Officio Birthday Star : Polo G

 

   Taurus Tremani Bartlett (born January 6, 1999), known professionally as Polo G, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record executive. Bartlett was born in the Old Town area of Chicago and is a member of the Almighty Vice Lord Nation gang. He is the oldest of 4 children.

 His debut album, Die a Legend, was released on June 7, 2019, by Columbia Records and debuted at number six on the US Billboard 200 chart, becoming Polo G's first top-ten album. In its second week, the album dropped to number seven on the chart, in its third week, the album dropped to number ten on the chart. On August 11, 2020, the album was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for combined sales and album-equivalent units of over 1,000,000 units in the United States. It features his US top 20 single "Pop Out" (US #11)  featuring American rapper Lil Tjay, as well as the remix to the track titled "Pop Out Again" featuring Lil Baby and Gunna. The songs "Finer Things", "Battle Cry" and "Deep Wounds" were also released prior to the album.  In Canada, the album peaked at No.8 while topping the US Top Rap Albums (Billboard). 

   Barlett's sophomore studio album, The Goat, was released on May 15, 2020, by Columbia Records.It debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart, marking his second top-ten record and highest charting thereon.  In its second week, the album dropped to number five on the chart, and to number 7 in the third week. On July 28, 2020, the album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for combined sales and album-equivalent units of over 500,000 units in the United States. In the UK, the set peaked at No.6, marking the rapper's first entry on the Albums chart there, while reaching No.10 in Australia, No.2 in Canada, and No.5 in Ireland. It peaked at No.2 on the US Top Rap Albums (Billboard). The album's first single, "Heartless" featuring American record producer Mustard, was released in September 2019. The third single "DND" peaked at No.10 on our Officio 100 list, marking his first as a lead act. It featured other singles -  "Go Stupid" (US #60), "DND" (US #84), "Wishing for a Hero" and "Martin & Gina" (US #61)

   On Sept. 25, 2020, the rapper released a stand-alone single "Epidemic" abou.t losing people close to him, especially those who died by gun violence. It became his first number-one entry as a lead act on the Officio 100 where it debuted, while reaching No.47 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No.16 on the US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard). Prior to that, Polo G has been featured on Lil Durk's "3 Headed Goat" (with Lil Baby) (a top-10 hit on the Officio 100 list), as well as Murda Beatz's Officio 100 number-one entry, "Doors Unlocked" (with Ty Dolla Sign). Polo G scored his first Billboard Hot 100 top-ten entry in 2020 with his feature on Juice Wrld's "Hate the Other Side" (with Marshmello and The Kid Laroi).  

 

   Bartlett has one child, a son named Tremani, who was born on July 6, 2019. In August 2019, he was hospitalized and nearly lost his life after suffering an overdose at a party. 

   Polo G was originally known for his Chicago drill sound, but eventually transitioned to a more melodic style. He has been noted for his "vivid and explicit storytelling"; his lyrics often involve tough subjects, including racism and mental health. He also regularly pays homage to his hometown. He has stated that American rapper Lil Wayne and hip-hop icon Tupac Shakur are his biggest influences. He also grew up listening to Gucci Mane, as well as Chicago rappers Lil Durk, G Herbo and Chief Keef.

   In September 2020, Polo G announced the creation of his own record label, ODA Records, in partnership with Columbia Records. ODA stands for "Only Dreamers Achieve Records". The first artist signed to ODA is Scorey, an artist from Syracuse, New York. 

 Polo G's third studio album Hall of Fame was released June 11, 2021 through Columbia Records as well as ODA. With 143,000 units obtained in the first week, the album debuted atop the Billboard 200 chart, landing the rapper his career first No.1 on the chart. The album also peaked atop the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard). Elsewhere the set reached No.3 in Australia, No.7 in Austria, No.2 in Canada, Denmark and New Zealand, No.3 in Ireland, Norway and the UK. The album spawned the singles "Epidemic" (CAN #41, IRE #46, UK #54, US #47, No.16 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs),  "GNF (OKOKOK)" (US #55, CAN #55), "Rapstar" (this would debut at No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100, earning Polo G his very first number-one effort and his second top-10 entry on the record chart. It spent its first two weeks atop the tally - eventually spending weeks on chart), and "Gang Gang" (feat. Lil Wayne) (US #33, CAN #34, UK #56). A deluxe edition of the album, Hall of Fame 2.0, was released on December 3, 2021, and it featured the single "Bad Man (Smooth Criminal)", and it peaked at No.49 on the Hot 100.