Plies | |
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&sq=Qlik&lang=&file=File:Plies_(rapper).jpg) Plies in 2008 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Algernod Lanier Washington |
| Also known as | Piles |
| Born | July 1, 1976[1] Fort Myers, Florida, U.S. |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Discography | Plies discography |
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Labels |
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| Children | 1 |
| Website | pliesworld |
&sq=Qlik&lang=&file=File:Plies_Logo.png){kind=logo} | |
Algernod Lanier Washington (born July 1, 1976), better known by his stage name Plies, is an American rapper. Born in Fort Myers, Florida, Plies was a wide receiver on the Miami Redskins football team of Miami University in Ohio for two years in 1995 before embarking on a musical career. After a brief transfer to University of Central Florida, he dropped out and signed with South Florida-based record label Slip-n-Slide Records in 2004; after four mixtapes, he signed a joint venture with Atlantic Records two years later.
His 2007 single, "Shawty" (featuring T-Pain) peaked within the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 and served as his mainstream breakthrough. It received platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and led his debut studio album, The Real Testament (2007), which spawned the similarly successful follow-up "Hypnotized" (featuring Akon) and peaked at number two on the Billboard 200. His second album, Definition of Real (2008) matched its chart position and yielded his second top ten single, "Bust It Baby Pt. 2" (featuring Ne-Yo). His third and fourth albums, Da REAList (2008) and Goon Affiliated (2010) were both met with mixed critical reception; the latter served as his final major label release.