Polo G
Polo G | |
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 Polo G in 2021 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Taurus Tremani Bartlett |
| Also known as |
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| Born | January 6, 1999 Old Town, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Born | |
| 🏫 Education | Wendell Phillips Academy High School |
| 💼 Occupation | |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Years active | 2017–present |
| Labels | |
| Born | |
| 💼 Occupation | |
| 👶 Children | 1 |
| 🌐 Website | polocapalot |
Taurus Tremani Bartlett (born January 6, 1999), known professionally as Polo G, is an American rapper. He rose to prominence with his singles "Finer Things"[1] and "Pop Out" (featuring Lil Tjay). His debut album Die a Legend (2019) peaked at number six on the US Billboard 200 and was certified platinum by the RIAA.[2]
Bartlett's second studio album, The Goat (2020), peaked at number two on the Billboard 200[3] and charted ten singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[4] His mainstream success continued with his third studio album Hall of Fame (2021), which became Bartlett's first chart topping album and included his first number-one single "Rapstar".[5][6]
Early life[edit]
Taurus Tremani Bartlett was born in the Old Town area of Chicago, Illinois, to Taurus Bartlett and Stacia Mac.[7] Mac, a former property manager, serves as Bartlett's manager.[8] He grew up in the Marshall Field Garden Apartments, which was across from the Cabrini–Green Homes.[9] He is the second of four children, having an older sister, a younger brother, Taurean, who's also a rapper under the stage name Trench Baby, and a younger sister.[10] After graduating high school, Bartlett was accepted to Lincoln University with a broadcasting major, but decided not to go on his first day, opting to pursue a music career full-time.[11] He is affiliated with the Chicago-based gang Mickey Cobras, which is known to feud with gangs like the Gangster Disciples.[12]
Career[edit]
2018–2019: Beginnings, record deal, and Die a Legend[edit]
Bartlett's first song ever recorded was titled "ODA", which he released to YouTube. Upon creating a SoundCloud account in 2018,[13] he released the track "Gang with Me", which quickly racked up millions of plays. He continued gaining traction with his songs "Welcome Back" and "Neva Cared". Bartlett went on to release "Finer Things", a song he wrote while incarcerated, in the latter half of 2018 and quickly gained millions of views. In early 2019, Bartlett released "Pop Out" featuring Lil Tjay which peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song's music video gained over 200 million views on YouTube and led to him signing a record deal with Columbia Records. Bartlett also released videos for his songs "Deep Wounds", "Through da Storm", "Effortless", and "Dyin' Breed" from his debut studio album Die a Legend, which was released on June 7, 2019, and peaked at number 6 on the Billboard 200.[14] "Heartless", a single released later in 2019, featured production from Mustard, and was later featured on his second album.
2020–present: The Goat, Hall of Fame, and Only Dreamers Achieve Records[edit]
On February 14, 2020, Bartlett released the track "Go Stupid", with rappers Stunna 4 Vegas and NLE Choppa with featured production from Mike Will Made It and co-production from Tay Keith.[15] "Go Stupid" became his second song on the Hot 100 (after "Pop Out"), peaking at number 60.[16] Bartlett then released his second studio album, The Goat, on May 15, 2020.[17] The album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and ten songs from the album hit the Hot 100, including "Flex" featuring Juice Wrld and "Be Something" featuring Lil Baby, peaking at numbers 30 and 57, respectively. The same month, he was featured alongside Lil Baby on "3 Headed Goat" by Lil Durk which peaked at number 43 on the Billboard Hot 100. In July, Bartlett was featured on Juice Wrld's posthumous album Legends Never Die on the song "Hate the Other Side". The song peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, his first top-ten single and highest charting overall song. On August 11, 2020, he was included on XXL's 2020 Freshman Class.[18] Later that month, he released the music video for his single "Martin & Gina", which peaked at number 61 on the Billboard Hot 100. In September, he released the single "Epidemic", which peaked at 47 on the Billboard Hot 100. On October 30, 2020, he was featured on "The Code" by King Von off his debut album Welcome to O'Block. The song peaked at number 66 on the Billboard Hot 100 and charted in Canada.
In September, Bartlett announced his own record label, Only Dreamers Achieve (ODA), with Syracuse-based artist Scorey being his first signee.[19][20][21]
Bartlett was honored in the 2021 Forbes 30 Under 30 listing, under the music category.[22]
On February 5, 2021, he released the single "GNF (OKOKOK)".[23] On February 12, he was featured on the soundtrack for the film Judas and the Black Messiah, on the song "Last Man Standing".[24] On March 5, Bartlett was also featured on the soundtrack for the 2021 film Boogie on the song "Fashion" by late rapper Pop Smoke. Bartlett collaborated with Lil Tjay and Fivio Foreign on the song "Headshot", released on March 19. His song "Rapstar", released on April 9, 2021, debuted at the number-one spot on the Billboard Hot 100.[6] On May 17, he announced that he finished recording his third studio album Hall of Fame. He released the album's fourth single "Gang Gang" with Lil Wayne on May 21, with the song peaking at 33 on the Hot 100.[25] On June 11, Bartlett released Hall of Fame, which debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 and became his first number-one album. He released Hall of Fame 2.0, a deluxe edition of the album, on December 3, 2021.[26] The album featured fourteen new songs in addition to the previous twenty,[27] and contained guest appearances from Lil Baby, Moneybagg Yo, YungLiV, NLE Choppa, and Lil Tjay.
Artistry[edit]
Polo G was originally known for his Chicago drill sound, but eventually transitioned to a more melodic style.[28] He has been noted for his "vivid and explicit storytelling"; his lyrics often involve tough subjects, including racism and mental health. He has stated that American rappers Lil Wayne and Tupac Shakur are his biggest influences.[29][30] He also grew up listening to Gucci Mane, as well as Chicago rappers Lil Durk, he was with G Herbo in school.[31]
Personal life[edit]
Bartlett has a son, born on July 6, 2019.[32][33]
Bartlett was hospitalized on August 12, 2019, due to a near-fatal drug overdose at a party. Due to his aforementioned hospitalization and the death of fellow rapper and friend Juice Wrld, he has since quit ecstasy and Xanax.[34][35][36]
Discography[edit]
- Die a Legend (2019)
- The Goat (2020)
- Hall of Fame (2021)
- Hall of Fame 2.0 (2021)
Filmography[edit]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Juice Wrld: Into the Abyss | Himself[37] | Documentary |
Awards and nominations[edit]
| Award | Year | Nominee | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brit Awards | 2022 | "Rapstar" | style="background: #FDD; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="no table-no2"|Nominated | [38] | |
| MTV Video Music Awards | 2021 | Himself | style="background: #FDD; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="no table-no2"|Nominated | [39] | |
| "Rapstar" | style="background: #FDD; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="no table-no2"|Nominated |
References[edit]
- ↑ Sun-Times, Selena Fragassi-For the (August 23, 2019). "Chicago rapper Polo G embracing a new path in life, music". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
- ↑ "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
- ↑ "Polo G". Billboard. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
- ↑ "Polo G". Billboard. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
- ↑ "Polo G Is Living Life Like A "RAPSTAR"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Polo G Scores First Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 With Debut of 'Rapstar'". Billboard. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
- ↑ "#CivilTV - Polo G "Welcome To My Neighborhood"". Retrieved June 10, 2021 – via YouTube.
- ↑ Ihaza, Jeff (October 6, 2021). "Polo G Saw All of This Coming". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
- ↑ "Chicago rapper Polo G explains why he is different". Rolling Out. December 25, 2018. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
- ↑ "Polo G releases 'The Goat' documentary". Revolt TV. May 29, 2020. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
- ↑ Ihaza, Jeff (October 6, 2021). "Polo G Saw All of This Coming". Rolling Stone.
- ↑ Daily, Hip-Hop (July 3, 2021). The Criminal History of Polo G. YouTube.
- ↑ "POLO G". Retrieved March 30, 2021 – via SoundCloud.
- ↑ "Emerging Hip-Hop: Megan Thee Stallion, DaBaby & Polo G Make Waves on Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
- ↑ Schatz, Lake (February 14, 2020). "Polo G Unleashes New Single "Go Stupid": Stream". Retrieved March 13, 2020.
- ↑ "Polo G Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
- ↑ @Polo_Capalot (May 5, 2020). "5/15🖤🐐...click the link for presale🔥 polog.lnk.to/GOAT" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ↑ Cline, Georgette (August 11, 2020). "XXL 2020 FRESHMAN CLASS REVEALED". XXL. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
- ↑ "Polo G Launches Label ODA in Partnership with Columbia Records". Music Connection. September 10, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
- ↑ Grant, Shawn (September 11, 2020). "POLO G LAUNCHES NEW LABEL ODA IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COLUMBIA RECORDS". The Source. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
- ↑ Garcia, Dan (September 11, 2020). "POLO G LAUNCHES NEW LABEL ODA IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COLUMBIA RECORDS". The Source. Retrieved May 16, 2021.
- ↑ "Forbes 30 Under 30 2021: Music". www.forbes.com. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
- ↑ Bloom, Madison (February 5, 2021). "Polo G Shares Video for New Song "GNF (OKOKOK)": Watch". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
- ↑ Moore, Evan F. (February 11, 2021). "Lil Durk, Polo G, G Herbo featured on 'Judas and the Black Messiah' soundtrack". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
- ↑ Findlay, Mitch (May 17, 2021). "Polo G & Lil Wayne Dropping Collab Friday". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
- ↑ Saponara, Michael (November 8, 2021). "Polo G Flips Michael Jackson's 'Smooth Criminal' For 'Hall Of Fame 2.0.'". HipHopDX. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
- ↑ Lipshutz, Jason (December 3, 2021). "First Stream: New Music From Ariana Grande & Kid Cudi, Juice WRLD & Justin Bieber and More". Billboard.
- ↑ "The Break Presents: Polo G – XXL". Xxl Mag. 2019. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
- ↑ "Polo G Names Lil Wayne as One of His Biggest Rap Influences". XXL. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
- ↑ "Polo G on 2Pac, Juice. Wrld, and Why the Lakers Will Win the 2020 NBA Championship – Complex". Complex Networks.
- ↑ Acevedo, Kai. "The Break Presents: Polo G – XXL". XXL Mag. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
- ↑ "Polo G Goes Undercover on Reddit, Youtube and Twitter | GQ". Retrieved June 12, 2021 – via YouTube.
- ↑ "Polo G talks overcoming addiction, how Nipsey Hussle impacted him, becoming a father last week". Retrieved June 12, 2021 – via YouTube.
- ↑ Tony, Centeno. "Polo G Hospitalized, Claims He Almost Lost His Life". XXL. XXL Magazine. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
- ↑ Moorwood, Victoria (January 6, 2020). "Polo G reflects on 3-year drug addiction". Revolt TV. Revolt TV. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
- ↑ Polo G - The Goat (Documentary), retrieved June 12, 2021 – via YouTube
- ↑ "Lil Bibby speaks on Juice WRLD documentary premiere rumors". October 13, 2021.
- ↑ Reilly, Nick (February 8, 2022). "Brit Awards 2022: The Complete Winners List". Rolling Stone.
- ↑ Hailu, Selome (September 21, 2021). "2021 MTV Video Music Awards: The Complete Winners List". Variety.
External links[edit]
Media related to [[commons:Lua error in Module:WikidataIB at line 466: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).|Lua error in Module:WikidataIB at line 466: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).]] at Wikimedia Commons- Polo G at AllMusic
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