Plies is nothing if not real. Even the names of his two albums, The Real Testament and Definition of Real, show fans his commitment to not letting success chance him. Real for Plies doesn’t mean being in prison or causing more trouble on the streets but being committed to family, sticking to his beliefs and supporting the friends he grew up with and still hangs out with.Plies was born Algernod Lanier Washington in Ft. Myers, Florida. His childhood was anything but rosy, and his future looked bleak until his brother, Big Gates, introduced Plies to music. He started working with him on Big Gates Records but found that he wasn’t sure about performing. He soon gained recognition for the single "Tell Dem Krackers Dat." Not long after, he was featured on Trina’s single "So Fresh."Plies ran into some controversy in 2006 when he was playing a sold-out show at a nightclub in Gainesville, Florida. During his performance, they cutoff Plies’s microphone as he was performing because he went over time. He allegedly became mad and started yelling. His entourage was said to fire shots into the crowd, injuring five. Plies was charged with illegal possession of a concealed weapon and his brother was charged with attempted murder.Plies bounced back in a big way in 2007 when he released his debut album, The Real Testament. His first single, "Shorty," reached number one on the U.S. rap charts and his follow up, "Hypnotized," did almost as well. Only 10 months later, Plies released another album, Definition of Real. His first single off of that release, "Bust It Baby Pt. 2," again found success on the rap, R&B and Hot 100 Charts. The song was about all of the women who support Plies’s career, of which there are many. He released "Please Excuse My Hands," next and had more success. Other tracks from that album include "Somebody Loves you," "Worth Goin’ Fed For" and "Who Hotter Than Me."Plies is dedicated to making sure his fans get a real experience both out of his concerts and from his albums. He is more worried about staying true to himself that selling records, and his songs reflect that mentality. He appeals to both male and female fans, which gives him an edge over other artists trying to make their mark. He is set to release yet another album in December of 2008.
