Playaz Circle to release Flight 360 The Takeoff

Welcome to the corner of Godby Road and Old National Highway. A few steps south of Atlanta and peppered with soul food joints, check cashing spots, liquor stores and abandoned store fronts, this section of College Park is the perfect illustration of urban plight. Yet, wherever lies demise, there’s also promise. Playaz Circle is a product of that potential.

“We want to bring the world to the Southside,” says Tity Boy, 1/2 of the acclaimed rap duo. He and his partner, Dolla Boy, introduced the world to their hood on the runaway hit, “Duffle Bag Boy”—with a little assistance from Lil’ Wayne— from their acclaimed debut album, Supply and Demand. Now, they are ready for the proverbial next level.

Their debut success ushered in a wave of legal tender, but unlike many new artists, Dolla and Tity resisted wasteful spending, opting instead to open Duffle Bag Boy Studios in their area. “We bought jewelry, cars and houses, but this was the biggest investment,” continues Tity, who played basketball at Alabama State University. “Our studio is our comfort zone and not far from our homes and family.”

Plus, College Park is the home of Hartsfield-Jackson International, the world’s busiest airport, which fits perfectly into the concept of Playaz Circle’s highly-anticipated sophomore album, Flight 360.

“We wake up in the morning to planes taking off and we have been experiencing that since we were kids,” says Tity (nee Tauheed Epps). “So, taking from our experiences, Flight 360 is a concept album from top to bottom. It’s very visual.”

“We took our time and let the music marinate,” interjects Dolla Boy, born Earl Conyers. His laid-back cool is misleading. Once he begins talking, his passion and knowledge of hip-hop is evident. “All of the music for the new album is handpicked. We made sure the songs were what we wanted to express in each particular way.”

Dolla explains that the care they applied this time around made a marked difference between the first and second albums. “Supply and Demand was rushed because we put out ‘Duffle Bag Boy’ as a street single and it took off. So, we had to put out an album to capitalize on that momentum. But this time around, with Flight 360, we had time to paint perfectly and put the right colors where they needed to be,” Dolla explains. “We were able to step back and look at the finished picture and make sure it was right.”

Flight 360—produced by a gaggle of up and coming, hungry producers—is more than a raucous follow-up full of kinetic beats and rhymes. It’s cinematic. “We tried to make it as if it were a film, starting with us going through the airport,” says Tity. Once their Gucci duffels clear security, the album explodes into a soundtrack specially crafted for pimped out Chevys, sexed-up strip-clubs and sweaty afterhour’s joints.

“Turbulence” bumps with a ground-shaking tempo and “Hold Up" waits for no one with its old-school 808 thump. “Stupid”, the first single with OJ Da Juiceman, is a comedic, ghetto boast and Lil’ Wayne rejoins PC on “Big Dawg”, rocking his guitar and auto-tuned vocals. “Wayne does songs with everybody, but it’s not the greatness he accomplishes with us. If you’re positive person, then you will notice and appreciate the chemistry. But, if not, you’ll think, ‘Oh, they can’t do anything without Wayne.’”

They also want to dispel the thinking that the New Orleans rapper created the “Duffle Bag Boy” tag. “Wayne was a fan of our music and our “Duffle Bag Boy” style before working with us,” explains Tity. “He knew the moniker came from College Park and that was our trademark swag.”

“The concept came from the streets, where a lot of the dudes would come around with the big Gucci and Louis Vuitton bags,” adds Dolla Boy. “We intertwined it with the music and began to get notoriety for it. Then after Ludacris signed us to DTP, he said, ‘That is hot, y’all need to stick with it.’ We were like, ‘That is us!”

Along with trunk-rattling 808s, Flight 360 also glides with melodic, radio-ready R&B. “I Can’t Remember”, featuring Bobby Valentino, is Billy Dee Williams, Colt 45 smooth and “Quit Flossin’”, with R&B group Jagged Edge, is a ladies night smash.

“We Gettin' Rich’ features us and Ludacris,” says Tity. “We each did 24 bars and it’s a go-in record.” “We Incredible” is another go-hard stand out with the twosome demonstrating their battle abilities and silencing any doubts about their skills. But, “Look What We Got” bests demonstrates Playaz Circle’s philosophy of "Do You" hip-hop.

“If you listen to our music, we are all about teaching people how to swag and be confident. We stress being a leader and not a follower. We really don’t touch on Dolla going to jail or how at 15, I was arrested for a Cocaine possession charge,” admits Tity. “When you get to a certain age, you have to stop being selfish and think about others before you. The consequences of your actions trickle down and hurt others beyond you.”

Flight 360 also embodies how the group has come full circle. “I have a Beemer on 24s and Dolla has a Benz on deuces,” says Tity. “That’s for real. Ludacris has a jet and I think we have it more than he does. This album deals with our growth, maturation and life’ after ‘Duffle Bag Boys’.”



"Flight 360 The Takeoff" by Playaz Circle - release date: 09/29/09..