The Real Testament

The Real Testament is the major-label debut album by rapper Plies. It was released on August 7, 2007. Upon its release, the album was well received by music critics.

The Real Testament
Studio album by
Plies
ReleasedAugust 7, 2007
Recorded2006-2007
GenreSouthern hip hop, dirty rap, gangsta rap
Length57:36
LabelBig Gates, Slip-n-Slide,[1] Atlantic
ProducerKane Beatz, Akon, DJ Nasty & LVM, Drumma Boy, DVS, Ensayne, Gold Ru$h, Hen & Ro, Jay E, J. R. Rotem, Midnight Black, Papa Duck, The Beat Eaters
Plies chronology
The Real Testament
(2007)		 Definition of Real
(2008)
Singles from The Real Testament
  1. "Shawty"
    Released: July 10, 2007
  2. "Hypnotized"
    Released: September 11, 2007

On January 31, 2020, Plies released a sequel album, The Real Testament II, which was also his fifth studio album.

History

The album features guest appearances by Akon, Tank, and T-Pain. The first single "Shawty", released on July 10, 2007, features T-Pain and was produced by Drumma Boy and Ensayne.

The second single "Hypnotized" features and was produced by Akon.

There was also a series of web-only singles "100 Years", "Running My Momma Crazy", and "Got Em Hatin", there is a video for each of them, most of them were released in October and November, 2007. The third single was scheduled to be "You", featuring Tank, but it was changed to "I Am the Club".

The album was released in five different versions which included different bonus features depending on where the buyer purchases the album from.

The album was originally titled The Real Nigga Bible but was changed to The Real Testament for business reasons. The original cover showed Plies with a cigar filled with marijuana in his mouth, but was edited for certain retail outlets. An instrumental version of the album was released on iTunes on September 25.

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
DJBooth[3]
RapReviews[4]

AllMusic editor David Jeffries said that the album had a few "redundant tracks and some potential unreached", but praised both studio and street tracks being supported by capable producers and guest artists throughout. He concluding with: "An energetic artist with little refinement, Plies puts his rough edges to good use on The Real Testament, an exciting, sometimes promising, debut."[2] Steve 'Flash' Juon of RapReviews spoke about the record: "In lesser hands this would have been one of a hundred no-name rap albums that end up in your local store's bargain bin but thanks to good beats and well-chosen singles in The Real Testament, Plies makes a favorable impression both on radio and his CD. So long as he avoids any more unfortunate nightclub incidents Plies has a promising future ahead that doesn't involve '100 Years' behind bars."[4]

Chart performance

The Real Testament sold 96,000 copies in its first week of release, debuting at number two on the Billboard 200.[5] The following week the album dropped seven spots to number nine.[6] In its third week, the album sold 27,000 copies, dropping from number nine to twenty one.[7] As of April 8, 2019, The Real Testament has been certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.[8]

Track listing
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."The Real Testament" (Intro)Papa Duck2:09
2."100 Years"Midnight Black3:50
3."I Know U Workin'"Hen & Ro, Hall Of Tunez, Inc.4:16
4."On My Dick"GoldRu$h3:54
5."1 Mo Time"J.R. Rotem3:47
6."I Am the Club"J.R. Rotem3:44
7."Runnin' My Momma Crazy"DVS4:15
8."Shawty" (featuring T-Pain)Drumma Boy, Ensayne Wayne4:15
9."Friday"J. R. Rotem3:39
10."Goons Lurkin'"Midnight Black3:52
11."Kept It Too Real"Nard & B4:55
12."You" (featuring Tank)Jay E3:38
13."Money Straight"Hen & Ro, Hall Of Tunez, Inc.4:23
14."Hypnotized" (featuring Akon)Akon3:09
15."Murkin' Season"Hen & Ro, Hall Of Tunez, Inc.3:49
Bonus tracks
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
16."Got 'Em Hatin'"Nitti3:38
17."Bid Long"Bei Maejor4:08
18."Water"DJ Nasty & LVM3:28
19."Ain't Slippin'" (featuring 4orty)JRock3:38
Best Buy bonus track
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
16."I Just Want The Paper"Kane Beatz3:38
Sample credits

Chart positions

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[15] Platinum 1,000,000

sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

References
  2. Jeffries, David. "The Real Testament - Plies". AllMusic. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
  3. Slavik, Nathan (August 12, 2007). "Plies - The Real Testament". DJBooth. Archived from the original on July 6, 2008. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
  4. Juon, Steve 'Flash' (August 21, 2007). "Plies :: The Real Testament :: Slip-N-Slide/Atlantic Records". RapReviews. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
  5. Hasty, Katie (August 15, 2007). "After Five-Year Absence, UGK Scores First No. 1 Album". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 15, 2007.
  6. The Billboard 200 – The Real Testament. Billboard. Accessed August 29, 2007.
  7. "Hip-Hop/R&B Album Sales: Week Ending 6/1/08". HipHopDX. Cheri Media Group. June 4, 2008. Retrieved June 9, 2008.
  8. "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved 2019-04-13.
  9. "Plies Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  10. "Plies Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  11. "Plies Chart History (Top Rap Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  12. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2007". Billboard. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  13. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2007". Billboard. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  14. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2008". Billboard. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  15. "American album certifications – Plies – The Real Testament". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 13, 2019. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 
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