Plies Set to Release Sophomore Album

Big Gates/Slip-N-Slide/Atlantic recording artist Plies has announced early details of his hugely anticipated new album, entitled "DEFINITION OF REAL." The collection -- which features the buzz track, "Bust It Baby, Pt. 1," and his first official single, "Bust It Baby, Pt. 2" -- arrives in stores and at online retailers on June 24th... "Bust It Baby, Pt. 1" is already stirring things up at radio and throughout the hip-hop underground. This week, the Ft. Myers, Florida-bred rapper personally presented "Bust It Baby, Pt. 2," the second installment of the double single -- featuring a special guest appearance from Ne-Yo -- to radio stations across his homestate of Florida. "DEFINITION OF REAL" arrives hot on the heels of Plies' 2007 debut, "THE REAL TESTAMENT," which has received RIAA gold certification. The album -- featuring the blockbuster hit singles, "Shawty (Feat. T-Pain)" and "Hypnotized (Feat. Akon)" -- entered the Billboard 200 at #2 upon its release last summer and continues to run strong, coming in this week at #10 on Billboard's "Top Rap Albums" ranking. In addition, "THE REAL TESTAMENT" has spawned a series of blockbuster ringtones, with a minimum of five tracks from the album present on Nielsen Ringscan's "Top 200 Mastertones" chart for the last 23 consecutive weeks. Plies is currently featured on the cover of Don Diva Magazine, heralding their partnership on the upcoming "Plies/Don Diva Prison Tour." Further details of Plies' historic pairing with the "Original Street Bible" will be announced shortly. In other news, Big Gates Records -- the label co-owned by Plies with his brother, Big Gates -- recently signed its first new artist, marking the rapper's entry into the music industry's executive class. An official announcement unveiling Plies' new protégé will be made in the coming weeks.