"Aiming to incorporate business while representing the Dirty South, the hip-hop quartet Dem Franchize Boyz aptly named themselves according to the aforementioned objective. Atlanta's hardcore rap group has collaborated with hip-hop heavyweights like Jermaine Dupri, Bow Wow and Da Brat, paving the way to rap heaven with hit singles like ""I Think They Like Me"" and ""Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It.""Hailing from the hip-hop breeding ground of Atlanta, Georgia, Gerald ""Buddie"" Tiller, Bernard ""Jizzal Man"" Leverette, Maurice ""Parlae"" Gleaton and Jamall ""Pimpin"" Willingham joined forces to jumpstart a unified career in the music industry, capitalizing on dropping their fresh beats with a Southern rap edge. The four rappers grew up together on the West side of Atlanta and collaborated as a group in high school and college, fervently releasing mixtapes and demos in the group's beginning. Dem Franchize Boyz eventually created a window to Southern living through their music, and heavy rhymes ultimately propelled the group into the eyes of Universal Records, who signed Dem Franchize Boyz and released their self-titled debut album in 2004. The hit single ""White Tee"" led the rappers to national acclaim, and a jump to Jermaine Dupri's So So Def label switch to Virgin paid off with the hit single ""Oh I Think Dey Like Me"" (which was later re-titled ""I Think They Like Me"" and featured guest appearances by Dupri, Bow Wow and Da Brat.) The song was the group's breakaway single, and their names and faces have exploded on the hip-hop scene ever since.The self-proclaimed new age crunk crew has redefined Southern rap with their signature ""snap music,"" and the follow-up to the number one charting ""I Think They Like Me"" is ""Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It,"" another number one on the charts in 2005 and 2006. Our World, Our Way was released in 2008, and Dem Franchize Boyz are still reaping the benefits of their latest album."
