By dropping his second album in ten months, Plies looks to capitalize on the recent success of his “Gunshine State” partners. Last year Plies struck gold with his debut The Real Testament, but he’s back with Definition of Real looking to pick up where he left off. His big single last year was “Shawty” this time around he’s keeping the ladies loving him with “Bust It Baby Part 2”. Will this be enough to get another plaque? Let’s see.

I’m Da Man
Featuring Trey Songz; Produced by Drumma Boy
Plies starts this one off for the goons, good beat, tough talking, and then Trey Songz supplies the hook. Citing Trey’s recent run-ins, he fits well with Plies on this track. Good start to the album.

Ol’ Lady
Produced by Necronam
This is my favorite song on the album. Plies is that dude! This song is GANGSTA! Peep what he says, “Nigga claim he don’t like me, but it’s all gravy, keep playing with me, and I’m fuck your old lady!” HEAR IT FOR YOURSELF!

Bushes
Produced by Midnight Black
This is another one for the goons. Plies gives us another tale about hiding in some bushes waiting for his victim. I don’t advocate what he’s talking about, but it’s a good song, something you’ll hear bumping in the hood.

Worth Goin’ FED Fo
Produced by Bryan Tyson
The beat on this one is kind of boring, which hurt Plies, because his lack of rhymes. I like the hook, but the rest of the song isn’t interesting at all. I’m going to have to say SKIP on this one.

Dat Bitch
Produced by DVS
He made this one for the strip clubs, notice the hook; “Just hit me a lick, finna blow a check, got stacks on me, goons on deck, finna slide through the strip club and make a mess, I don’t want that hoe, I want that bitch!” I couldn’t have said it any better.

Somebody (Loves You)
Produced by Rodnae
Patti LaBelle and Plies on a song together? Nah, just playing, but he does lift the hook from her. I can’t front on this one, I kind of like it. Plies is getting deep on this one, no not really, but he’s doing him.

Feel Like Fuckin
Produced by Bryan Tyson
Songs like this one is what makes me call Plies the male version of Trina. “I got a taste for some pussy, I feel like fuckin.” Yeah, he gets gutter on this one, not your usual Plies gutter, but Trina gutter. Check the way Plies says “pussy”; he makes it sound so nasty.

Watch Dis
Produced by Drumma Boy
I could’ve sworn that T-Pain did the hook, but it’s not him. The beat is supplied by Drumma Boy and is what Plies needs to disguise his redundant lyrics. But this one is has single written all over it. CHECK FOR THIS.

Who Hotter Than Me
Produced by Midnight Black
This is another one for the goons! The beat is tight and Plies is doing what he does best, talk smack. Is he the hottest in the streets? I let you decide that. It’s still a good song though.

1 Day
Produced by Bryan Tyson
We got a touching song from Plies on this track. You got to feel the dude on this one. If you have lost somebody to the streets, then you will feel this song. I can’t get mad at him for this one.

Bust it Baby Part 2
Featuring Ne-Yo; Produced by J. R. Rotem
You’ve heard this song, seen the video, and the ladies love this song. Amazing how Plies has turned a phrase into a new single and an upcoming reality show with the same name. WOW! Do your thing Plies.

Shit Bag
Produced by Bryan Tyson
Another goon song, this time Plies is talking about hitting somebody to the point where they need a “shit bag!” Not very lyrical, but he gets his point across.

Please Excuse My Hands
Featuring Jamie Foxx & The Dream; Produced by Frank E
Plies takes it back to the ladies on this one. He jacks 90’s R&B group Silk on this one. I don’t really like it, but I’m sure some of the ladies will.

Rich Folk
Produced by Pentagon Productions
Plies tells us all that he wants to come up and live like rich folk. I like the message, but Plies gets redundant after a while.

#1 Fan
Featuring Keyshia Cole & J. Holiday; Produced by DJ Nasty & LVM
Plies pulled out some big R&B stars for this one, but it still doesn’t work for me. I guess dudes will be walking up to girls saying this now. I guess you have to be a “bust it baby” to answer to that.

Bottom Line:
Plies stuck to his formula and produced another decent album. For some reason, I feel like this album was aimed at the ladies, but it does have songs for the guys. Plies subject matter gets redundant at times and you wonder when he will ever talk about anything else. But why should he? He has a gold plaque, and if he keeps it up, he might have another one. Plies doesn’t stray from what got him to this point, and I don’t think he cares or his fans.

nappyPicks: “I’m Da Man”, “Ol’ Lady”, “Bushes”, & “Watch Dis”

Download: Plies – “Ol’ Lady”

The SoundScan numbers are out and it looks like the fans actually backed someone whose worthy. Bun B’s II Trill lands at #2 on the Billboard 200. After all he’s been through, you can’t help but feel good for Underground King. Also this week, The Cool Kids make a small splash with their digital EP The Bake Sale while the Kidz In The Hall still can’t catch a break and are still not in the Top 200. Oh yeah, for all those e-mails and comments from those who had a problem with King Jerm’s review of the Killah Priest album, you all should of went and also bought Behind The Stained Glass, because it sold a dismal 840 copies last week. Look out for Usher’s new album Here I Stand to make noise a lot of next week. Without further ado let’s take a look at the Top 50…

#2 Bun B/II Trill (Last Week: NA) – 98,344; Total: NA [Debut]
#7 Mariah Carey/E=MC² (Last Week: #6) – 44,837; Total: 931,987 (Gold) [6 Weeks]
#19 Jordin Sparks/Jordin Sparks (Last Week: #23) – 20,000; Total: 778,000 (Gold) [27 Weeks]
#22 Rick Ross/Trilla (Last Week: #27) – 17,887; Total: 517,159 (Gold) [11 Weeks]
#37 Lyfe Jennings/Lyfe Change (Last Week: #17) – 13,938; Total: 146,944 [4 Weeks]
#38 Keith Sweat/Just Me (Last Week: #10) – 13,850; Total: 50,679 [2 Weeks]
#50 Alicia Keys/As I Am (Last Week: #35) – 11,000; Total: 3,479,000 (3x Platinum) [28 Weeks]
#152 The Cool Kids/The Bake Sale (Last Week: NA) – 4,278; Total: NA [Debut]
Not In Top 200 Kidz In Da Hall/The In Crowd (Last Week: Not In Top 200) – 2,455; Total: 6,404 [2 Weeks]
Not In Top 200 Killah Priest/Behind The Stained Glass (Last Week: NA) – 840; Total: NA [Debut]

After debuting at #1 on the Billboard with Trilla, getting voted 4th place in MTV News’ “Hottest MC’s In The Game”, and going Gold when most rappers these days can’t sell 100,000 albums, Rick Ross wants more. Who knew that after all the success that Rick has gotten this year, he would plan to drop another album in the 4th quarter of 2008. It will be named Deeper Than Rap and while I doubt it will actually come out this year, Ross promises, “I’mma give them my life, the streets and give them the game on this one”. The first taste? Rick Ross hooks up with Pharrell on “Get Down”. I don’t know about this combination but it’s kinda catchy. Enjoy.

Download: Rick Ross feat. Pharrell – “Get Down”

She was the FIRST female emcee to debut at number 1 on Billboard. Each of her released albums have reached gold or platinum status. She has been in the game (depending on what you consider IN) for 12 years (give or take a year). All those things considered; she is just around 30. Is she still as relevant as she was when she started? Did the 7 year layoff and all the other drama hurt her game? Let’s find out.

Brooklyn’s Don Diva
The backdrop and theme is about Browns arrests and time in the limelight outside of the studio. She seems to relish in, and why not, it’s the same shit the men do. Get arrested then talk about it. Hey, if it works, go for it. She does claim 20 million sold, I need someone to check that for me ’cause I don’t know how accurate that is for 3 albums especially considering your last one was only certified gold. The song isn’t bad, beat is a little too simple, but it’s ok.

We Don’t Surrender
Featuring Graph
“I keeps 3 9’s on me like I’m Gino Green.” Current reference that is simple but effective. Fox stands up on this one and basically lets mofo’s know she’s here, and what?! Graph contributes, but I wasn’t impressed with him on this one. The track is ok, but it sounds really canned. I would have loved to hear some more real instrumentation on this one.

We’re On Fire
Featuring Movado
This is when Fox is on her grind. Name droppin’ and syllable flippin’. I dig this one. Did you want Foxy to flip into patois in the middle of her flow on the second verse? Damn, shit sounded fly. Movado’s singing adds that extra thing to the song. One of the best cuts on the album. I do have to mention, she shoots at Jay again claiming she carried BK on her back…..and Sean (Carter) couldn’t do that. Yes, she went in.

Dreams Of Fucking A D-Boy
Featuring Jay Rush
I guess when there doesn’t seem to be any female rappers to contend with, you take on the men. She comes out with this story about, well, you read the title. Drugs, extravagant clothes, sex talk; yep, she seems to have the formula down. Someone must have taken some Lyfe Jennings stem cells (pause) cause one of his clones is singing on this track. It’s an ok song that features one of the more inspired beats on this album.

When The Lights Go Out
Featuring Kira
Um, okay, I guess this may have been made to be a radio cut or a left over track from Janet’s 20 Y.O. album. Is that good or bad? I don’t know. What I do know is that it seems out of place. oxy goes back to her first album with her sexuality in what would be a good song for the ladies in the club…or ladies on the stage.

Never Heard This Before
Featuring Dwele
This has GOT to be aimed at the radio…however, if they clean it up for the radio it may be a 2 sec. instrumental. Dwele doesn’t sound like Dwele (layers on layers of voice) but he still does his thing on this track. It’s a good song. As far as content, this song could damn near be called “I Been/Has Been” as she starts a majority of the bars with “I been”. Her objective is sot solidify her past, staying power, and position in the female emcee game. Wanna know, how she did? Check it out below.

Too Real
Featuring AZ
Hey, it’s a semi Firm reunion. Remind me, is that actually good or bad? I won’t go into that album here, but the return to some scratching and a nostalgic type beat are welcome. AZ rides the beat like AZ can, but I can’t help but notice he doesn’t bring it lyrically like he is known for…was it intentional? I don’t know, but he definitely kicked an average verse….on purpose…gotta be.

Star Cry
“If you never seen a star cry, I give you my life/Got my blood, sweat, and tears/Hip-Hop’s bad girl, 10 fuckin’ years.” The chorus plays before her first bar and when coupled with this beat, you get a lil’ more Inga with your Foxy. She talks about her troubles, P.O., paparazzi, controversy, etc. The funny thing is that the self proclaimed Don Diva says she gets press like Paris and Ms. Lohan, as if that is a good thing? Aside from that, she gets a little more emotional and lets us in; it’s a solid song and easily one of the better cuts on here.

Why
Guess what, that dude cheated. What dude? Whoever she is talking about. Essentially, it’s a story of how she upgraded this “lame fucka” only to catch him cheating…after she followed him. Eh…

She Wanna Rude Buoy
Featuring DeMarco
When the track came on, I was digging the lil’ island feel to it, decent shit. Then she started spitting and it sounded like “Dreams Of Fucking A D-Boy” as a remix….OH it is. It seems to be curiously placed in the middle of the album. That pretty much ruined the song for me. You can’t just change the title and the beat and call it a new song…then again, Jagged Edge been doing that for years. SKIP.

The Quan
Featuring Lady Saw
Keeping it dancehall with one of the illest, Foxy calls in Lady Saw for this one. Something about this seems forced or something. I am not sure if it’s because of her delivery or lack/presence of accent on some parts and not others. The song itself seems inconsistent and really, by the end of the song, you get tired of the beat. SKIP

Bulletproof
Featuring Lil’ Mo
Hi Lil’ Mo, I miss you. Ahem, crush aside, I dig this track. She talks about being in love with a “gangsta nigga”…her words not mine. I guess ladies really DO want a roughneck, even today. She brags about catching another case, bailing him out, and the way he takes care of her for doing that. I guess. Hey, “Ain’t No Nigga” right?

How We Get Down
Featuring Graph & Prinz
I think this one COULD have been a banger. A little heavier on the bass, more on that background melody (maybe even a guitar infusion) and you have a fantastic beat. Lyrically, smh. With lines like “I’m a gardner, I can plant fear in ya”, it seems to miss the mark.

We Set The Pace
Featuring Spragga Benz & Morgan Heritage
We get back to the islands with this beat and hook by Spragga, however, its horribly mismatched. The beat is soo chill and laid back that her assertions of greatness come off as misplaced delusions of grandeur (thanks Rick James).

The Quan (Hip-Hop Mix) [Bonus]
Featuring Lady Saw
I would go as far as to say, that this is the most solid track on the album. It sounds very dated, circa “Renee” from the Lost Boyz, but it’s arguably the best song on the album. Her tonality and delivery are damn near flawless on this one. The Reggae feel is blended perfectly with Hip-Hop and Foxy (???) “whoa” adlib is the stamp on this song. She did her thing on this one, finally.

Bottom Line:
This review took so long because I had to listen to it in line with the other CD’s. In today’s market, there are few female emcees that are really doing it in the industry so I had to kinda set the plate before I ate. I listened to all 4 (counting the unreleased Ill Na Na 2: The Fever) before doing this review. Of course not all at one time, but I had to have some point of reference, hell, it’s been 7 years. What I discovered is that they are all damn near the same. Does that matter or should that matter? Well, considering Ms. Inga started killing it as a teenager when she broke into the game, and she is now a grown woman, I would expect some (more) growth. She had a chance to do something special with a wide open field, and she just released the same album…again….with more pedestrian beats and a large dose of reggae and bitterness that start to repeat themselves on this very album. She has been working on Black Roses now for quite a while and hopefully, it can breathe some new life into her music and really assert her as the Don Diva she claims to be.

nappyPicks: “The Quan (Hip-Hop Mix)”, ” Why”, “Never Heard This Before”, & “Star Cry”

Download: Foxy Brown feat. Lady Saw – “The Quan”
Download: Foxy Brown feat. Dwele – “Never Heard This Before”

I won’t lie to you, there was nobody who came out last week to impact the charts in the Top 50 (We barely even did any reviews last week). So NEXT week we’ll see the impact of releases from Kidz In The Hall & Foxy Brown. This week? Well, Ricky Ross gets a plaque, and uh, thats really it. I guess it’s not summer time yet. Let’s go…

#5 Mariah Carey/E=MC² (Last Week: #2) – 87,100; Total: 828,600 (Gold) [4 Weeks]
#12 Lyfe Jennings/Lyfe Change (Last Week: #4) – 31,700; Total: 112,100 [2 Weeks]
#18 Jordin Sparks/Jordin Sparks (Last Week: #23) – 24,100; Total: 740,500 (Gold) [25 Weeks]
#28 The Roots/Rising Down (Last Week: #6) – 20,741; Total: 74,700 [2 Weeks]
#29 Alicia Keys/As I Am (Last Week: #32) – 20,600; Total: 3,453,400 (3x Platinum) [26 Weeks]
#34 Rick Ross/Trilla (Last Week: #26) – 17,500; Total: 501,600 (Gold) [8 Weeks]
#40 Amy Winehouse/Back To Black (Last Week: #40) – 15,300; Total: 1,937,200 (Platinum) [61 Weeks]
#45 Mary J. Blige/Growing Pains (Last Week: #46) – 14,300; Total: 1,462,000 (Platinum) [21 Weeks]