of those left behind by the American injustice system ("2nd Chance") or his own AIDS- and crack-riddled family (the riveting "Family Straight"). The 'hood anthem "Pants Hang Low" is pure defiance and won't win him favor with Barack Obama. Whether you buy all this as the definition of real is immaterial; it sounds true, and in hip-hop that's all that matters. (Out now)...full text |
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| Rapreviews |
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The cover of Plies new album "Da REAList" was so shiny I almost thought I could hold it up and use it as a mirror for a shave and brushing my teeth. Plies probably couldn't do the latter though since one of the things blinging off the front artwork is his iced out grill, along with at least two or three chains around his neck and an expensive watch on his wrist that seems to have blood all over it. Maybe Plies punched a hater out right before the photo was taken. It wouldn't be a member of the RR staff though because we've given Plies respect on two straight albums. I noted that "The Real Testament" was a promising start for Plies while Patrick Taylor wrote that "Definition of Real" was "not an instant classic, but not a sophomore slump either." Seems Plies has things going in the right direction artistically, and if that wasn't enough he appears to be trying to one-up both DMX and Kool Keith as the most prolific artist in hip-hop. Given that "Da REAList" is his third album in under two years you really have to give it to P not only for repping Florida but being one of the hardest working rappers out today. In fact if the reports are to be believed he already has a FOURTH album in the can which he could release right now that he's holding back until April or May so he can see how well "Da REAList" sells first. Keith may drop two albums in a year and DMX may have dropped three in two, but Plies is outpacing them so quickly it's like watching Michael Phelps swim for the gold - nobody's gonna catch him. "Da REAList" is not a short album either - this album is 16 tracks starting off right away wit no intro on "Me & My Goons." For those who got used to the commercially friendly songs of the last release like "Bust it Baby Pt. 2" and "Please Excuse My Hands," this opener is a much harsher note than they might have expected. Necronam provides Plies with a very bare bones no frills beat and P spits some harsh lyrics explaining that he's just not the one you want to fuck with: "I keep a couple killers 'round me when I move Cause I don't really fuck with a lot of these dudes You won't rob me but I might rob you So when you see me you gon' see my goons [...] I gotta stay focused cause these niggaz real slick You will not rob me, turn around and sell my shit Keep my eyes open cause it happen real quick How many of us wit fire, hmm, about six" Things are not any more polite on Plies second track "Fuck U Gon' Do Bout It." Trae Coner keeps things minimalistic, adding very little to the staggered beat other than some sirens rising and falling during the chorus. It suits Plies slow flow and Floridian drawl so well that this less-is-more approach is not a detriment whatsoever. I was actually hoping "Gotta Be" would continue to follow that formula, but Necronam decided to change it up to a more radio friendly sound that has multiple layers of melody piled on top of each other while still managing to be clean enough to eat off of. Plies lyrics display the thoughtfulness that makes him more versatile than the run of the mill gangster rapper, as he steps outside of his own world and offers a toast to everyone else's success:...full text |
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| Allmusic |
| With a spectrum that runs from irresponsible gun talk to irresponsible sex talk, Plies is never accused of being the most versatile rapper. Add unimaginative album titles that always work in some form of the word "Real", plus a crazy release schedule that's seen three official full-lengths in just 16 months, and there's every reason to believe Da Realist is a take the money and run release from a gutter rapper exploiting his leap into fame. Going in a completely unexpected direction, the album actually expands the Plies universe a bit with some decent political commentary such as the damning of mandatory sentences on the inspired "2nd Chance." Production takes a bold step forward on the extremely sparse highlight "All Black," while the whimsical "Spend the Night" -- where the newly relocated Plies seduces the ladies with real estate agent talk and a Cheshire cat smile -- is his brightest sounding track to date. The electronic, Prince-sounding snare on "Want It, Need It" is another clever idea, but the rest of the big moments come from places the rapper's been before, like the thug anthem "Make a Movie" with production from Mannie Fresh or the lightweight bedroom number "Put It on Ya" which for some horribly misguided reason, closes the album. With some minor problems, some minor advancement, and some major moments, Da Realist is an overall winner from a rapper who keeps beating the odds....full text |
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