Plies

Born Algernod Lanier Washington, the Fort Myers, Florida rapper known as Plies debuted in 2003 on the mixtape track, "Tell Dem Crackers Dat," which caught the attention of Miami label Slip-N-Slide Records. Plies made national news in 2006 when his entourage opened fire on the crowd in a Gainsville nightclub after his mic was cut. The initial bad press cleared after Plies's catchy lead single, "Shawty," hit the radio waves in July 2007 and his first album, THE REAL TESTAMENT, debuted at number 2 two on the Billboard 200 a month later. THE DEFINITION OF REAL appeared in 2008 fuelled by the singles, "Please Excuse My Hands" and "Bust It Baby Part 2."

• hip hop/rap