Plies: The Real Testament

The front cover of Plies' new album, The Real Testament, features him with his right hand raised as if he was taking an oath. The cover is supposed to relay Plies' oath to tell the truth, and nothing but the truth, about his experiences in the streets, and that's exactly what his debut is about. Don't be fooled by the hot, but yet cliché, single "Shawty," featuring T-Pain (the new Akon); Plies has depth and a mind full of unique ideas.

The album kicks off with "The Real Testament Intro." It's a classic journal entry by Plies about his past street life, touching on everything from family to jail experiences; it's a vivid look into his past as well as situations he's observed. Don't expect any boasting on this intro, it's strictly real talk. "100 Years" is another song embedded with pain that speaks on the trials and tribulations of being caught up in crime. It's hard to dig deep when Plies lacks lyrical ability and flow; the messages are there, but the delivery isn't.

On the other hand, "On My D---" is a clever combination of intriguing production and unique ideas. Plies spits "real life" experiences, claiming he's on his own d---.

How many breakups have you had, and thought, "I wish I had one more intimate encounter with my ex before we parted ways?" On "1 Mo Time" Plies' implies, "before you go, can we f--- one more time?" Every guy and their brother will be in line to memorize the song's lyrics. "Runnin My Momma Crazy" is the ultimate tribute from a Southern boy's perspective. One piece of the memoir that stands out is, "The sh-- I'm doing now, I know you raised me better then that / you taught me how to be a man and how to act / feelings is something I know I lack." Plies' depth on this track is amazing.

On top of all the painful emotions, there is also some hardcore tracks for all you un-buff 50 Cents out there. "Goons Lurkin" and "Kept It Too Real" are glimpses into Plies' hood chronicles. If you ever had a beef or a traitor in your camp, these two tracks are something to dig."Murkin Season" ends The Real Testament in the right way, going out with a bang, literally. On the track, Plies states, "This ain't the 80s dawg / N----s is getting murked." It makes you reminisce about the old days of street fights as Plies' laments about those days being long gone and today's unfortunate gun violence.

Overall, this is a solid project. Plies' heart and soul are in the right place, but his word play and lyrics can use some improvement. In some cases, drastically. If Plies works on these aspects, his fan base could spread throughout more lyric-driven regions. What's admirable is that Plies has something for everyone and does not fall into the ringtone-rapper category. If Plies applies this formula to his next project, we may have a classic in the making.

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