[Si] TV

Evidently, Juan "Play" and Oscar "Skillz" Salinas, known artistically as Play-N-Skillz, are not rocking enough ice. After scoring a Grammy award for producing Chamillionaire's rap hit "Ridin'" in 2006, the South American brothers from Dallas, Texas are preparing their second group album on G4/Asylum. The cryptically titled Titaniq represents the new heights to which the already established hitmakers plan to take their music. "The Titanic was one of the biggest events in the world...and that's how we feel about our music," explains Play. "And musically the soundtrack of the movie was incredible." But after a brief reflection the former club DJ isn't completely sold on his own sales pitch. "I'm gonna be honest with you, I'm trying to convince Skillz to change it," he says with a chuckle.

The multi-platinum production duo would be within their rights to pull an audible on that title. With remixes for Hillary Duff and Pitbull's new hit single ("Secret Admirer" featuring Lloyd) on their résumé, more optimism is certainly in order. Nevertheless, in their efforts to put their hometown on the hip-hop map they've been busy ambassadors. Still, Play took a break from beatmaking and exhibited some Southern hospitality when he took [Sí] Entertainment through the best hangouts his barrio has to offer. 

Party Life
1) When it's time to play, DMX Nightclub has whip appeal and then some. "They play hardcore hip-hop, cumbia, salsa, merengue, and they got the ‘Whip It' contest hosted by a good friend of ours Ernest the Doorman. He picks up girls like 300 lbs and gets freaky with them. It's like a Luke video. I got my first gig DJing there. It was called something else then," says Play.
Runner Up: "Purgatory is downtown. It has three floors: Hell is all red, Heaven is all white, the VIP section. We go there every once in a while," says Play.

La Comida
2) Picking up big girls can work up an appetite so head to a Taco Diner franchise to grub. "They have incredible beef tacos there." But if you want the real deal, just follow your nose. "The hood spots ain't got no names. There is one Fina gas station right down the street from DMX on Northwest Highway that has a 24-hour taco joint inside and the fajitas in there are incredible. I don't remember the name because half of the time I'm full of Grey Goose," says Play.

Shorty is a 10
3) When your tastes are more carnal than carne, Dallas has plenty of places for would-be weathermen to make it rain. "DGs. The absolute best strip club in town. [They have] big booty white girls, Hispanic girls, black chicks...a mixture of girls with hip-hop music all night. That's hard to find in a strip club," says Play.

Ballin'
4) If you want to see touchdowns when you touch down Play suggests, "[The] VIP Suite at the [Texas] Stadium is the best place," says Play. "There is the Hooters downtown. But me personally I'd rather be next to [Dallas Cowboys owner] Jerry Jones."

Drive Slow
5) When it comes to seeing and being seen, Dallas has ample spots for parking lot pimpin'. "Downtown is always beautiful, but you don't want to ride dirty down there," Play jokes. "On Sunday afternoons the hoods are the place to be, our neighborhood, the Crooked I (Irvington) has 50 apartment buildings back-to-back. In the summer we have ‘Play N Skillz All-Star Weekend.' We usually do it in mid-July right after the 4th. We have autograph signings and a charity basketball game. I invite all my music friends."