Plies (rapper)
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Plies (born Algernod Lanier Washington on July 1,1976) is an American rapper from Fort Myers, Florida. Plies graduated from Fort Myers High School in 1994 and began pursuing his rap career soon after.[1]
Big Gates Records
Accidental or not, Plies and his brother, Ronell Levatte, known as Big Gates started Big Gates Records in the late â'90s. The small label had three artists and dropped a handful of independent albums, but not from Plies. In fact, the now rapper refused to touch the mic in the beginning. It wasn't until he became frustrated trying to teach one of his artists a particular hook that Plies grabbed the mic. "He never could get the hook down, so the next day I let my brother hear the hook, and he told me to stay on there," recalls Plies. The song, "Tell Dem Krackers Dat," spread quickly through South Florida and fell into the lap of Miami-based powerhouse Slip-N-Slide. Impressed by Plies' movement, the nationally distributed label made him an offer he couldn't refuse.
Plies chose to stay with Atlantic rather than move over to Def Jam.
Arrest and "I Wanna Love You"
Plies was arrested on July 2, 2006 for illegal gun possession while two members of his entourage were charged with attempted murder after a shooting broke out at 238 West Nightclub in Gainesville, Florida. Plies was performing a concert when he was informed that his show would be cut 15 minutes short in order to give time for Lil' Boosie to perform right after. In response, Plies' entourage opened fire on the crowd, resulting in the injury of 5 people with non-life threatening wounds. Shortly after, Plies was released after paying $10,000 bail.[2]
Plies was originally the featured rapper on Akon and Snoop Dogg's massive hit single "I Wanna Love You". After his arrest, he was replaced by Snoop Dogg on the commercial release. Akon and Plies' management also agreed to participate on each other's forthcoming album.
Big Gates/Slip-N-Slide/Atlantic Debut
His first single, "Got 'Em Hatin'" was a street and club banger. His debut album, The Real Testament, was released on August 7, 2007.
Plies describes his major label debut, "THE REAL TESTAMENT," as "the most anticipated situation in the streets right now." And rightfully so. On the album's Nitti-produced buzztrack, "Got 'Em Hatin'," the Ft. Myers bad boy explains exactly why underachievers are jealous of his 26-inch rims, blue diamonds, and stacks on deck. Over an up-tempo beat of menacing synths, heavy bass drops, and sparse snares, Plies boasts: "Some wanna see me broke/Some wanna see me in the Feds/The haters hate you when you're living/Love you when you dead/He just a mad rapper/He ain't blew yet/The streets don't feel him/I ain't have to go through that."
Discography
Albums
| Album Photo | Information |
|---|---|
| File:TheRealTestament.JPG | The Real Testament
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Singles
| Year | Song | U.S Hot 100 | U.S. R&B | U.S. Rap | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | "Shawty" (featuring T-Pain) | 12 | 5 | 2 | The Real Testament |
| 2007 | "Hypnotized" (featuring Akon) | TBR | TBR | TBR | The Real Testament |
Featured Singles
| Year | Song | U.S Hot 100 | U.S. R&B | U.S. Rap | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | "I'm So Hood" DJ Khaled (featuring T-Pain, Rick Ross, Trick Daddy, & Plies) | TBR | TBR | TBR | We The Best |