Goon Affiliated Explained

Goon Affiliated
Type:studio
Artist:Plies
Cover:Plies Goon Affiliated.PNG
Recorded:2009–2010
Length:55:00
Prev Title:Da REAList
Prev Year:2008
Next Title:The Real Testament II
Next Year:2020

Goon Affiliated is the fourth studio album by American rapper Plies.[1] It was released on June 8, 2010, by Big Gates Records, Slip-n-Slide Records and Atlantic Records.

Background

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.

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."

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

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

"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, 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

Commercial performance

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

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".

Track listing

The track listing was confirmed by AllMusic.[12]

Personnel

Credits for Goon Affiliated adapted from AllMusic.[13]

Charts

Chart (2010)Peak
position
US Billboard 200[14] 5
US Top Rap Albums[15] 1
US Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums[16] 1

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Plies Explains Goon Affiliated Album Title, Song 'First 48.'. https://web.archive.org/web/20090809193937/http://www.mtv.com//news//articles//1617830//20090806//plies.jhtml. dead. August 9, 2009. Reid. Shaheem. MTV News. 2009-04-07.
  2. Web site: Reid. Shaheem. Plies Compiles A Collabo Wish List For New LP, Including Jadakiss. https://web.archive.org/web/20090426041204/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1609875/20090423/plies.jhtml. dead. April 26, 2009. MTV.com. 14 December 2010. Apr 23, 2009.
  3. Web site: Reid. Shaheem. Plies Explains Goon Affiliated Album Title, Song 'First 48.'. MTV. https://web.archive.org/web/20090809193937/http://www.mtv.com//news//articles//1617830//20090806//plies.jhtml. dead. August 9, 2009. 14 December 2010. Aug 7, 2009.
  4. http://www.prefixmag.com/reviews/plies/goon-affiliated/29775/ Plies: Goon Affiliated (New Album)
  5. Web site: Jacobs. Allen. Plies Throws $12 Into Concert Crowd. 14 December 2010. June 22, 2009.
  6. Web site: Reid. Shaheem. Plies Announces Goon Affiliated 25 Day Giveaway Contest. MTV. https://web.archive.org/web/20100424215117/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1637613/20100422/plies.jhtml. dead. April 24, 2010. 14 December 2010. Apr 22, 2010.
  7. Plies Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charting songs
  8. Web site: Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 6/13/2010 . 2010-06-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120927210940/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.11493/title.hip-hop-album-sales-the-week-ending-6-13-2010 . 2012-09-27 . dead .
  9. Web site: Hip Hop Album sales ending 6/20/10. Jacobs. Allen. June 23, 2010. 28 June 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20120928101521/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.11539/title.hip-hop-album-sales-the-week-ending-6-20-2010. 28 September 2012. dead.
  10. Web site: Jacobs . Allen . 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 . 2010-07-22 . 2012-02-19 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120309185038/http://beta.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.11766/title.hip-hop-album-sales-the-week-ending-7-18-2010/ . 2012-03-09 .
  11. Web site: Photographic image of Total Sales page. PNG. Hiphopencounter.com. November 12, 2021. March 23, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120323061506/http://hiphopencounter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/rap21.png. dead.
  12. Web site: Overview: Goon Affiliated. AllMusic. March 25, 2016.
  13. Web site: Credits: Goon Affiliated. AllMusic. March 25, 2016.
  14. Web site: Billboard 200 Week of June 26, 2010. Billboard Week of 26 June 2010. 14 December 2010.
  15. Web site: Billboard Rap Albums Week of June 26, 2010. Billboard Week of 26 June 2010. 14 December 2010.
  16. Web site: Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Week of June 26, 2010. Billboard Week of 26 June 2010. 14 December 2010.