Plies: Uncle Sam's Curse
On the arrival into Atlantic Records to interview the Florida rapper, Plies, the television in their lobby spotlights the growing tensions after the Sean Bell verdict sent shivers down the spines of black New Yorkers everywhere. The mind behind the “100 Years” record has served as the voice of the unheard since he first dropped “Tell Dem Krackers Dat” back in 1999.
After the success of his debut album The Real Testament, Plies was able to utilize his name to continue to bring awareness to the hood. But as they say, “with great power comes great responsibility,” and Plies – the man – fell under scrutiny via his YouTube casting call for his Bust It Baby reality show.
The Ft. Myers, Florida self-proclaimed “goon” sits down with HipHopDX for an introspective look at how his career affects his messages, if his reality show is a good or bad look for black women nationwide and why, if you have enough money, you can buy your community service hours.
HipHopDX: What’s up with you, man?
Plies: What’s good with it, man?
DX: Can’t call it, can’t call it… The first question I have for you is – are you still doing the prison tour?
P: Yeah, actually I partnered up with Don Diva and we’re trying to iron out a few things that ended up coming to bite us. For me, initially, we had all the cities lined up, but where I’m from in Florida, the Coleman Federal Correction Facility pulled out on me last minute. A lot of others pulled out, as well.
DX: Why did they drop out like that?
P: A lot of the reasons were because of the music I make. The content of my music was an issue. So, for me, it was about getting in there to talk to those folks, man. It’s a real important issue to me and I had to re-shift what it was that we’re trying to do. Don Diva was fortunate enough to catch whiff of what I was trying to do and they’re trying to help recreate the wheel with this project.
DX: But I don’t really get it, man… They said that it was the music that made them not want to associate themselves with you, but the things you talk about in your music, go on in their prisons…
P: Yeah, I think that that was the main reason of doing the tour. For me, to be able to be a part of a country that I personally thought I had the opportunity to express what I feel emotionally and what I go through in my life was only right. I never told anyone to burn a prison down, you know? I just gave you my opinion on how, some times, the system can be unjust and unfair to people. I thought it was my God given right as an American to say that. I’m willing to continue to fight the good fight to get my word across to the people though.
DX: That’s understandable. The people also are showing a lot of love to your state, man. Florida is really on it right now with yourself, Rick Ross, DJ Khaled and others doing their thing.
P: It’s good, bro. For me, I met [Rick] Ross and [DJ] Khaled at the end. When I first got signed to Slip-N-Slide, it was probably like a year to a year and the half before I physically met Trina or Trick [Daddy].
DX: You were trying to do your thing with the mixtapes on the low, right?
P: Right. I didn’t want to come to an established label as if I was thirsty for a deal, you know. I didn’t want to use what they worked hard to get to just let it be handed to me without having anything to bring to the table. So, my brother and I just went out for like the first year and a half, before I actually met Trick and Trina, to put in the work and put worth and value into what I was doing. I wanted to get my feet up under me, as opposed to just working for a hand out.
DX: You’ve branched out a little bit too, man… Could you talk a little bit about the Bust It Baby reality TV show?
P: Yeah, man… I haven’t really started that, yet. But I hear a lot of the negative comments about what people perceive to be black women embarrassing themselves and the culture.
DX: It started a lot of shit…
P: It’s part of our culture. In my opinion, our culture is the most stereotyped that I’ve ever been a part of. It’s hard being where I’m from. I remember someone saying to me, a while ago, “I don’t know what’s worst – to fail or to succeed.” For Black America, another black man is not supposed to capitalize off our ignorance. If white America does it, then we’re like, it’s cool, it’s funny. We have no problem with white America when they see how the trappers throw candy paint and rims on they car and now when you go to a dealership, you see the same thing on those cars in the lot. They’re just newer cars with candy paint, rims and TVs. It’s cool for White America to capitalize on our stupidity – whether it’s a liquor store or things of that nature. But our own people never wants to see us capitalize off our true roots. So, I expect the backlash. Whether I make a record like “100 Years” or do this reality TV show, I expect the criticism.
DX: So, in your opinion, do you think you’re portraying black women in a good light or a bad light?
P: I feel that anytime it’s honest then there is no right or wrong. When you’re trying to be something you’re not, that’s definitely wrong. But when you open up a door to show different types of females who are from all different places in the world, express and answer questions, honestly, then that’s not wrong. At the same time, anytime someone is not a part of something, they’ll be more judgmental than they’d be if they were a part of it. You go to the movies all the time and see the same things.
DX: Most of those ladies in that audition are fans of more of your female-themed songs, you know? So, what would be your top 5 favorite slow jams to listen to when kickin’ it with a shawty?
P: Aside from my own music [laughs]?
DX: Yeah, not your own shit… [Laughs]
P: I like a lot of the new shit that’s out right now. I like Jaheim’s “Never” record that’s out, right now. That’s one of my favorites right now. I like Ne-Yo’s song. I can’t think of the title right now, but that would have to be my second favorite. I like Musiq Soulchild’s “Teach Me” record. That’s a hot song. That a classic song, right there. I’m fuckin’ with that Usher track. That “Make Love in the Club” song is tough. My fifth one would have to be something like… Keith Sweat. That’d be my top five. [Laughs]
DX: The press is really bubbling about this “hipster” movement that’s they’re trying to tag onto people like The Cool Kids, Mickey Factz, Fresh Daily and others here in and outside of New York. Do you think that that – whatever it may be – could take away from your movement and what you guys are trying to do out of Florida?
P: It’s weird, bruh, because I was having this conversation with my homeboy on the plane. I asked him, “Why don’t you like the police?” I was thinking about it and to be what we’re a part of or to be where we’re from, we grow up differently than others. We glorify – what the streets call real – the most stupid, the most ignorant and rebellious ways of living. The higher you can achieve that shit, the more that we call you real. The reason why they don’t fuck with police is because they don’t let us be stupid. They ain’t gonna let us ride around with the music blasting. We done made ourselves believe that this is legal, that we can do that. But soon as your partner get killed or someone breaks into your house, they the first people you call. I never wanted to believe that trap shit. There’s no possible way that I’d get on the record and tell people that I sell anything! It’s weird that I’ve seen so many people risk it all for that cred. But on the other end, those that have made it in the game, I salute them, because they risked their freedom and put it on the line just to get their message across. It’s no different than this new movement you speak about. I got to salute that because anytime you’re willing to put it all out there on the line to get what you believe in, out, then I have no choice but to salute you. It’s easy to be like everyone else. It’s just risky as fuck to be an individual. I can never hate on a situation like that.
DX: Another situation that’s going on is the Sean Bell verdict that was made recently here in New York. I just got off the train where some kids – couldn’t be no more than 10, 11 – were saying “fuck the cops.” Do you think that those are the seeds of rebellion? Or are they just listening to too much rap music?
P: The world is about opinion. It’s no different than you saying that you don’t like my music. I’m cool with that because I don’t think that my music should be liked by everyone. I wasn’t here [in New York] to see how the verdict affected the people, but it seemed like it’s a pretty big situation. It’s weird, Kev, because the system is what it is. At the time [before the verdict], I thought it was all white cops who shot the brotha. But when I did my research and read more about the situation and learned who did what, I learned that the system is not just white and black. If you don’t have the finances to fight the system, you’ll lose. If you’re financially in a better place, your chances are ten times better because you’ll have someone who you’re paying to know every loophole. I done fucked up once and ended getting community service. I can buy my community service. They may give me 600 community service hours, but I can buy that for $1,200. For me to understand how life really works, it’s important to put myself in situations where you learn from the experience. You see celebrities who find themselves in trouble and they get a slap on the wrist. The system is designed for those who are financially more stable. Your punishment will be less. You can find the representation that most people less off can’t really get.
DX: My brother, Jelani and I, were accused of stealing two cars a few years ago during the 2004 elections. We were just registering people to vote, but they still brought out the state troopers, but we ended up able to fight the case. So, I agree with what you’re saying…
P: Bro, there’s a lot of ma’fuckas in the system who didn’t have that paper. If you ain’t got it, nine times out of 10, you’re going to find yourself in a fucked up situation.
DX: Moving away from “fucked up situations,” man… I know you like women, I love women, dude. A friend of mine wanted to know, "Why are you so nasty?"
P: I’m just honest. I got a record on my new album called, “I Feel Like F---in’” – but I don’t think that that’s nasty because who don’t feel like fuckin’? I just feel like, for me, I’ve always had that opportunity to make – what I like to call – principle music. I’m not the most lyrical dude, I don’t want to be that, but I want to make honest music.
DX: But you got the ladies looking at you like you’re some new school LL Cool J or something…
P: Dude, it’s weird… For me, I never got in the game, wanting to be like that, but when I got my national look, they ended up working for me. Everyone was so hard at the time, so when you give my record to the streets, it was perceived as different. Now, not saying that I’m the reason, but you have a lot of people doing female-driven songs.
DX: Yeah, but this isn’t the “hold your hand” type music of the “I Need Love” days…
P: I always felt that the music I made was honest. So, being truthful can sometimes be taken too strongly. They thought I was racist after I did the “100 Years” record. But it was just my honest opinion about how I felt.
DX: But how does honesty work in such a dishonest business?
P: That’s my biggest problem. I’m not a person who you can tell to do X, Y and Z, without questioning how X, Y and Z is going to help me. You know that poster of Uncle Sam…
DX: Yeah…
P: I feel like that’s how the record industry is. They just want dumb street niggas. I always tell that to my partners, man. When you have some form of intelligence as an artist, you’re considered a problem, but if you’re willing to be the puppet, then you’re cool.
DX: Does the difficulty help or hurt with your new album coming out?
P: I don’t know, man. I feel like I’d rather go down my way, then to go down the way a group of individuals push me down, because when/if that doesn’t work, nobody would be around except for me. I know there’s a lot I’d miss out on because I am not really an industry dude. I just choose not to be a part of it. For me, the networking side of it, I miss out on a lot of things. I like to be under the radar. When you’re a part of the media frenzy, that’ll be the same thing that’ll sink your own ship. I’m totally cool with that.
After the success of his debut album The Real Testament, Plies was able to utilize his name to continue to bring awareness to the hood. But as they say, “with great power comes great responsibility,” and Plies – the man – fell under scrutiny via his YouTube casting call for his Bust It Baby reality show.
The Ft. Myers, Florida self-proclaimed “goon” sits down with HipHopDX for an introspective look at how his career affects his messages, if his reality show is a good or bad look for black women nationwide and why, if you have enough money, you can buy your community service hours.
HipHopDX: What’s up with you, man?
Plies: What’s good with it, man?
DX: Can’t call it, can’t call it… The first question I have for you is – are you still doing the prison tour?
P: Yeah, actually I partnered up with Don Diva and we’re trying to iron out a few things that ended up coming to bite us. For me, initially, we had all the cities lined up, but where I’m from in Florida, the Coleman Federal Correction Facility pulled out on me last minute. A lot of others pulled out, as well.
DX: Why did they drop out like that?
P: A lot of the reasons were because of the music I make. The content of my music was an issue. So, for me, it was about getting in there to talk to those folks, man. It’s a real important issue to me and I had to re-shift what it was that we’re trying to do. Don Diva was fortunate enough to catch whiff of what I was trying to do and they’re trying to help recreate the wheel with this project.
DX: But I don’t really get it, man… They said that it was the music that made them not want to associate themselves with you, but the things you talk about in your music, go on in their prisons…
P: Yeah, I think that that was the main reason of doing the tour. For me, to be able to be a part of a country that I personally thought I had the opportunity to express what I feel emotionally and what I go through in my life was only right. I never told anyone to burn a prison down, you know? I just gave you my opinion on how, some times, the system can be unjust and unfair to people. I thought it was my God given right as an American to say that. I’m willing to continue to fight the good fight to get my word across to the people though.
DX: That’s understandable. The people also are showing a lot of love to your state, man. Florida is really on it right now with yourself, Rick Ross, DJ Khaled and others doing their thing.
P: It’s good, bro. For me, I met [Rick] Ross and [DJ] Khaled at the end. When I first got signed to Slip-N-Slide, it was probably like a year to a year and the half before I physically met Trina or Trick [Daddy].
DX: You were trying to do your thing with the mixtapes on the low, right?
P: Right. I didn’t want to come to an established label as if I was thirsty for a deal, you know. I didn’t want to use what they worked hard to get to just let it be handed to me without having anything to bring to the table. So, my brother and I just went out for like the first year and a half, before I actually met Trick and Trina, to put in the work and put worth and value into what I was doing. I wanted to get my feet up under me, as opposed to just working for a hand out.
DX: You’ve branched out a little bit too, man… Could you talk a little bit about the Bust It Baby reality TV show?
P: Yeah, man… I haven’t really started that, yet. But I hear a lot of the negative comments about what people perceive to be black women embarrassing themselves and the culture.
DX: It started a lot of shit…
P: It’s part of our culture. In my opinion, our culture is the most stereotyped that I’ve ever been a part of. It’s hard being where I’m from. I remember someone saying to me, a while ago, “I don’t know what’s worst – to fail or to succeed.” For Black America, another black man is not supposed to capitalize off our ignorance. If white America does it, then we’re like, it’s cool, it’s funny. We have no problem with white America when they see how the trappers throw candy paint and rims on they car and now when you go to a dealership, you see the same thing on those cars in the lot. They’re just newer cars with candy paint, rims and TVs. It’s cool for White America to capitalize on our stupidity – whether it’s a liquor store or things of that nature. But our own people never wants to see us capitalize off our true roots. So, I expect the backlash. Whether I make a record like “100 Years” or do this reality TV show, I expect the criticism.
DX: So, in your opinion, do you think you’re portraying black women in a good light or a bad light?
P: I feel that anytime it’s honest then there is no right or wrong. When you’re trying to be something you’re not, that’s definitely wrong. But when you open up a door to show different types of females who are from all different places in the world, express and answer questions, honestly, then that’s not wrong. At the same time, anytime someone is not a part of something, they’ll be more judgmental than they’d be if they were a part of it. You go to the movies all the time and see the same things.
DX: Most of those ladies in that audition are fans of more of your female-themed songs, you know? So, what would be your top 5 favorite slow jams to listen to when kickin’ it with a shawty?
P: Aside from my own music [laughs]?
DX: Yeah, not your own shit… [Laughs]
P: I like a lot of the new shit that’s out right now. I like Jaheim’s “Never” record that’s out, right now. That’s one of my favorites right now. I like Ne-Yo’s song. I can’t think of the title right now, but that would have to be my second favorite. I like Musiq Soulchild’s “Teach Me” record. That’s a hot song. That a classic song, right there. I’m fuckin’ with that Usher track. That “Make Love in the Club” song is tough. My fifth one would have to be something like… Keith Sweat. That’d be my top five. [Laughs]
DX: The press is really bubbling about this “hipster” movement that’s they’re trying to tag onto people like The Cool Kids, Mickey Factz, Fresh Daily and others here in and outside of New York. Do you think that that – whatever it may be – could take away from your movement and what you guys are trying to do out of Florida?
P: It’s weird, bruh, because I was having this conversation with my homeboy on the plane. I asked him, “Why don’t you like the police?” I was thinking about it and to be what we’re a part of or to be where we’re from, we grow up differently than others. We glorify – what the streets call real – the most stupid, the most ignorant and rebellious ways of living. The higher you can achieve that shit, the more that we call you real. The reason why they don’t fuck with police is because they don’t let us be stupid. They ain’t gonna let us ride around with the music blasting. We done made ourselves believe that this is legal, that we can do that. But soon as your partner get killed or someone breaks into your house, they the first people you call. I never wanted to believe that trap shit. There’s no possible way that I’d get on the record and tell people that I sell anything! It’s weird that I’ve seen so many people risk it all for that cred. But on the other end, those that have made it in the game, I salute them, because they risked their freedom and put it on the line just to get their message across. It’s no different than this new movement you speak about. I got to salute that because anytime you’re willing to put it all out there on the line to get what you believe in, out, then I have no choice but to salute you. It’s easy to be like everyone else. It’s just risky as fuck to be an individual. I can never hate on a situation like that.
DX: Another situation that’s going on is the Sean Bell verdict that was made recently here in New York. I just got off the train where some kids – couldn’t be no more than 10, 11 – were saying “fuck the cops.” Do you think that those are the seeds of rebellion? Or are they just listening to too much rap music?
P: The world is about opinion. It’s no different than you saying that you don’t like my music. I’m cool with that because I don’t think that my music should be liked by everyone. I wasn’t here [in New York] to see how the verdict affected the people, but it seemed like it’s a pretty big situation. It’s weird, Kev, because the system is what it is. At the time [before the verdict], I thought it was all white cops who shot the brotha. But when I did my research and read more about the situation and learned who did what, I learned that the system is not just white and black. If you don’t have the finances to fight the system, you’ll lose. If you’re financially in a better place, your chances are ten times better because you’ll have someone who you’re paying to know every loophole. I done fucked up once and ended getting community service. I can buy my community service. They may give me 600 community service hours, but I can buy that for $1,200. For me to understand how life really works, it’s important to put myself in situations where you learn from the experience. You see celebrities who find themselves in trouble and they get a slap on the wrist. The system is designed for those who are financially more stable. Your punishment will be less. You can find the representation that most people less off can’t really get.
DX: My brother, Jelani and I, were accused of stealing two cars a few years ago during the 2004 elections. We were just registering people to vote, but they still brought out the state troopers, but we ended up able to fight the case. So, I agree with what you’re saying…
P: Bro, there’s a lot of ma’fuckas in the system who didn’t have that paper. If you ain’t got it, nine times out of 10, you’re going to find yourself in a fucked up situation.
DX: Moving away from “fucked up situations,” man… I know you like women, I love women, dude. A friend of mine wanted to know, "Why are you so nasty?"
P: I’m just honest. I got a record on my new album called, “I Feel Like F---in’” – but I don’t think that that’s nasty because who don’t feel like fuckin’? I just feel like, for me, I’ve always had that opportunity to make – what I like to call – principle music. I’m not the most lyrical dude, I don’t want to be that, but I want to make honest music.
DX: But you got the ladies looking at you like you’re some new school LL Cool J or something…
P: Dude, it’s weird… For me, I never got in the game, wanting to be like that, but when I got my national look, they ended up working for me. Everyone was so hard at the time, so when you give my record to the streets, it was perceived as different. Now, not saying that I’m the reason, but you have a lot of people doing female-driven songs.
DX: Yeah, but this isn’t the “hold your hand” type music of the “I Need Love” days…
P: I always felt that the music I made was honest. So, being truthful can sometimes be taken too strongly. They thought I was racist after I did the “100 Years” record. But it was just my honest opinion about how I felt.
DX: But how does honesty work in such a dishonest business?
P: That’s my biggest problem. I’m not a person who you can tell to do X, Y and Z, without questioning how X, Y and Z is going to help me. You know that poster of Uncle Sam…
DX: Yeah…
P: I feel like that’s how the record industry is. They just want dumb street niggas. I always tell that to my partners, man. When you have some form of intelligence as an artist, you’re considered a problem, but if you’re willing to be the puppet, then you’re cool.
DX: Does the difficulty help or hurt with your new album coming out?
P: I don’t know, man. I feel like I’d rather go down my way, then to go down the way a group of individuals push me down, because when/if that doesn’t work, nobody would be around except for me. I know there’s a lot I’d miss out on because I am not really an industry dude. I just choose not to be a part of it. For me, the networking side of it, I miss out on a lot of things. I like to be under the radar. When you’re a part of the media frenzy, that’ll be the same thing that’ll sink your own ship. I’m totally cool with that.
