Goon Affiliated is the fourth studio album by American rapper Plies.[1] The album was released by Atlantic Records.

Goon Affiliated
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 8, 2010 (2010-06-08)
Recorded2009–2010
GenreSouthern hip hop, dirty rap
Length55:00
LabelBig Gates, Slip-n-Slide, Atlantic
Producer
Plies chronology
Da REAList
(2008)
Goon Affiliated
(2010)
The Real Testament II
(2020)
Singles from Goon Affiliated
  1. "Becky"
    Released: June 19, 2009
  2. "Medicine"
    Released: October 10, 2009
  3. "She Got It Made"
    Released: March 5, 2010
  4. "Awesome"
    Released: March 2010

Background edit

Goon Affiliated was recorded between the fall of 2009 and the spring of 2010, set to be released just six months after Plies' previous album, Da Realist. As early as April 2009, Plies began assembling his "dream team" roster of rappers and producers for the project, immediately after the release of his single "Plenty Money".[2] Plies explained that having his brother with him during the recording of the album was very important.[3]

In an August 2009 interview with MTV.com,[3] Plies discussed the meaning behind the track "First 48":

"I got a song right now called 'First 48,' " the Florida native revealed. "It's wrapped around the whole TV series 'The First 48 Hours.' I'm telling you on the record: 'Everybody is a goon until they catch a case/ When the detectives get to the talking/ All that gangsta sh-- fades away/ The first 10 minutes, dog, you started off straight/ Detective applied a little pressure, you turn around and break.' That whole situation for me, that intro, I'm sitting here watching TV, and I didn't know it was that many unreal dudes still left in the streets," he continued. "I just focused on that situation. That's one of them records on my album I call 'choir rehearsal.' I know everybody is gonna sing it every time I perform it."

Additionally, Plies explained the title of the album:

"Goon Affiliated, I had the pleasure of having my brother home for this album," he told us of the LP's title while parked on his tour bus in ATL. "He actually came up with the title of this album. The three previous albums, 'real' was incorporated into the album title. For me, we felt Goon Affiliated wasn't too gangsta, wasn't too soft. It was right in the middle. Kids in the suburbs could have goon friends and be goon affiliated. You could be a street cat and not call yourself a 'goon' but have goon homeboys and be goon affiliated. Or you could be a goon and be goon affiliated. It's a whole diverse situation for me."[3]

The song "Look Like", which features rap verses from Young Jeezy & Fabolous is the first song on any of Plies' albums to feature other rappers.[4]

Promotion edit

In June 2009, Plies allegedly threw $12 into a concert crowd in Atlanta, Georgia, in promotion of Goon Affiliated, as he performed his final single before Goon Affiliated, "Plenty Money".[5] Later that month, Plies released his track "Becky". In April 2010, Plies announced his "Goon Affiliated 25 Day Giveaway Contest". Fans called a toll-free hotline from May 1 to May 25, 2010, and if Plies picked up the phone, the caller won a prize. Plies pledged to give away iPads, jewelry from his personal collection, as well as scholarships for college, health care payments, mortgage payments, and other big-ticket items.[6]

Singles edit

"Becky", the first official single was released in June 2009 and peaked at number 32 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart[7] and number 14 on the Hot Rap Tracks chart,[7] The second single was "She Got It Made", featuring Bei Maejor. It was released on March 5, 2010. The first promotional single was "Medicine", featuring Keri Hilson. It peaked at number 47 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and number 21 on the Hot Rap Tracks. This track didn't make the final product.

Reception edit

Commercial performance edit

The album debuted at number five on the US Billboard 200 chart with sales of 56,000 copies.[8] Goon Affiliated stopped at number eighteen on the Billboard 200 the following week and sold 21,000 copies, bringing the sales total to 77,000.[9] The album crossed the 150,000 sold mark on July 18, 2010 becoming the fourth of his albums to cross that benchmark.[10][11]

Critical reception edit

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [12]
HipHopDX     [13]
USA Today    [14]

The album was released to mixed reviews from music critics. Edwin Ortiz of HipHopDX gave the album a 1.5 out of 5 stars. He disliked tracks "Bruh Bruh", "Rob Myself", "Awesome" and "Good Dick" while liking "Go Live", "Look Like" and "Kitty Kitty".[13]

Track listing edit

The track listing was confirmed by AllMusic.[15]

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Go Live"Brandon Crear aka Yung Necro Music, Plies, Ronell "Big Gates" LevatteYung Necro Music3:32
2."Rob Myself"Erik Ortiz, Kevin Crowe, PliesJ.U.S.T.I.C.E. League4:03
3."Awesome"Plies, Xavier DotsonZaytoven3:38
4."Bruh Bruh"Plies, DotsonZaytoven3:25
5."Get My Niggas Out"L. Jones, Plies, GatesBig Jones3:41
6."Flaw"Jones, Plies, GatesBig Jones3:13
7."Becky"J. R. Rotem, PliesJ. R. Rotem3:20
8."Kitty Kitty" (featuring Trey Songz)Plies, Tony "Chef Tone" Scales, Tremaine Neverson, Troy TaylorChef Tone, Taylor3:32
9."Whatever I Say"Plies, GatesDunlap Exclusive3:16
10."Goonette"Crear, Plies, GatesBC of Necronam3:40
11."Good Dick"Plies, Xavier Murray, GatesFriky Zeek AKA Revenue4:17
12."Model"Ladamon Douglas, PliesFATBOI3:48
13."Look Like" (featuring Fabolous and Young Jeezy)Plies, GatesDynamic4:38
14."All I Know"D. Anefils, Ortiz, Crowe, PliesJ.U.S.T.I.C.E. League3:30
15."She Got It Made" (Additional vocals by Bei Maejor)Brandon Green, Clinton Sparks, PliesSparks, Kamau Georges3:27
iTunes bonus tracks
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
16."Chirpin' " (featuring Fella)Big Jones3:59
17."Letter"BC of Necronam4:39
18."Medicine" (featuring Keri Hilson)Polow da Don3:31
19."Bricks on Me" (featuring Fella)Zaytoven4:20

Personnel edit

Credits for Goon Affiliated adapted from AllMusic.[16]

Charts edit

Chart (2010) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[17] 5
US Top Rap Albums[18] 1
US Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums[19] 1

References edit

  1. ^ Reid, Shaheem. "Plies Explains Goon Affiliated Album Title, Song 'First 48.'". MTV News. Retrieved 2009-04-07.
  2. ^ Reid, Shaheem (Apr 23, 2009). "Plies Compiles A Collabo Wish List For New LP, Including Jadakiss". MTV.com. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
  3. ^ a b c Reid, Shaheem (Aug 7, 2009). "Plies Explains Goon Affiliated Album Title, Song 'First 48.'". MTV. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
  4. ^ Plies: Goon Affiliated (New Album) prefix.
  5. ^ Jacobs, Allen (June 22, 2009). "Plies Throws $12 Into Concert Crowd". Retrieved 14 December 2010.
  6. ^ Reid, Shaheem (Apr 22, 2010). "Plies Announces Goon Affiliated 25 Day Giveaway Contest". MTV. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
  7. ^ a b Plies Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charting songs at Billboard.com
  8. ^ "Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 6/13/2010". Archived from the original on 2012-09-27. Retrieved 2010-06-16.
  9. ^ Jacobs, Allen (June 23, 2010). "Hip Hop Album sales ending 6/20/10". Archived from the original on 28 September 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
  10. ^ Jacobs, Allen (2010-07-22). "Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 7/18/2010 | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales | HipHop DX". Beta.hiphopdx.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-09. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  11. ^ "Photographic image of Total Sales page" (PNG). Hiphopencounter.com. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  12. ^ Jeffries, David. "Review: Goon Affiliated". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 June 2010.
  13. ^ a b Ortiz, Edwin (12 June 2010). "Album Reviews Plies Goon Affiliated". Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  14. ^ Jones, Steve (8 June 2010). "Review: Goon Affiliated". USA Today. Retrieved 12 June 2010.
  15. ^ "Overview: Goon Affiliated". AllMusic. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  16. ^ "Credits: Goon Affiliated". AllMusic. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  17. ^ "Billboard 200 Week of June 26, 2010". Billboard Week of 26 June 2010. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
  18. ^ "Billboard Rap Albums Week of June 26, 2010". Billboard Week of 26 June 2010. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
  19. ^ "Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Week of June 26, 2010". Billboard Week of 26 June 2010. Retrieved 14 December 2010.