Artist: Plies

Album: Definition of Real

Label: Big Gates/Slip-N-Slide/Atlantic

Rating: 3 out of 5 Clocks

In an industry where Hip-Hop and R&B have somehow fused and introduced a more melodic side to the business, Plies sophomore album has that fusion and this time he’s reaching out to a broader crowd. ‘Definition of Real’ dabbles on different sides of the spectrum providing power ballads for the streets as well as the ladies. With many artists in the game today focusing on a more subtle approach with productions and samples, Plies tries his character on the mature side with a less upbeat theme from his debut LP. This time around he focuses more on subject matter and lyrical content. Mind you, he has the stability to release his album the same day as Lil Wayne’s.

Within one year after the release of his debut album, Plies was anxious to return to the studio to record his sophomore album and just like a mirror image of ‘The Real Testament,’ featuring only that of R&B artists, his next one follows the same criteria. Regardless of the fact that this time around he centered himself on a more somber feel, he concentrates a little less on the hood and more on life. Interestingly enough, shuffling through the tracks, each song has an entity of its own as there is a mixture of different topics that he addresses in his lyrics. The production side has a less upbeat tempo whereas his club tracks have narrowed down to just a few and incorporates a more personal side as he expresses his thoughts on certain events and moods. He includes some major production from Drumma Boy, Scott Scorch, The Runners, and J.R. Rotem on certain tracks while others incorporates the sounds of his own in-house production as he introduced prior.

Between tracks like ‘I’m Da Man,’ ‘Ol’ Lady,’ ‘Worth Goin’ Fed Fo,’ Somebody (Loves You),’ and ‘1Day,’ he expresses issues on a more mature approach but with less anger and a more melodic theme. His entrails of hood stories and reminiscent stories with a calmer, yet suppressed tone. The track Somebody (Love You), which samples Patti LaBelle’s record that holds the same name, expresses his love for those that have lost their free lives to prison sentences. Other tracks, however, he still provides that club feel, given the fact that he can still pump the beat with tracks like ‘Dat Bitch,’ ‘Watch Dis,’ and ‘#1 Fan,’ which features the vocal talents of both J. Holiday and Keyshia Cole making it an interesting track to vibe to. For the ladies he provides them with ‘Feel Like Fuckin,’ this has his signature style written all over it, ‘Bust It Baby, Pt. 2,’ which you know is the hit single featuring Ne-Yo, this track includes samples from Janet Jackson, and ‘Please Excuse My Hands,’ which has already been released as his next single has the talents of Jamie Foxx and The Dream, it has already begin buzzing all over the radio stations.

On the Real, Plies sophomore LP touches on a lot issues as each track provides a different feel whether club, reminiscent, or melodic. I have to be honest; this album has a more straight approach over his debut. He has always dabbled in the subject matter of being ‘Real,’ his lyrics have proven that over the course of two albums, however this idea of releasing his album on the same day as Lil Wayne wasn’t the brightest, but I guess he has something to prove. Overall, the ‘Definition of Real receives a rating of 3 out of 5 clocks for lyrical content and conceptual topics.

Other notable tracks include: ‘Bushes,’ ‘Who Hotter than Me,’ and ‘Shit Bag.’