Signed to Slip-N-Slide in 2004 after recording his first track, "Tell Dem Krackers Dat," the Ft. Myers, FL-based Plies built anticipation for his official debut album with a couple mixtape releases, along with an appearance on Trina's "So Fresh." He found some trouble when, during a performance at a Gainesville nightclub on July 2, 2006, an argument about set length escalated into gunfire. Two members of his entourage were convicted of attempted murder, while Plies and a third associate were charged with illegal possession of concealed weapons. Originally a featured MC on Akon's "I Wanna Love You," Plies was replaced by Snoop Dogg, quite possibly due to the altercation. His debut album, The Real Testament, which featured the single "Shawty," was released in August 2007. The year 2008 saw the arrival of two new albums, with Definition of Real dropping in June and Da Realist following in December. A year later the December release of the single “Medicine,” featuring Keri Hilson, announced the coming of the rapper's 2010 release Goon Affiliated.