Algernod Lanier Washington (born July 1, 1976), better known by his stage name Plies, is an American hip hop recording artist. He is the founder of Big Gates Records. Born in Fort Myers, Florida, Washington was a wide receiver on the football team of Miami University in Ohio in 1996 and 1997 before he became a rapper. After dropping out of college, he founded Big Gates with his stepbrother. Signed to Slip-n-Slide Records, from 2007 to 2008 he released three albums. Plies debuted in 2007 with The Real Testament with successful singles "Shawty" and "Hypnotized". Plies also released two albums in 2008, Definition of Real and Da REAList, and later released Goon Affiliated in 2010.
Video Plies (rapper)
Early life
Plies was born Algernod Lanier Washington in Fort Myers, Florida and grew up in the East Dunbar area of Fort Myers. While at Fort Myers Senior High School, he played receiver and defensive back in its football team, was crowned Homecoming King, and was named the "Best Dressed" student of his class.
He attended Miami University and under the name Nod Washington was wide receiver on its football team from 1995 to 1997, then transferred to the University of Central Florida and dropped out. As a freshman in 1995, Washington had nine receptions for 69 yards. In 1996, his sophomore year, Washington had 25 receptions for 262 yards and 2 touchdowns. The next season, Washington had five receptions for 43 yards.
Maps Plies (rapper)
Career beginnings
In the late 1990s, Plies and his stepbrother Ronnell Lawrence Lavatte, also known as Big Gates, established an independent record label, Big Gates Records. Although Plies initially refused to rap, after a demonstration for one of his artists, Big Gates decided to keep Plies' verse on the track "Tell Dem Krackers Dat". Big Gates and Plies promoted the single and traveled many times to Miami, which eventually led to a deal for Plies on Slip-n-Slide Records. Plies's girlfriend Brandy Lacole Lyons gave birth to a son, Nijier Lanier Washington, at the University Community Hospital in Tampa, Florida on October 20, 2003. After signing to Slip-n-Slide in 2004, Plies released several mixtapes.
Music career
2007: The Real Testament
The Real Testament was released in August 2007. His debut single "Shawty" featuring T-Pain topped the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks chart and peaked at number nine on the Hot 100. "Hypnotized", the second single, featured Akon, and peaked at number three on the Rap chart and 14 on the Hot 100. The third single was "I Am the Club". On February 29, 2008, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified the album Gold for having sold over 500,000 units; five days later the RIAA did the same for singles "Shawty" and "Hypnotized". Plies made guest performances on DJ Khaled's "I'm So Hood", also featuring T-Pain, Trick Daddy and Rick Ross in 2007, which peaked at #19 on the Hot 100 and is included on Khaled second studio album We the Best, and Fat Joe's single "Ain't Sayin' Nothin'" from The Elephant in the Room in early 2008.
2008: Definition of Real & Da REAList
Definition of Real, his second album, was released in June 2008, 10 months after releasing his first album. The lead single was "Bust It Baby Pt. 2" featuring Ne-Yo, which peaked at number two on both the Hot Rap Tracks and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks charts and number seven on the Hot 100. The album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, selling over 214,000 copies its first week. The next single was "Please Excuse My Hands", featuring Jamie Foxx and The-Dream. RIAA certified Gold "Bust It Baby" on September 17 and Definition of Real October 14. In the same year Plies released his third album, Da REAList, in December 2008, six months after the release of his second album. The first official single off this album is "Put It on Ya", featuring Chris J. The album debuted at number 14 on the Billboard 200 with 114,000 copies sold in its first week. The second single is "Want It, Need It", featuring Ashanti and the third is "Plenty Money". He did a guest performance on Ludacris's single "Nasty Girl" from Ludacris's album Theater of the Mind. He also appeared on Khaled's song "Out Here Grindin' also featuring Akon, Ross, Young Jeezy, Lil Boosie, Ace Hood and Trick Daddy, which peaked at #38 on the Hot 100 and is from Khaled's third album We Global.
2009-2010: Goon Affiliated
In an interview with Plies and according to Slip-n-Slide Records, the rapper announced that he completed a fourth album. Tentatively, he planned to release it on February 16, 2009, but stated that the exact date depended on the success of his third album. The album, Goon Affiliated, ended up being released on June 8, 2010. The album's first two singles are "Becky" and "She Got It Made" featuring Bei Maejor. The album debuted at #5 on the Billboard 200, much more successful than his previous album. He continued to make guest appearances on Usher's "Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)" (that version not making the Usher's sixth studio album Raymond vs. Raymond), Gucci Mane's "Wasted", from The State vs. Radric Davis and Young Jeezy's "Lose My Mind", from Jeezy's fourth album Thug Motivation 103: Hustlerz Ambition, all of which made the top 40 of the Hot 100.
2010-present: Purple Heart
On September 3, 2010 Plies released a mixtape titled You Need People Like Me which had a song titled "Boosie" dedicated to the incarcerated rapper Lil Boosie. On November 18, he released another mixtape titled You Need People Like Me Pt. 2. On December 23, 2010, he released another mixtape titled No Chaser.
In 2011 Plies released two mixtapes titled I Fuck With The DJ & Aristotle. On May 3, 2011 Plies announce the title for his fifth studio album titled Purple Heart. On September 22, 2011 Plies released his first promotion single from Purple Heart titled "Just (The Tip)" which featured Jeremih & Ludacris.
On February 24, 2012 Plies released the promotional mixtape On Trial which included the second promotional single from his album Purple Heart titled "With You". On April 17, 2012 Plies released a single titled "We Are Trayvon" that was dedicated to Trayvon Martin which all profits from the single be donated to the "Trayvon Martin Foundation".
On July 16, 2013 Plies released the promotional single from Purple Heart titled "F**king or What", on August 22, 2013, he released the official music video for the single. On September 3, 2013 Plies released the promotional titled "Faithful" featuring singer/songwriter Rico Love.
On January 17, 2014 Plies released his mixtape entitled Da Last Real Nigga Left. On November 13, 2014 Plies released his mixtape entitled Da Last Real Nigga Left 2.
On February 11, 2015 Plies would release the first single off of his upcoming fifth album Purple Heart titled "Find You" the single would feature appearances from K Camp & Lil Wayne. On April 29, 2015 Plies would release the second single off of his upcoming fifth album Purple Heart titled "Dayum!", the single is known for Plies addressing the controversy surrounding him getting attacked on stage. On August 8, 2015 Plies released his mixtape entitled Ain't No Mixtape Bih. On November 19, 2015 Way released the mixtape Ain't No Mixtape BIH 2.
On January 29, 2016 Plies would release the single entitled "Ran Off on da Plug Twice" it was originally entitled "Ritz Carlton" & was released on Plies mixtape Ain't No Mixtape BIH 2, the music video for the single would be released on November 19, 2015 & would go on to become viral & the single would go on to chart at number forty-two on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. On October 27, 2016 Plies would release the single entitled "Rich N*gga Shit", the music video for the single would be released on September 2, 2016. On December 15, 2016 Plies would release the single entitled "Racks Up to My Ear" featuring Young Dolph, the music video for the single would be released on December 13, 2016.
Lyricism and public persona
David Jeffries of AllMusic described Plies's debut album The Real Testament as tracks covering both gang life and love. Similarly, Jeffries described the lyrical content of Da REAList as having "a spectrum that runs from irresponsible gun talk to irresponsible sex talk". A profile of Plies in the December 2008 issue of Vibe magazine observed that Plies constantly referred to himself as "real" in his music and album titles. However, it pointed out that the word "has virtually synonymous with 'criminal' and, in some cases, almost superseded the idea of being able to actually rap". In July 2008, hip hop website HipHopDX published an investigative report suggesting that Plies exaggerated his criminal background.
Public image
Social media
In late 2014-16, a number of Instagram videos of Plies detailing his life & his personal approaches on a variety of topics in a comedic style would receive a significant amount of attention on the internet due to his larger than life persona. This newfound online recognition caused him to gain popularity. Plies official Instagram profile has accumulated over 4.6 million followers.
Legal issues
On July 2, 2006, after a shooting at a Gainesville, Florida nightclub, Plies was charged with illegal possession of a concealed weapon, and members of his entourage were charged with attempted murder. The shooting, in which 5 people were injured, started after Plies' microphone was cut off for Lil Boosie to perform, after Plies' performance ran over time. According to the promoter Jonathan Smith, Plies became "enraged". A fight began with fists and shouting, and ended with at least six rounds of bullets being fired.
In January 2017, Plies was arrested in Wesley Chapel, Florida for driving under the influence. Plies refused a roadside blood alcohol content test and was taken into custody.
Controversy
Tallahassee, Florida concert incident
On April 3, 2015 a viral video of Plies getting attacked on stage during a concert in Tallahassee, Florida was released, the attacker would later address the situation stating "I fuck with you bruh, that nigga is one of my top five artists, that nigga started talking that bullshit. So I dropped his ass like any real nigga would do like bitch, fuck you bruh.". On April 29, 2015 Plies would release a single titled "Dayum!" addressing the attack stating "Never seen a nigga try to slam me & slammed his damn self, with a hundred grand in my pocket nigga I beat your lil' ass half to death, chopper game serious nigga, hands on Mayweather level, big bruh always told me you can't show love to these pussy niggas, if you ever ever ever ever ever try me, swear to god on a stack of bibles pussy better kill me, by the time security got to me he was already sleep, I done got back on stage nigga, started doin' me."
Discography
- The Real Testament (2007)
- Definition of Real (2008)
- Da REAList (2008)
- Goon Affiliated (2010)
- Purple Heart (2017)
![Plies - Ran Off On Da Plug Twice [Official Music Video] - YouTube](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tkQKxa-GZbthuc2gu1zhtpcrOeB15Zcn7bb84YA7zJ7v2m7gT9XaU7C_9bpvT6mjRMLvQab68yZhA3vX8a45siReqwt5RSHnYRLoA8lLEj1Aw1w95gkfYxPHlLLQ0Peo_eWXX50w=s0-d "Plies - Ran Off On Da Plug Twice [Official Music Video] - YouTube")
Awards and nominations
- BET Hip-Hop Awards
- 2008: Ringtone of the Year ("Bust It Baby Pt 2" with Ne-Yo) (Nominated)
- 2008: People's Champ Award ("Bust It Baby Pt 2" with Ne-Yo) (Nominated)
- 2008: Best Collaboration ("Bust It Baby Pt 2" with Ne-Yo) (Nominated)
- Ozone Awards
- 2007: Best Rap/R&B Collaboration ("Shawty" with T-Pain) (Won)
- 2008: Best Rap Album (The Real Testament) (Nominated)
- 2008: Best Rap/R&B Collaboration ("Bust It Baby Pt. 2" with Ne-Yo) (Nominated)
- 2008: Club Banger of the Year ("I'm So Hood" with DJ Khaled, Trick Daddy, T-Pain and Rick Ross) (Nominated)
- Grammy Awards
- 2011: Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group ("Lose My Mind" with Young Jeezy) (Nominated)
References
External links
- Official website
- Plies at MTV
- Plies's channel on YouTube
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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