Plies (rapper) Biography: Net Worth, Songs, Age, Albums, Wife, Children, Parents, Height, Real Name

Biography

Plies is an American rapper and songwriter born Algernod Lanier Washington on July 1, 1976, in Fort Myers, Florida. He is 49 years old.

Growing up in the East Dunbar area of Fort Myers, he attended Fort Myers Senior High School, where he played football, was crowned Homecoming King, and was named the “Best Dressed” student of his class.

He later enrolled at Miami University of Ohio, where he played wide receiver on the football team, before transferring to the University of Central Florida and eventually dropping out to pursue music.

Plies co-founded Big Gates Records with his stepbrother and secured a deal with the Miami-based Slip-N-Slide Records. His entry into rap was largely accidental: after recording a chorus for an independent single titled “Tell Dem Krackers Dat” on behalf of another artist, regional buzz around the track caught the attention of label executives and set his career in motion.

He released his debut studio album, The Real Testament, in 2007. It debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, selling over 96,000 copies in its first week, and was powered by the hit singles “Shawty” featuring T-Pain and “Hypnotized” featuring Akon.

He followed quickly with two more albums in 2008, Definition of Real and Da REAList, both of which also performed strongly on the charts. His fourth studio album, Goon Affiliated, arrived in 2010 and peaked at number five on the Billboard 200. Both The Real Testament and Definition of Real earned RIAA Gold certification.

Known for his raw Southern rap style, gritty street narratives, and signature gold teeth, Plies has remained a Grammy Award-nominated figure in hip-hop and a consistent presence on social media, where he is widely known for his candid, humorous commentary on everyday life.

American rapper
Plies
Wiki Facts & About Data
Real Name:	Algernod Lanier Washington
Stage Name:	Plies
Born:	1 July 1976 (age 49 years old)
Place of Birth:	Fort Myers, Florida, United States
Nationality:	American
Education:	Miami University, University of Central Florida
Height:	165 cm
Parents:	Larry Washington, Karla Washington
Siblings:	Ronnell Lawrence Lavatte
Spouse:	Not Married
Girlfriend • Partner:	Brandy Lacole Lyons (ex.), Lira Galore (ex.), Angela Yee (rum.)
Children:	Nijier Washington
Occupation:	Rapper
Net Worth:	$6 million-$14 million (USD)

Early Life & Education

Plies, born Algernod Lanier Washington on July 1, 1976, in Fort Myers, Florida, is an American rapper who grew up in the East Dunbar neighborhood of Fort Myers.

He is 49 years old. His birth date places him under the Cancer zodiac sign, which spans June 21 to July 22.

Plies is of African-American ethnicity and practices Christianity, which is the predominant faith in the United States. He was born to Larry Washington and Karla Washington, a couple whose full backgrounds have not been widely detailed in the public domain.

In addition to his immediate family, Plies has a stepbrother named Ronnell Lawrence Lavatte, who is also known professionally as Big Gates. The bond between the two would later prove pivotal when they co-founded Big Gates Records together, with Lavatte being the driving force that drew Plies into the music industry entirely.

Growing up in Fort Myers, Plies was known as an outgoing and well-rounded young man who made a strong impression on those around him. He attended Fort Myers Senior High School, where he stood out both on and off the field.

He played as a wide receiver and defensive back on the school’s football team, was crowned Homecoming King, was named the “Best Dressed” student of his graduating class, and achieved the academic distinction of valedictorian. These early accomplishments painted a picture of someone equally gifted in athletics, academics, and social standing.

After completing high school, Plies enrolled at Miami University in Ohio, where he continued his football career as a wide receiver for the Miami RedHawks under the name Nod Washington. During his freshman year in 1995, he recorded nine receptions for 69 yards.

He improved considerably in his sophomore year in 1996, finishing with 25 receptions for 262 yards and two touchdowns. In his third and final season at Miami University in 1997, he had five receptions for 43 yards. Plies subsequently transferred to the University of Central Florida but did not complete his degree there, instead dropping out as his involvement in music began to take shape in the late 1990s.

Career

Plies entered the music world not as a performer but as a behind-the-scenes figure. In the late 1990s, his stepbrother Ronnell Lawrence Lavatte, widely known as Big Gates, founded Big Gates Records and began building a roster of artists. Plies initially worked in a supporting capacity, managing and promoting talent rather than stepping in front of the microphone himself.

His path to rapping came by accident: when the original artist on an independent track titled “Tell Dem Krackers Dat” struggled to deliver a chorus correctly, Plies stepped in and recorded it himself. Lavatte was struck by the result and kept the verse on the record.

The two then began promoting the single aggressively, making repeated trips to Miami that eventually led Plies to cross paths with Ted Lucas, the founder of Slip-N-Slide Records. That meeting changed everything. Plies signed with the South Florida-based independent powerhouse in 2004 and spent the next two years releasing mixtapes to build his street cred.

His breakthrough came in 2006, when Plies and Slip-N-Slide Records entered a joint distribution deal with Atlantic Records, giving him major-label reach. However, that same year brought serious trouble. On July 2, 2006, a performance at a nightclub in Gainesville, Florida, descended into chaos after Plies’ set ran over time and his microphone was cut off to allow Boosie Badazz to perform.

The resulting confrontation escalated into gunfire, injuring five people. Members of his entourage were charged with attempted murder, while Plies himself was charged with illegal possession of a concealed weapon. The incident also cost him a feature credit on Akon’s hit “I Wanna Love You”, from which he was removed and replaced by Snoop Dogg before the song’s commercial release.

Despite the controversy, Plies pressed forward. He released his debut studio album, The Real Testament, on August 7, 2007, and the response was immediate. The lead single, “Shawty”, featuring T-Pain, topped the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks chart and peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100, earning RIAA Platinum certification.

The album itself debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, moving over 96,000 copies in its first week and displacing Common from that position. A second single, “Hypnotized”, featuring Akon, followed and peaked at number three on the rap chart and number 14 on the Hot 100, earning Gold certification. The Real Testament was eventually certified Gold by the RIAA and established Plies as one of the most compelling new voices in Southern hip-hop.

He maintained a relentless pace through 2008, releasing two studio albums within months of each other. Definition of Real, his second album, was released in June 2008 and debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, with an outstanding first-week figure of over 214,000 copies. Its lead single, “Bust It Baby Pt. 2”, featuring Ne-Yo, peaked at number two on both the Hot Rap Tracks and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles charts, and number seven on the Hot 100, becoming one of the signature songs of his career.

A follow-up single, “Please Excuse My Hands”, featuring Jamie Foxx and The-Dream, extended the album’s commercial life. Definition of Real was certified Gold by the RIAA. By December of that same year, Plies had already returned with his third album, Da REAList, which peaked at number 14 on the Billboard 200 and sold over 114,000 copies in its debut week, also eventually achieving Gold status.

His fourth studio album, Goon Affiliated, arrived in June 2010 and marked a commercial strong point in his major-label run. Debuting at number five on the Billboard 200 and reaching number one on the Top Rap Albums chart, the project was supported by singles including “Becky” and “She Got It Made”, featuring Bei Maejor.

Around this time, Plies also appeared on a number of high-profile collaborative records, including DJ Khaled’s “I’m So Hood”, Usher’s “Hey Daddy (Daddy’s Home)”, Gucci Mane’s “Wasted”, and Young Jeezy’s “Lose My Mind”, all of which reached the top 40 of the Hot 100. Alongside his stepbrother Big Gates, he also co-founded the non-profit organization Big Gates and Plies Power of Visions Foundation, dedicated to building a more functional and productive community.

After the release of Goon Affiliated, Plies shifted his focus heavily toward mixtapes, flooding the market with projects that kept him visible to his core fanbase throughout the early 2010s. He released You Need People Like Me, You Need People Like Me Pt. 2, and No Chaser all within 2010 alone, followed by I Fuck With The DJ and Aristotle in 2011. A string of additional mixtapes followed across 2012 and 2014, including On Trial, Da Last Real Nigga Left, and Da Last Real Nigga Left 2, as he worked toward completing his long-anticipated fifth studio album.

Between 2015 and 2016, Plies found a second wave of cultural relevance, this time through social media. His comedic Instagram videos, where he offered unfiltered lifestyle commentary in his signature Fort Myers drawl, earned him a massive new following that transcended hip-hop audiences. In April 2015, he released “Dayum!”, a single that addressed an incident in which he was attacked on stage.

That same year, he launched the Ain’t No Mixtape Bih series, with the second installment in November 2015, including “Ran Off on da Plug Twice”, a record that went viral and charted at number 42 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The song became one of the defining internet moments of that era and introduced Plies to a generation of younger fans.

In December 2017, he released Ain’t No Mixtape Bih 3, which included the track “Rock”, another social media phenomenon that prompted remix versions from DJ Khaled, Remy Ma, Jacquees, Jeremih, and Tank.

His fifth and final major studio album, Purple Heart, was also released in 2017 after years of buildup, completing a chapter that had been in the making for years. He continued releasing independent singles and making guest appearances throughout the late 2010s and into the 2020s, including collaborations with YoungBoy Never Broke Again on “Check Callin” and Kodak Black.

In 2025, Plies remained active on streaming platforms, releasing singles including “U Deserve It”, “Beep”, “Type Shit”, and “Took Shawty To The O” alongside OJ The DJ and King Von.

In 2026, he appeared on “Complicated”, a single featuring Kelly Rowland and Method Man, tied to the original motion picture Relationship Goals, demonstrating that his commercial appeal and collaborative range remain very much intact.

Social Media

• Wikipedia: Plies (rapper)
• Instagram: Plies (@plies)
• Facebook: Plies
• X: Plies (@plies)
• YouTube: PliesWorld

Personal Life

Plies was born on July 1, 1976, and is 49 years old. He stands at a height of 5 feet 5 inches (approximately 165 cm), a compact frame that has never diminished his commanding stage presence or the larger-than-life persona he has built across nearly two decades in music.

He was in a long-term involvement with Brandy Lacole Lyons, a woman he was with for well over a decade. On October 20, 2003, Brandy gave birth to their son, Nijier Lanier Washington, at University Community Hospital in Tampa, Florida. Nijier is the only child Plies has publicly acknowledged.

The relationship between Plies and Brandy was not a formally public one in the traditional celebrity sense, and the two eventually parted ways, though the exact timeline of their separation has never been officially addressed.

On the question of marriage, Plies has been deliberately cryptic. Multiple sources and social media activity suggest he has been married at some point, with several tweets over the years referencing a wife and his views on matrimony.

In February 2016, he posted publicly about his concept of an ideal wedding, and further remarks on marriage appeared in a January 2018 tweet. However, he has never publicly identified a wife by name, has not confirmed a spouse in any interview, and has never made a formal announcement of a marriage. His wife’s identity, if he is indeed married, has not been publicly confirmed.

Plies has been linked to only a few women beyond Brandy Lacole Lyons. In January 2015, he was publicly associated with Lira Galore, an Instagram model who was widely covered in entertainment media at the time.

By June of that same year, he was reported to have confirmed a connection with Angela Yee, the American radio personality and media figure. Neither of these associations developed into a long-term publicly acknowledged relationship.

Beyond these names, Plies has kept his romantic life tightly guarded, and as of the time of writing, no current girlfriend or partner has been publicly confirmed.

Net Worth

Plies has accumulated considerable wealth over his career in hip-hop, with estimates of his net worth ranging from $6 million to $14 million.

The wide spread in reported figures reflects the varying methodologies used by different financial tracking platforms, as well as the multiple income streams Plies has developed beyond music alone.

The foundation of his fortune was built on the commercial success of his studio albums and singles during the peak of his major-label run between 2007 and 2010. Chart-topping projects released through Slip-N-Slide Records and Atlantic Records, combined with RIAA Gold and Platinum certifications on several singles and albums, generated significant revenue from record sales, streaming royalties, and touring. His prolific output of mixtapes throughout the 2010s kept him relevant and earning on the independent circuit long after his major-label chapter closed.

Beyond music, Plies diversified his income through business ventures. He launched Big Gates Apparel, a clothing brand established in 2007 targeting urban fashion consumers, and entered the spirits industry with his own vodka label. He also built a substantial social media following, particularly on Instagram and YouTube, where his channel PliesWorld has generated additional advertising revenue.

His real estate holdings have also been cited as part of his overall wealth, with reports indicating ownership of a mansion in Greenwich, reportedly valued at approximately $11 million. Taken together, his music catalog, business enterprises, and property holdings underpin a net worth that, while difficult to pin to a single figure, places him firmly among the financially successful names in Southern hip-hop.

Discography

Studio Albums

• The Real Testament (2007)
• Definition of Real (2008)
• Da REAList (2008)
• Goon Affiliated (2010)
• Purple Heart (2017)

Mixtapes

• 36 Ounces (A Whole Brick) (2004)
• 100% Real Nigga (2005)
• From The Bottom to the Top (2006) (with DJ Drama)
• The Calm Before The Storm (2006)
• The Truth Hurts (2007) (with DJ Scream)
• 30 Days The Mixtape (2007) (with Greg Street)
• You Need People Like Me (2010)
• You Need People Like Me Pt. 2 (2010)
• No Chaser (2010)
• I Fuck With The DJ (2011)
• Aristotle (2011)
• On Trial (2012)
• Da Last Real Nigga Left (2014)
• Da Last Real Nigga Left 2 (2014)
• Ain’t No Mixtape Bih (2015)
• Ain’t No Mixtape BIH 2 (2015)
• Ain’t No Mixtape BIH 3 (2017)
• The Goat (2019)

Singles

As Lead Artist

• “Shawty” featuring T-Pain (2007)
• “Hypnotized” featuring Akon (2007)
• “I Am the Club” (2008)
• “Bust It Baby Pt. 2” featuring Ne-Yo (2008)
• “Please Excuse My Hands” featuring Jamie Foxx and The-Dream (2008)
• “Put It on Ya / Want It, Need It” (2008)
• “Plenty Money” (2009)
• “Becky” (2009)
• “Medicine” featuring Keri Hilson (2009)
• “She Got It Made” featuring Bei Maejor (2010)
• “Just (The Tip)” featuring Jeremih and Ludacris (2011)
• “With You” (2012)
• “We Are Trayvon” (2012)
• “Find You” featuring Lil Wayne and K Camp (2015)
• “Dayum!” (2015)
• “Ran Off on da Plug Twice” (2016)
• “Rich N*gga Shit” (2016)
• “Racks Up to My Ear” featuring Young Dolph (2016)
• “Rock” (2017)
• “Check Callin” featuring YoungBoy Never Broke Again (2019)
• “Mrs. 47” (2024)
• “We Gone Be Ok” (2024)
• “U Deserve It” (2025)
• “Beep” (2025)
• “Type Shit” (2025)
• “Took Shawty To The O” featuring OJ The DJ and King Von (2025)

As Featured Artist (Selected)

• “So Fresh” by Trina (2006)
• “I’m So Hood” by DJ Khaled featuring T-Pain, Trick Daddy, and Rick Ross (2007)
• “Ain’t Sayin’ Nothin’” by Fat Joe (2008)
• “Out Here Grindin’” by DJ Khaled featuring Akon, Rick Ross, Young Jeezy, Lil Boosie, Trick Daddy, and Ace Hood (2008)
• “Welcome to My Hood” by DJ Khaled featuring Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, and T-Pain (2010)
• “Wasted” by Gucci Mane (2009)
• “Hey Daddy (Daddy’s Home)” by Usher (2009)
• “Lose My Mind” by Young Jeezy (2011)
• “Complicated” by Kelly Rowland and Method Man (2026)

What People Ask