Polo G

Taurus Tremani Bartlett, professionally known as Polo G, was born on January 6, 1999, and grew up in the Marshall Field Garden Apartments in Chicago, Illinois. His mother, Stacia Mac, a former property manager, later became his manager, guiding his entry into the music industry. After high school, Bartlett initially planned to attend Lincoln University to study broadcasting but ultimately chose to pursue music full-time. His early music career began gaining traction in 2018 with tracks like “Gang with Me,” “Welcome Back,” and “Neva Cared,” which quickly accumulated millions of plays on SoundCloud. A significant turning point came with the release of “Finer Things,” a song written during a period of incarceration, followed by “Pop Out” featuring Lil Tjay in early 2019. This collaboration achieved widespread popularity, peaking at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100, and led to a record deal with Columbia Records.

Bartlett’s debut studio album, “Die a Legend,” released on June 7, 2019, reached number 6 on the Billboard 200 and was certified double platinum by the RIAA. This early success was built upon his distinctive style, characterized by piano-driven beats and lyrics that often address challenging themes such as racism and mental health. His second album, “The Goat” (2020), debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, with ten songs from the album charting on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2020, he was recognized in XXL’s Freshman Class and launched his own record label, Only Dreamers Achieve (ODA), signing Syracuse-based artist Scorey as his first talent. His third studio album, “Hall of Fame” (2021), marked a career pinnacle by becoming his first number-one album on the Billboard 200, generating 143,000 album-equivalent units in its first week.

The album also featured his first number-one single, “Rapstar,” which debuted at the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100. Further extending his impact, Bartlett was honored in the 2021 Forbes 30 Under 30 listing for music. In 2021, he also released “Hall of Fame 2.0,” a deluxe edition of the album. Notably, in August 2023, Polo G became the first and only rapper to have all of his albums certified double-platinum. His journey reflects consistent career progression, marked by significant commercial achievements and critical recognition within the hip-hop genre. He has collaborated with artists such as Juice Wrld, Lil Baby, Lil Durk, and Lil Wayne on various projects.