Polo G
Biography
Taurus Tremani Bartlett, known professionally as Polo G, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter born on January 6, 1999, in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up in the Marshall Field Garden Apartments in the Old Town neighborhood. His mother, Stacia Mac, is also his manager. Before his music career took off, Bartlett was arrested multiple times.
Musical Career
Polo G's music career began to gain traction in 2018 with the release of his song "Finer Things". He wrote the song while incarcerated, and its video quickly gained millions of views upon his release. His first recorded song was titled "ODA," which he released on YouTube. After creating a SoundCloud account in 2018, his track "Gang with Me" garnered millions of plays. His breakthrough single, "Pop Out," featuring Lil Tjay, was released in early 2019 and peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100, leading to a record deal with Columbia Records.
Studio Albums
Polo G has released three studio albums, all of which have been certified double platinum. His debut album, "Die a Legend" (2019), peaked at number six on the US Billboard 200. His second album, "The Goat" (2020), reached number two on the Billboard 200 and featured ten songs that charted on the Billboard Hot 100. His third album, "Hall of Fame" (2021), became his first number-one album and included his first number-one single, "Rapstar". A deluxe version, "Hall of Fame 2.0," was released in December 2021.
Musical Style and Influences
Polo G's musical style is often described as a melodic take on Chicago drill music. He is known for his vivid storytelling, with lyrics that often address subjects like racism, mental health, and his experiences growing up in Chicago. He frequently utilizes piano-driven beats. He has cited Lil Wayne and Tupac Shakur as his biggest musical influences. He also grew up listening to artists like Gucci Mane, as well as fellow Chicago rappers Lil Durk and G Herbo.
Other Ventures
In September 2020, Polo G announced the launch of his own record label, Only Dreamers Achieve (ODA). He was also recognized in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for music in 2021.