''The Real Testament'' is the major-label debut album by

rapper Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...

Plies. It was released on August 7, 2007. Upon its release, the album was well received by music critics. 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 Aliaune Damala Badara Akon Thiam (; born April 16, 1973), known mononymously as Akon, is a Senegalese-American singer, record producer, and entrepreneur. He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of " Locked Up" (featuring Styles P) ...

Tank A tank is an armoured fighting vehicle intended as a primary offensive weapon in front-line ground combat. Tank designs are a balance of heavy firepower, strong armour, and good battlefield mobility provided by tracks and a powerful engin ...

, and T-Pain. The first single " Shawty", released on July 10, 2007, features T-Pain and was produced by

Drumma Boy Christopher James Gholson (born August 11, 1983), better known by his stage name Drumma Boy, is an American record producer. Early life Born in Memphis, Tennessee, and raised in Cordova, Tennessee, he was exposed to music at a young age. His mot ...

and Ensayne. The second single "

Hypnotized Hypnosis is a human condition involving focused attention (the selective attention/selective inattention hypothesis, SASI), reduced peripheral awareness, and an enhanced capacity to respond to suggestion.In 2015, the American Psychologica ...

" 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

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

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." 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."

Chart performance

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

Recording Industry Association of America The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...

Track listing

;Sample credits *"Shawty" - Contains a sample of "Fantasy" by

Earth, Wind & Fire Earth, Wind & Fire (EW&F or EWF) is an American band whose music spans the genres of jazz, R&B, soul, funk, disco, pop, big band, Latin, and Afro pop. They are among the best-selling bands of all time, with sales of over 90 million re ...

Chart positions

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Real Testament, The 2007 debut albums Albums produced by J. R. Rotem Albums produced by Drumma Boy Albums produced by Maejor Atlantic Records albums Plies (rapper) albums Albums produced by Akon