In these days of falling
album sales, Plies has been one of few new artists to translate street heat to
chart success. He’s been moving units of The Real Testament and charting hits
with “Shawty” & “Hypnotized”. Ft Myers’ pride-and-joy checks in with Down-South.com:
Where do you get the
name Plies?
Man it was a term that came from a couple friends of mine in Ft. Myers. We
actually used the term kind of loosely. ..And the term, I guess it just stood
for people that we considered to be getting they share of street money. So to me
I always wanted to embrace the name. That was always gonna be a reflection of
where I was from if I was ever gonna be full time or full-fledged in this music
thing. That’s kinda where the name came from. Man I been using it the last.. I
kinda won the name by default so been usin it the last six years.
And where you from?
I’m from Ft. Myers, Florida.
I’ve seen you refer to
Ft. Myers as Pakistan. Can you give me a little background on that?
I think, you know, we got one of the highest crime rates in the country, man. I
don’t know what it was actually, last year, but I know 2 years ago we had I
think it was like the top 5 in the country or something like that. And by bein
such a small, I guess geographical city. I mean that ain’t something that I’m
proud of, but it’s the reality of where I grew up from. So to me I think comin
up with that term and naming it Pakistan, just tryin to kinda, I guess, shed
light on the situation in my city for people who wasn’t familiar with Ft. Myers.
I guess I just kinda cross-referenced it with Pakistan because we all, to some
degree, are famillar with the craziness that’s goin on over there, so that’s
where the name came from.
And obviously you’re
the first Ft. Myers artist to break nationally. Tell me a little bit about the
scene down there locally.
It’s pretty gutter. I like to call it gutter anyway. You got a lotta cats
locally that’s doin they thing, but this music business ain’t always about good
music. It’s about connections and bein in the right system, so I think you’ll
probably hear a lot more from a lot of the local artists in Ft. Myers. But the
music.. it’s kinda a follow the leader situation. Kinda like bein the first
artitst to blow from New Orleans. You know people gon kinda follow your trend
your guide. So, for me, I try to make reality music and a get a lot of that.. a
lot of hardcore, gutter music from the Ft. Myers area. So I think it’s kind of a
follow the leader situation right now.
Is there anybody we
should specifically look out for from the area?
Naw, I couldn’t really tell ya. Unless I sign em, .. I won’t see promotin em. If
I can sign some of em, then it probably be better, but til then, nah.
And I know your
brother, Big Gates, and yourself started the label. When was that?
Probably in like.. He came home in probably like.. around ‘99/2000.
You’ve said you had no
intention originally of being a rapper. Can you tell me how you ended up bein
involved in the music side of it?
Right. The situation was, it was kinda following [Big Gates’] vision and his
direction. He personally wanted to.. he was coming home from being federally
incarcerated and he kinda wanted to try something that was more on the legal
side. So, for me, I didn’t really have no ties or affiliation with music,
especially not how to run a record label, so it was kinda all his vision. Man,
he had a blueprint, he know which direction he wanted to go in and I kinda rode
his coattails and then once we got into a situation where I was able to come up
with a couple different successful concepts that work, where I was from in terms
of musically. You know, he been putting his money on me ever since.
I’ve read that you
getting on the hook to a song was your first introduction on the recording side.
Were you initially uninterested in rappin, or it was just somethin you hadn’t
thought about?
No, not really. That wasn’t.. at the time I guess when we first started, you
know, music.. You know being a fan of it was definitely accepted where I was
from, but there wasn’t too many local names, artists at the time. And I think
that whole Florida situation has been like that. And I think its more heavier
now. Florida’s more involved in the music scene now more than it has been
probably the last 10 years. For me it was never something that I .. I wanted to
play ball. I ain’t really wanna be no fuckin rapper or nothing like that. But I
think, you know, different things happen in your life for reasons, man. And for
me, this one turned out to be a hell of an investment for me.
You’re on
Slip-n-Slide, at least jointly with Big Gates .. Slip-n-Slide is known for havin
the biggest Florida artists, usually from Miami. How’d you link up with
Slip-n-Slide?
I had one of the records that we was talking about, we had it workin, pretty
good, you know in the southeast region of Florida, in what we call Southwest
Florida, that consists of probably about 6 or 7 different cities: there’s
Arcadia and Naples, that lil whole lil circle. You know we had a lil.. a hot
situation in terms with the first single that we put out. And it got the
attention of Slip-n-Slide and that’s how we ended up cutting a deal with them.
And what was the name
of that single?
That first single was called “Tell Dem Crackers Dat”.
I’ve talked to a lot
of Florida artists in the past who’ve said the Florida scene was divided. Maybe
there’s been a change in that in the last couple years. Do you look at the
Florida scene as united or divided.. ?
I think any city or any region you go to, it’s gon be divided. I just feel like
mostly, in Florida you got a lot of artists that’s successful in what they do.
So a lotta people gon do they own thing, but at the same time, there’s sonic
collaborations that’s goin on amongst Florida artists. So, if I was forced to
make a decision, I’d say that, I think artists respect each other here in
Florida, but in terms of the level of the unity, I don’t really know.
I’ve heard that you
were offered a spot at Def Jam at some point. Is that true?
There’s a couple of situations that was in negotiations.
You were originally on
Akon’s “I Wanna Love You” song, and were eventually replaced by Snoop Dogg. I
don’t wanna get into the background for that decision, I’m sure you’ve been
through it a million times, but in terms of momentum: do you feel like your
career would be in a different place if you had been released on that #1 single?
Nah, no not really. I’m not a person that really looks back, so. I feel
personally, everything in my life, in my opinion, it happen for a reason. So I
never really looked at that situation as bein a negative or a minus because I
felt like anytime you got 2 individuals that I got the utmost respect for, that
Snoop Dogg and that Akon.. to see the record work so well for them, I don’t feel
bad in my heart by no means, so that’s the situation. I learned from it and came
back and had my own #1 record in the country with “Shawty” so I was cool.
There’s a lotta
artists out today talking about not bein in the game so much for the MCin aspect
but.. you know, Jeezy would rather refer to himself as a trapper than a rapper,
so where do you stand on that whole debate?
I don’t know. Everybody’s entitled to their opinion. I think I kinda know where
different artists is goin when they say that. But for me to say that I’m not a
rapper, you know, what am I? I came into a game that if you an artist and you do
hip hop music, you considered a rapper. So for me, I’m a person that is
definitely considered to be a rapper currently, but I never had ambitions or
aspirations to become a rapper, so I am what I am, man, and I don’t try to get
.. you know, I try to be reasonable and logical about any terms or any overview
that come out my mouth. so I’m currently a rapper. People gon perceive me as
that, but I never had the visions and never thought I would grow up to be a
rapper. So, if that make any sense to you.
You never planned to
be a rapper, so you wouldn’t necessarily call yourself a hip hop historian. Is
that fair to say?
Naw, I mean I think, I have basic knowledge of hip hop and the history of it. I
don’t think I’m the smartest person when it comes to the overview history of hip
hop, but I know I ain’t the dumbest person when it comes to it neither. I’m
definitely familiar with the founders of hip hop. But for me to get in depth
with you and to have a hip hop, I guess, session, you know in terms of bein a
dynamic freestyle.. some people call you not hip hop if you ain’t an off-the-top
freestyler. So there’s a lot of pros and cons when you talk about the whole
culture of hip hop. But for me, like I said: I’m not the smartest person when it
comes to it, I’m not the dumbest person when it comes to it either.
How would you describe
the Plies style?
I think.. I think truth. For me, I talk about, in my opinion, what’s considered
to be reality situations. I talk about.. I make reality music. I talk about
things that are important to me, and I give them to you through my viewpoint,
and through my eyes. Not sayin that my viewpoint is right or not sayin that it’s
wrong. But I don’t spend time talking about all the money and the cars that I
got. I think there’s more important shit that people wanna hear about. And I try
to give em that.
You’re perceived as a
gangsta style artist, but you definitely have what you might call a
socially-conscious side, in terms of songs like “100 Years”. Being a new artist,
do you think people have the wrong perception of you, not only as a rapper, but
as a person, and people might miss out on the different sides of your
personality?
I think one thing I learned about the masses and I learned about the consumers
is that people gonna perceive you to be whatever they wanna perceive you to be
anyway, regardless to what image you have, regardless to what kind of music you
make. So I feel like, to people that purchase my album, when you bought it:
whether you bootlegged it or you bought it out the store, then you’d have a
better understanding of who I am as an artist. And I think, for me personally, I
never make a song that’s not true to me. So whether you got “Shawty” off the
radio, or my follow-up single “Hypnotized”; or you seen the “100 Years” video or
you got the “Runnin My Mama Crazy” video that you seen; or you seen me in a “I’m
So Hood” Khaled video. All those different sides of who I am. So that’s bein
reflected and given off about me. That’s who I am as a person. So I don’t feel
like I’m a one-dimensional type person. So, at the end of the day, I don’t think
the perception of an artist totally, on who he is as a person, will never be
really fully appreciated by the consumer. So, for me man, I told you earlier, I
am who I am.
thiz iz tha first time im first!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! written by Junior Tha King,
December 31, 2007
dare i say it nah,you know what....... fuck it ill say it "Im first bitches".Wooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!...........what eva......now back 2 plies.im not a big fan,but you got my respect on that track wit TIP "Stop Hidin" or "Ridin".I got da same track wit different titles!
well my nicca i know u just started going up to the top and i feel u on that well i am doin my thing to down here in the city aka forrest city arkansas and if u want to i can send u some of my music that i got or u can hit me up 870-270-3400 thats my cell
Dat's Wat's Up... written by India B_Relly,
December 31, 2007
I ain't know Plies was dat Dam* Fly..DIs is wat I meant Ya Digg so Excuse Da First One..!!!!
plies is fuckin wack as fuck. he has mediocre rhymes and shitty skills. plus he sound annoyin as fuck. maaan yall mothafuckas just wait till that 3 6 mafia album drops and yall wont have to be listenin to wack fucks like this dude who first album is so shitty. man cmon how u gonna make songs with t-pain and akon about lovin a bitch and shit when u a G. and pleassse nigggaa. ft myers aint no gutter liek new orleans. dont ever compare your shitty rap scene to nola. shiiit you wack cant even pop a round at the club pussy ass niggaaa. yeaa everyone heard bout u
Algernod Lanier Washington written by DT,
January 02, 2008
Algernod Lanier Washington is Plies' real name.
WHAT THE FUCK????????? hahahahahaa
my baby so fuckin hood written by destiny,
January 02, 2008
1 of all my nigga plies is the realest nigga in the muthafuckn streets rite now and aint no muthafuckin nigga in da streets touchin him and dats real!!!so hoes back back cuz dats my nigga and dats on blood!!!
I Love Plies... he seems to have something going for himself, his future looks bright. But I'm mad at how they did not edit the article just a little bit, so he could sound a little more intelligent....
3 6 mafia written by a real nigga,
January 23, 2008
for the nigga that said plies is some shit and wait till 3-6 drop u some shit 3-6 aint even hood these niggas aint do the shit they talkin bout watch they t.v show one of them dudes father is a pastor they drive around memphis lookin for song ideas a real nigga who been in the streets dont got to drive around lookin for ideas u should already have them now they do got nice beats but thats were it stops
plies REAl bitch. written by miss sexii,
January 23, 2008
all you hata`s just stop. plies is tha best nd always will be. he is qood at rappin, lookin fly, nd wit tha ladies. you can`t hate on that. he speaks bout REAl shit, which half you dumb ass`s out here claimin you doin but aint. keep doin wat you doin plies. nd know you qot ppl who love you.
oh yeah. . written by miss sexii,
January 23, 2008
nd for you 3 6 mafia dude, this aint no 3 6 mafia site so if you wanna support them then be my quest but qet tha fuck up outta the PliES site.
thnx! =]
plies 100% real. written by superstar,
February 01, 2008
plies is one of the realest ones out there. he aint bout the getting hoes, cash, cars. he speakin the truth . about real ass shit. yuh digg.
an to DT -- you madd lame kidd. you aint got nothin better to than hate on plies huh.. baby if you aint been to florida u aint been to ft.myers please dont talk all that shit .. i stay in florida an yeah shit is gutta round my parts. so if you dont know about it DONT TALK ABOUT IT . yuh digg.
Plies might not be the most lyrically inclined, but what he portrays is real, especially in Florida. As a Floridian alot of us can vibe with what he speaks, cuz its gutta where we stay. Let the man do his thing, can't knock the grind, that's just puttin salt in the game.
Plies Fake As Hell!!! written by NYC212,
February 09, 2008
Plies is wack as hell. Everything about him lyrically is garbage. He doesn't hold a candle to not even the top 50 rappers of all time. In his interview he seems like a knowledgeable dude, but when he rhymes he makes himself sound uneducated and stupid, so he must be a fraud like alot of the new skewl "rappers". Looks can be decieving, there's real street niggas doin they thing everyday in every hood, block, corner... and they ain't gotta album. But like Just Another Rapper said, can't knock tha grind, do your thing.
Excuse me...... written by 239 Representa,
February 10, 2008
Let me be a primary source for valuable information. I'm from Fort Myers, Florida. Born & Raised. Plies been big on the rap scene for probably like 4 years down there in tha city. He gets MUCH love, even tho we all be hatin at times too. As far as his personal info, yea, his government name sounds funny... OH FUCKIN WELL. I could see if he made that name up himself, but it was given to him. And tha nigga Plies be talkin on some real G shit. Everybody might not wanna hear it. That's cool. Flip tha station, skip tha track, and keep it movin! Whether or not he's really BOUT all he be talkin bout is a whole nother issue. But please believe, alot of niggas where we from in tha Fort, or in Florida, or down south, or wateva can relate to him. A real nigga can talk bout wateva he wants. Let tha nigga talk about eatin pussy on one track, and lurkin and robbin on tha next. THAT'S REAL! And that's how we do it in tha Fort. Trust dat! A nigga out there doin his thing. He respects Trick. Everybody in Florida does. So whateva went down between them two, let it be. If Plies didn't slap Trick back, he's tha bigger man. He'll admit he ain't tha BEST rapper out there lyrically. That wasn't his passion. But he's doin it, and he's doin good. So haters, FALL BACK! Fort Myers, Stand Up! Plies, keep holdin it down! We love ya dog. 239 got ya my nigga.
Really dont talk shit bout ft.myers written by 239 Aka Pakistan,
February 18, 2008
unless you fucked wit the streets there, dont talk shit. Ive seen shit in ft.myers that i will never talk of again. And only true ft.myers goons can relate to that shit.
nigga im from tampa n my fam lives in ft myers u already no its gutta down here....nigga talkin bout the nolia...u aint bout nothin lil homie...cme down to tampa or dade city or ft myers n get ya ass buried lil nigga.......813...239...home of the goonz nigga
ay this for the florida niggas: im fuckin confused cuz theres shit all over the internet talkin bout "plies fake he got ran outta ft.mers and orlando thats why he lives in tampa" and all this other shit. then i get on here and its like plies homwtown fuckin wit him? somebody clear shit up for me
