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
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 BillboardHot 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
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]
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]
