Plies

Plies, born Algernod Lanier Washington in Fort Myers, Florida, is an American rapper who emerged from the Southern hip hop scene in the late 2000s with a gruff, street-focused delivery. Before music, he played college football, and after leaving school he co-founded the independent label Big Gates Records with his stepbrother, later signing to Slip-n-Slide Records for wider distribution.

He debuted in 2007 with The Real Testament, which produced the hit singles «Shawty» and «Hypnotized» and established his gravelly, deadpan flow paired with hard-hitting trap and crunk-influenced production typical of Florida rap at the time. He followed with a prolific run of releases, dropping two albums in 2008 alone, Definition of Real and Da REAList, cementing his reputation as one of the more productive Southern rappers of the era.

Plies continued to build his catalog through the following years, including Goon Affiliated in 2010, mixing street narratives with occasional R&B-leaning hooks and guest features. His sound sits at the intersection of gritty, hustler-themed lyricism and radio-friendly hooks, a combination that helped several of his singles cross over onto mainstream charts while keeping him rooted in Southern hip hop's street rap tradition.