You can’t blame Plies for pushing back the release of his latest album several times over. With three albums put out in less than two years, the Florida-native was due for a quick break before jumping back into his grind. Unleashing his time-tested formula of overt confidence and minimal features to boot, Plies finally puts forth Goon Affiliated.
Plies starts out the album with the energetic track “Go Live,” one of the few “hard” records which fits solely for the streets. With money on his mind, Plies plainly quips, “Only nigga not platinum charging forty racks a show.” Despite the allure of the almighty dollar, Plies makes sure his incarcerated friends are not forgotten with “Get My Niggas Out.” Shouting out his extended family, he assures them a piece of his fortune when they make it back home. While limiting his features to just Young Jeezy and Fabolous on “Look Like”
, the trio of rappers provide a favorable laid-back performance that doesn’t feel forced.
As a personified bad boy that always gets the woman, Plies injects his sexual charisma throughout Goon Affiliated. The melodic bounce to “Kitty Kitty” sets a playful tone that’s also a similar approach on his current single “She Got It Made” featuring producer/singer Bei Maejor. Over an infectious sample of “Escape (The Pina Colada Song,” he and Bei serenade their latest sweetheart with all the things money can buy. Plies warrants a curious performance through “Goonette,” where he declares to buy his woman a pink ski mask to signify their unity. Then on “Becky,” all sanctity is lost as Plies highlights his favorite hobby. With sexual activity on overdrive, this record would fit perfectly into a strip club’s music rotation.
In his career, Plies has been able to mask his low level of lyrical chops with records that are easily digestible and catchy. However, where Plies fails on Goon Affiliated is his inability to distinguish simplistic from careless. With the intent to sound cocky and conceited, “Awesome” comes off as childish and regressive. Then on “Bruh Bruh” Plies spends nearly three and half minutes ending every rhyme with the track’s title. While initially creative, the thought process behind the record “Rob Myself” is so ludicrous that it’s laughable. Lastly, words cannot describe “Good Dick,” nor should they in the first place.
For a man that has been criticized for the authenticity of his self-described “realness,” you have to respect his composure for remaining the same since his 2007 debut. With that said, the redundant appeal of what Plies represents has deteriorated to the point that it’s difficult to continue to call him an artist. There is no doubt that Goon Affiliated will make an impact on radio and clubs across the country, but that will merely be a reflection of his name and not of his abilities.
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