Highlights Include Live Performances on BET and MTV, as Well as Series of In-Store Events; "Bust It Baby Part 2" Is Plies' 3rd Single to Hit the Billboard Hot 100
NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - June 10, 2008) - Big Gates/Slip-N-Slide/Atlantic recording artist Plies gets even more real with the release of his highly anticipated sophomore album, "DEFINITION OF REAL." The collection -- which features the top 2 hit single, "Bust It Baby Part 2 (Feat. Ne-Yo)," and the official street anthem, "Who Hotter Than Me" -- arrives in stores and at all online retailers today, June 10th.
The Fort Myers, Florida-based MC will team up with Ne-Yo for a pair of major television appearances, including an appearance today on BET's "106 & Park." Tomorrow afternoon, Wednesday, June 11th, will see Plies and Ne-Yo busting out "Bust It Baby Part 2" on MTV's "TRL" as part of its "Spankin' New Music Week" programming (check local listings).
To celebrate the release of "DEFINITION OF REAL," beginning today, Plies will show his love for his home state with a series of in-store events throughout Florida. Cities on his trip include Fort Myers, Tampa, West Palm Beach, Miami, Ocoee, Jacksonville, and even a stop in College Park, Georgia on Friday. In addition, Plies will host a very special album release party tonight in Tampa. The celebration will be held at the all new Club 360 (1609 E. 7th Avenue) in Ybor City at 9PM.
Plies -- who recently came in at #6 on Forbes' list of "The Year's Hottest New Music Stars" -- kicked off his busy schedule this past weekend in Orlando with a live "MySpace presents The Release" show at a packed-out Voyage Nightclub. Check out MySpace this week, where the rapper will be a featured artist. Plies will next appear at the "Biggest Hip-Hop Concert in the South," HOT 107.9's Birthday Bash 13 at Atlanta's Philips Arena on Saturday, June 14th.
"DEFINITION OF REAL" will be available in a variety of retail exclusive editions. The Best Buy version includes three exclusive tracks (including "Bust It Baby Part 1"), while Target's adds an exclusive 30-minute DVD interview. Fans who purchase the album at Circuit City will receive a "DEFINITION OF REAL" t-shirt (while supplies last). Kmart will offer "DEFINITION OF REAL" with an exclusive Plies voicetone. Finally, iTunes' "Bonus Version" features the companion video clips for "Bust It Baby Part 2" and "Who Hotter Than Me."
"Bust It Baby Part 2," the first single from "DEFINITON OF REAL," has already proven to be another massive hip-hop hit for Plies. The track is currently #2 at both Urban and Rhythmic radio outlets nationwide. What's more, "Bust It Baby Part 2" is turning out to be a mainstream summer sensation, coming in this week at #6 on Billboard's "Hot 100 Airplay" ranking, as well as #14 on the overall "Hot 100."
The "Bust It Baby Part 2" companion video is also a favorite at BET, where it recently hit #1 on the network's "106 & Park." The clip has just premiered on MTV's "Sucker Free," having already been added to MTV2. "Bust It Baby Part 2" has also reached MTV's "TRL" countdown, coming in at #7 last week.
"Bust It Baby Part 2" is also continuing Plies' incredible run of blockbuster ringtones. The single is currently #3 on Nielsen Ringscan's "Top 200 Mastertones" ranking.
The next single from "DEFINITION OF REAL" will be the lustful "Please Excuse My Hands (Feat. Jamie Foxx and The Dream)." In addition, Plies has also unleashed a new video for the album's "I'm Da Man (Feat. Trey Songz)," which is currently streaming at the rapper's new website, www.myspace.com/plies. As if all that weren't enough, also showing on Plies' website is the companion video to the recently released street track, "Who Hotter Than Me."
In conjunction with the release of "DEFINITION OF REAL," Plies is holding a special "Real Things" promotion in which two diamond chains will be awarded to a pair of very lucky fans. The promotion -- which will run for three weeks, beginning on the album's June 10th street date -- allows fans to enter for a chance to win either a diamond "Plies Bust It Baby" chain or a diamond "Goon" chain.
"DEFINITION OF REAL" arrives hot on the heels of the rapper's 2007 RIAA gold debut, "THE REAL TESTAMENT." 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 #14 on Billboard's "Top Rap Albums" ranking. In addition, "THE REAL TESTAMENT" has spawned a series of smash hit ringtones, with at least six tracks from the album hitting Nielsen Ringscan's "Top 200 Mastertones" chart.
Plies has also become an online powerhouse, with his hugely popular www.pliesworld.com, www.youtube.com/pliesworld, and MySpace sites. The rapper is currently top 5 among MySpace's "Top Hip-Hop Artists - Major," as well as top 10 on the overall "Top Artists - Major" charts.
For up-to-the-minute news and information, visit www.pliesworld.com, www.myspace.com/plies, and www.imeem.com/plies.
CONTACT:
Cara Donatto
818.238.6819
cara.donatto@atlanticrecords.com
Catharine McNelly
212.707.3069
catharine.mcnelly@atlanticrecords.com
