Music from the south has a different kind of heat. It's the blaze of fire from the church meeting the warm, wet heat of deep southern soul. Never before has a musical group captured that fiery sound. That is until now Ladies and gentlemen, Def Soul/Def Jam is proud to present PLAYA.

With their back round in southern gospel, PLAYA is pushing R&B in a whole new direction for '97. PLAYA (Black, 22 Smokey, 20 and Static, 22) is the embodiment of Kentucky soul. In an age of pre-fabricated R&B, these extraordinary musicians not only wrote all but one of the tracks on their debut album, Cheers 2 U, but over half the album was produced by it's youngest member Smokey. "Our sound comes from the heart. It's old school and emotional yet still ghetto, " says Static. "It's about knowing which parts need harmonies and which parts don't. Or you might need to sing one line really, really soft and blow up on the next line. We write our songs so we know exactly how they should sound."

Before Cheers 2 U was even finished, PLAYA had begun to make a name for themselves. Static wrote Ginuwine's number one hit, "Pony," and the group has also worked with Aaliyah, Missy Elliot, Timbaland and Al Green. " I think they bring a spiritual soul back to R&B that has been missing for the past decade or so. It's rare to see a trio that is as vocally solid and talented as PLAYA," says Aaliyah.

Missy, who wrote the down and danceable "Miss Parker" – a song inspired by the character by the same name form the film Friday – says she knows that when she works with PLAYA she gets nothing less than quality work and a solid collaboration.

PLAYA's musical roots were born deep in Kentucky soil and nurtured under the steeples of the black church. Static's vocal skill comes from years of singing traditional gospel hymnals accompanied by nothing more than an organ or piano. Black was influenced by the solid harmonies and strong performance skills of quartet gospel. And Smokey brings the sweet vibes of contemporary gospel groups like Commissioned.

"Our styles are also influenced by older people," says Black. "Donnie Hathaway, Stevie Wonder, Al Green, Smokey Robinson, Charlie Wilson"

"And Harry Connick Jr." adds Smokey, with a laugh. "He's got some soul."

PLAYA was discovered in a scene straight out of any aspiring musician's fantasy. Eight years ago, Playa was singing gospel in church and R&B at local talent shows. All they needed was their big break. One night after a Jodeci show, PLAYA managed to convince a guard to let them backstage. The man had heard PLAYA perform locally and let them through. PLAYA sang a medley of Jodeci hits and Devante was amazed. You boys is dope!" he said, and immediately took PLAYA under his wing.

What followed were four years of hard work and patience. PLAYA spent days in the studio writing songs, practicing their vocal talents and learning from the talent around them. At the time, DeVante's camp (dubbed Da Bassment) included Ginuwine, Missy Elliot, Timbaland & Magoo and producer Stevie J.

We were grooming ourselves. Going to the studio every single day. Doing songs every single day. We all lived together and there was a lot of love because we were all going through the same ups and downs," Static remembers.

All the hard work paid off. Cheers 2 U is a superlative mix of the best elements of southern gospel, Motown New Jack and dash of 90's funk. The albums first single, Don't Stop The Music," produced by Timbaland, is an attempt to bring R&B back to where it was "when our parents used to listen to it," says Black. "A lot of R&B acts get big because of their image, and the music comes second. We're just trying to reverse the while process and set the record straight. "Don't Stop The Music" is a hot joint. It's got bangin' drums, classic melodies and a hook that everyone can sing."

"I Gotta Know," a track also featured on Def Jam's How To Be A Player soundtrack, was written by Black and features labelmate, Foxy Brown. Static describes this song as "a hot uptempo party joint that will keep people moving."

"Cheers 2 U,'' the title track on the album is about a man letting a woman know that even though they've been "just friends," she is the one who has his heart. "The song is all about this couple toasting their new found love," says Static. "It's southern ghetto love."

The groups favorite track, "I- 65," is an ode to the interstate that takes them home to Louisville, KY. "Smokey was going through some old records and tapped into this off-beat groove, it's like some '70's funk, and we just went with it," explains Static. From the first note, the track has enough smoke-filled grooves to take you right back to summer of '75.

PLAYA's real strength is their versatility. From one track to another, the album moves easily from lover's jam to party ruckus. There is nothing these young men can't do. With style, flair and down-home flavor, PLAYA is bringing on the next wave of soul.def soul. People get ready and let the music bump, bump.