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Biography
pp-semi-blp|small=yesInfobox musical artist |name = Plies|image = Plies (rapper).jpg|caption =|image_size =|background = solo_singer|birth_name = Algernod Lanier Washington|Born =birth date and age|1976|7|1|mf=yes Fort Myers, Florida|Fort Myers , Florida |death_date =|origin =|genre = Hip hop music|Hip hop |occupation = Rapper|years_active = 2007–present|label = Big Gates , Slip-n-Slide Records|Slip-n-Slide |associated_acts = DJ Khaled , Trey Songz , Rick Ross (rapper)|Rick Ross , Trick Daddy , T-Pain , Akon , Young Jeezy |website = http://www.pliesworld.com www.pliesworld.com Algernod Lanier Washington (born July 1, 1976), better known by his stage name Plies , is an American rapping|rapper and founder of Big Gates Records. Born in Fort Myers, Florida , Washington was a wide receiver on the Miami RedHawks football|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 (song)|Shawty " and " Hypnotized (Plies song)|Hypnotized ". Plies also released two albums in 2008, Definition of Real and Da REAList , and later released Goon Affiliated in 2010.
Early life
Plies was born Algernod Lanier Washington in Fort Myers, Florida and grew up in the East Dunbar, Fort Myers, Florida|East Dunbar area of Fort Myers.Cite web|url= http://www.artistdirect.com/artist/bio/plies/3978106|title=Plies Biography|publisher=ArtistDirect|accessdate=December 27, 2009 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 Miami RedHawks football|football team in 1996 and 1997,cite web|title=Miami University (Ohio) 1997 Football Roster|url= http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/college/stats/1997/news.mmjroster.html|publisher=CNN|accessdate=October 28, 2010|date=September 5, 1997 then transferred to the University of Central Florida and dropped out.citation|url= http://books.google.com/books? id=qiYEAAAAMBAJ|title=Guns And Roses|last=Meadows-Ingram|first=Benjamin|date=December 2008|volume=16|number=12|work=Vibe|pages=93–99 In 1996, his sophomore year, Washington had 25 receptions for 262 yards and 2 touchdowns, the second-most receptions of his team for the season.cite web|title= Miami University Team Stats Through Saturday, November 30|url= http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/college/pastseasons/1996/stats.mmjstats.html|publisher=CNN|accessdate=October 28, 2010|date=December 4, 1996 The next season, Washington played only one game and had one 9-yard reception.cite web|title= Nod Washington - WR - Miami, Ohio Redhawks|url= http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/college/stats/1997/players/receiving/15370.html|publisher=CNN|accessdate=October 28, 2010
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.Cite news|url= http://www.sptimes.com/2003archive/12/08/Births.shtml|title=Suncoast Births|date=2003-12-03|work=St. Petersburg Times|accessdate=2009-07-25 After signing to Slip-n-Slide in 2004, Plies released several mixtapes.
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 wiktionary:entourage|entourage were charged with attempted murder.Cite web|last=Kellman|first=Andy|title=Plies - Biography|url= http://www.allmusic.com/artist/plies-p880573/biography|publisher=Allmusic|year=2007|accessdate=2008-10-05 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.Cite news|last=Pakkala|first=Tiffany|title=5 shot in downtown club during rap show|work=The Gainesville Sun|date=2006-07-03|url= http://www.gainesville.com/article/20060703/LOCAL/207030332? p=all& tc=pgall|accessdate=2008-07-01
Music career
2007: The Real Testament
Main|The Real Testament The Real Testament was released in August 2007. His debut single " Shawty (song)|Shawty " featuring T-Pain topped the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks chart and peaked at number nine on the Hot 100. " Hypnotized (Plies song)|Hypnotized ", the second single, featured Akon , and peaked at number three on the Rap chart and 14 on the Hot 100.Allmusic|class=artist|id=p880573|pure_url=yes Plies > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles. allmusic. accessed November 20, 2008. 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". http://riaa.org/goldandplatinumdata.php? resultpage=1& table=SEARCH_RESULTS& action=& title=& artist=Plies& format=& debutLP=& category=& sex=& releaseDate=& requestNo=& type=& level=& label=& company=& certificationDate=& awardDescription=& catalogNo=& aSex=& rec_id=& charField=& gold=& platinum=& multiPlat=& level2=& certDate=& album=& id=& after=& before=& startMonth=1& endMonth=1& startYear=1958& endYear=2008& sort=Artist& perPage=25 RIAA database search for artist "Plies". Accessed November 20, 2008 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
Main|Definition of RealMain|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|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.Cite web|last=Hasty|first=Katie|title=Lil Wayne Crushes the Competition to Debut at No. 1|url= http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp? vnu_content_id=1003817736|work=Billboard|date=2008-06-18|accessdate=2008-11-20 The next single was " Please Excuse My Hands ", featuring Jamie Foxx and The-Dream .Cite news|last=Reid|first=Shaheem|title=Plies Lines Up Star-Studded Follow-Up Singles Featuring Jamie Foxx, Keyshia Cole|url= http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1592227/20080805/plies.jhtml|publisher=MTV News|date=2008-08-05|accessdate=2008-11-20 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| Billboard 200 with 114,000 copies sold in its first week.Cite news|last=Reid|first=Shaheem|title=Plies Readies His Second LP Of 2008; Rick Ross Works On Mixtape, Two New Albums, In Mixtape Monday|url= http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1595253/20080919/plies.jhtml|publisher=MTV News|date=2008-09-19|accessdate=2008-11-20 The second single is " Want It, Need It ", featuring Ashanti (singer)|Ashanti and the third is " Plenty Money ". He did a guest performance on Ludacris 's single " Nasty Girl (Ludacris song)|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
Main|Goon AffiliatedIn 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.Cite news|title=Plies Interview|url= http://www.djbooth.net/index/interviews/entry/plies-interview-1120081/|publisher=DJ Booth|date=2008-11-20|accessdate=2008-11-20Cite news|title=Plies|url= http://www.slipnsliderecords.net/plies.html|publisher=Slip-N-Slide Records|accessdate=2008-11-20 The album, Goon Affiliated , ended up being released on June 8, 2010. http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.11229/title.fabolous-young-jeezy-keri-hilson-on-plies-goon-affiliated Release Date at HipHopDX.com The album's first two singles are " Becky (song)|Becky " and " She Got It Made (song)|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 (Gucci Mane song)|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.
In 2012, Plies will release his fifth album, Purple Heart .
2010-present
Plies worked on his mixtape, "You Need People Like Me", which was released Friday September 3, 2010. http://adventoutpost.com/2010/08/plies-you-need-people-like-me-mixtape-cover-release-date/ On September 3,"You Need People Like Me" was a song entitled Boosie which was dedicated to Lil Boosie .Citation needed|date=September 2010. Plies was featured on R& B singer Bobby V single Phone # which debuted on the R& B charts at 55. Plies released two mixtapes in 2011, including "I Fuck With The DJ" and "Aristotle".
Lyricism and public persona
David Jeffries of allmusic described Plies's debut album The Real Testament as tracks covering both gangsta rap|gang life and love.Cite web|last=Jeffries|first=David|url=Allmusic|class=album|id=r1088217|pure_url=yes|title=The Real Testament: Review|date=August 7, 2007|publisher=allmusic|accessdate=December 26, 2009 Similarly, Jeffries described the lyrical content of Da REAList as having "a spectrum that runs from irresponsible gun talk to irresponsible sex talk".Cite web|url=Allmusic|class=album|id=r1448344|pure_url=yes|title=Da Realist: Review|last=Jeffries|first=David|date=December 16, 2008|publisher=allmusic|accessdate=December 27, 2009 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.Cite web|url= http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.7397/title.dx-clusive-plies-lied-about-criminal-past|title= DX-clusive: Plies Lied About Criminal Past? |last=Arnold|first=Paul W.|date=July 28, 2008|work=HipHopDX|accessdate=December 26, 2009
Discography
Main|Plies discography
The Real Testament (2007)
Definition of Real (2008)
Da REAList (2008)
Goon Affiliated (2010)
Purple Heart (2012)
Awards and nominations
BET Hip-Hop Awards http://www.bet.com/Specials/hiphopawards08/Nominees/ringtone.htm Ringtone of the Year; http://www.bet.com/Specials/hiphopawards08/Nominees/bestcollabo.htm Best Collaboration http://www.bet.com/Specials/hiphopawards08/Nominees/alltelpeopleschamp_voting.htm People's Champ Award. BET Hip Hop Awards 2008. Accessed November 20, 2008.
* 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 AwardsCite web|url= http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.5576/title.2007-ozone-award-winners|title=2007 Ozone Award Winners|last=Hale|first=Andreas|date=2007-08-14|work=HipHopDX|accessdate=2009-06-10cite press release|title=Ozone Magazine Announces Host and List of Nominees for the 3rd Annual Ozone Awards|url= http://www.hiphoppress.com/2008/07/ozone-magazine.html|publisher=Hip Hop Press|date=2008-07-16
* 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|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 (rapper)|Rick Ross ) (Nominated)
Grammy Awards http://www.grammy.com/nominees? year=2010& genre=28
* 2011: Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group ("Lose My Mind" with Young Jeezy ) (Nominated)
References
Reflist|2
External links
http://www.pliesworld.com/ Official Website
Plies Persondata | NAME =Plies | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = | DATE OF BIRTH =July 1, 1976 | PLACE OF BIRTH = | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = DEFAULTSORT:Plies (Rapper) Category:1976 births Category:Living people Category:African American players of American football Category:African American rappers Category:American football wide receivers Category:Atlantic Records artists Category:Miami RedHawks football players Category:People from Fort Myers, Florida Category:Players of American football from Florida Category:Rappers from Florida Category:University of Central Florida alumni