Play N Skillz
Photo: Bob Levey/WireImage

DALLAS — Hey, Lil Wayne and T-Pain — the producers of the Grammy-nominated hit single "Get Money" say they have more in store for you. Play N Skillz want in on the much-anticipated secret duet "T-Wayne" album.

"They're probably just as crazy as us," Play — the oldest of the Dallas-based sibling beat-masters — said about why he thinks the foursome could make more hits. After being passed from rapper to rapper and eventually making its way to T-Pain, the beat that Play N Skillz crafted became the soundscape for "Got Money."

"Pain is so talented and Wayne ... they match the energy of the beat," Play added about the record, which was nominated for a Best Rap/Sung Collaboration Grammy. "There's a certain energy of the beat, the way it breaks down. It changes every eighth bar. Wayne kept up with it and Pain got on top of it."

"I think they brought it to the record," Skillz said. "There were a couple of other versions [of 'Got Money'] where people were rapping on it and it just wasn't the same. It's crazy."

After rappers such as Pitbull passed on using the track for one reason or another, T-Pain took custody of the beat but wouldn't tell the producers who he had in mind to rap on the song.

"I thought Jay-Z," Play said. "Somebody ... I'm not saying Wayne isn't that caliber, but this was prior to Carter III — eight, nine months prior to Carter III. I thought it was Kanye or T.I., somebody that had already put albums out before that that was [currently] multiplatinum level. They told me it was Wayne, I was like, 'No problem.' "

Play N Skillz share a Grammy with Wayne for producing his Rap Album of the Year, Tha Carter III. The duo have been contacted about possibly submitting records for Tha Carter IV and hope to help out on the T-Wayne album.

Dallas has a lot to offer! In the coming days, we're bringing you details on the city's burgeoning hip-hop movement — from dances to fashion to hairstyles and, of course, the music. We got it all, so keep checking back for more during Dallas Week.

• It's Dallas Week

• Play N Skillz
• Lil Wayne
• T-Pain

Play N Skillz
Photo: WireImage

DALLAS — Play N Skillz could definitely get used to this. Two Grammy ceremonies, two Grammy Awards — the brothers from Dallas, haven't come away empty-handed yet.

"We are blessed," Play said the day after this year's Grammy Awards. Play and his brother Skillz won a Grammy in 2007 for their work on Chamillionaire's "Ridin' Dirty" and, just a few weeks ago, took another trophy home when Lil Wayne was honored with Rap Album of the Year. The duo produced the monster "Got Money."

"It was the best album of 2008; one of the best albums in a long time, hip-hop-wise," Play said of Lil Wayne's latest LP. "It's a blessing to be a part of Tha Carter III and have a single."

The fact that "Got Money" even made it into Lil Wayne's hands is a miracle. The track was originally erased by an engineer, and the duo had to make it all over from scratch. Then, Slim Thug, Plies and Pitbull all recorded verses over the instrumental at one time or another, but due to label politics or creative differences chose not to use the song for their projects. T-Pain then took custody of the record, but sat on it for so long that Play N Skillz almost asked for it back. Eventually, Pain passed the record to Wayne, who worked his magic.

"It was a marathon," Play said. "That album had so many release dates ... then we was hoping our song didn't get leaked. We was hoping that this song didn't end up on DJ Drama's Gangsta Grillz 28 and then don't make it to the album."

Juan Carlos "Play" Salinas and his sibling Oscar "Skillz" have been dreaming of making music since they were kids. The two were born to Venezuelan immigrants and lived a large part of their lives in a two-bedroom apartment. When their parents saw how serious the DJs-turned-producers were about making music, they moved to the living room and let the brothers convert the master bedroom into a mini-studio. Play N Skillz would eventually pay their parents back by buying them a house, which was a great surprise to mom and pops.

Before their big breakthrough with Chamillionaire, Lil' Flip put them in the game with his You Gotta Feel Me LP. Now cats such as 50 Cent, Bun B and, of course, T-Pain and Lil Wayne hit them up regularly for tracks. On the night they spoke to MTV News in Dallas, they had three different sessions going with Slim Thug, Pitbull and Paul Wall, all longtime friends.

"For Paul, we're trying to push the envelope with this one," Skillz said.

"Everyone's heard him on screwed and chopped records ... Jermaine Dupri did a good job on a couple records with him," Play added. "We're trying to do something a little different with him, and he's willing to take a chance. We're recording a song called 'Cadillac' right now. It's an ode to all the Cadillacs we ride out here. It sounds like he's talking to a woman, like he's in love with a woman, but it's his car. It's a remake of a Ready For the World record. It's something different for Paul."

As for Slim, the brothers — who released their own album in 2004, The Process — say it's a miracle they even are getting work done with Thugger, as they usually go to the club instead of record. Pitbull is the wild card.

"Pit is incredible," Skillz added. "He works fast."

"You just gotta keep up with him," Play chimed in. "He's one of those guys you never know what's gonna happen. He can give you a girl record, he'll make a house record, he can tear you up lyrically. It's always fun working with him. There's nothing we can't try."

In addition to working with established acts, Play N Skillz are looking forward to helping some of the local talent blow, like their artists Bug Tuck and Tum Tum. They say that Dallas' new burgeoning music scene is primed for mainstream love.

"The wave of technology has really helped people," Play said of songs such as the GS Boyz's "Stanky Legg" and B-Hamp's "Do the Ricky Bobby" that have gotten big on the Internet and are starting to spread nationally on radio. "Now records are getting started on YouTube and MySpace. They get popular there and, believe it or not, some of these [radio] programmers are going onto these Web sites and looking for talent."

Dallas has a lot to offer! In the coming days, we're bringing you details on the city's burgeoning hip-hop movement — from dances to fashion to hairstyles and, of course, the music. We got it all, so keep checking back for more during Dallas Week.

• It's Dallas Week

• Lil Wayne
• Play N Skillz

Play N Skillz's Play
Photo: MTV News

DALLAS — Grammy partying has started almost a whole week early ... and it's not even in host city L.A.

Production duo Play N Skillz, who are nominated for three Grammys this year, hosted a party in their native Dallas at club Plush to commence the celebration. Local D-Town artist Big Tuck, ex-video model Gloria Velez, former 112 singer Slim and Too Short — along with Houston neighbors Bun B, Slim Thug and Paul Wall — came out for the bash.

Gym Class Heroes frontman Travis McCoy was the special guest DJ, spinning songs by Dr. Dre, Jay-Z and UGK, among others.

Around 1:50 a.m., just as the house lights were turned on, McCoy invited all the stars in the house to come from their VIP hideouts on the second floor to the DJ booth on the first floor. With everyone in place, McCoy jumped on top of the structure surrounding the booth and performed "Cookie Jar."

Slim then was handed the mic for his solo hit "So Fly." The Atlanta native had the women singing along with him on certain parts, especially the chorus when they yelled in unison, "I'm reaaaaaaa-deee!" Slim ended by taking it back to his 112 roots with "Peaches & Cream."

Then it was Too Short's turn. The legendary, lovable foul-mouth asked the crowd to tell him his favorite word. They responded yelling, "Beyotch!" Short's music was cued up, and he went into "Blow the Whistle."

Pitbull, who was also in the house, performed "Crazy" next. The music didn't stop — Paul Wall kept it going with "Break 'Em Off."

Big Tuck continued the rap chorus line with his regional smash "Not a Stain on Me." O.G. Bun B got loud yells with his "Gangsta" song. The MCing finale was "Still Tippin' " by Slim Thug and Paul Wall. They even let Mike Jones' part play.

Before the crowd exited, Play got back on the mic and promised to bring another Grammy (Play N Skillz won last year for their production work on Chamillionaire's "Ridin' Dirty") back to Dallas after this weekend's ceremony.

"Dallas is the next city to blow the f--- up," he insisted.

Play N Skillz are up for three Grammys this weekend for their work on Lil Wayne's "Got Money," most notably Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.

Will Lil Wayne grab all the gramophones? Is Katy Perry going to tell her girl rivals to kiss off? Can Coldplay march off with a win? MTV News is all over the 51st Annual Grammy Awards, so stay tuned for interviews, analysis and more before, during and after the big night, Sunday, February 8.

• Bun B. Paul Wall
• Play N Skillz
• Gym Class Heroes
• 112
• Big Tuck

Lil Wayne and Travis Barker
Photo: Jeffrey Mayer and Steve Granitz/WireImage

When production duo Play N Skillz started putting out feelers for people to appear on the remix of Lil Wayne's "Got Money" — a track they produced — Travis Barker was one of the first people to respond and record his part for it. One day before the recent plane crash that killed four people and seriously injured Barker and DJ AM, the drummer was in the studio, giving "Got Money" a beautiful beat-down with brand-new thunderous beats.

"We talked to Lil Chris [Baker], his assistant who died in the crash," Play told MTV News on Sunday in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where the brothers were performing as part of the third annual New Mexico Takeover. "[Chris] was lining up the remix thing with Travis. I'd never met Travis, but we spoke two days before this happened. He went in the studio, did the 'Got Money' remix. We were really excited about that. Then you wake up one morning, and it's like, 'F---!' "

"It shows how fast something can happen," Skillz added. "The day before his crash, he had just did the drums to the 'Got Money' remix."

Play N Skillz said they took it upon themselves to try to spearhead a remix to the smash single. On Sunday, they had not yet spoken to Wayne personally about the new song but had talked to members of his camp.

(Go to the Newsroom blog to watch Barker and DJ AM rehearse for the VMAs and check out their full VMA performances.)

The duo said Sunday that there could be multiple remixes for the song, suggesting that one remix could feature just Barker on the drums, another might have Travis and various other MCs (they mentioned Slim Thug, Bun B and Game), or Weezy might decide to lay down some new vocals. At press time the MC details had not been finalized, but Barker's contribution was complete.

"We took it upon ourselves," Play said of the remix. "So many people are doing remixes anyways. We spoke to [Wayne's artist] Mack Maine, who's on the record. We told him what was going on. This whole process with Wayne has never been a very personal relationship. It's been so third-party, but it works. He probably doesn't want to be bothered with that type of thing. I guess he's like, 'Let me get in my space and do what I do.' If Wayne gets involved, even better. I didn't think he's not gonna wanna be a part of it. We're just trying to be innovative, and if anything, it can go to the Internet and to the fans."

Besides the Wayne remix, Barker was also working on several songs for Paul Wall's upcoming LP, The Fast Life, before the crash.

Barker and DJ AM remain hospitalized in Georgia following Friday night's crash. They are in serious but stable condition. The two entertainers were the only two survivors of six passengers. In addition to Baker, Barker's bodyguard, Charles "Che" Still, and the plane's pilots died in the crash. Barker and AM suffered serious burns but are expected to make full recoveries.

If you'd like more information on the memorial funds set up to benefit Chris Baker's and Charles Still's families, visit the Famous Stars and Straps Web site.

• Travis Barker Tackles Lil Wayne Remix
• DJ AM And Travis Barker's Full 2008 VMA Performances

• Travis Barker
• Lil Wayne
• DJ AM
• Play N Skillz
• Slim Thug