Polo G

Taurus Tremani Bartlett, known professionally as Polo G, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. Born on January 6, 1999, he rose to prominence in the late 2010s through his melodic contributions to the hip-hop scene. He is best known for hit singles such as "Finer Things," "Pop Out," and "Rapstar," as well as his commercially successful studio albums, each of which achieved double-platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Bartlett was raised in the Marshall Field Garden Apartments in the Old Town neighborhood on the north side of Chicago, Illinois. He is the second of four children born to Taurus Bartlett and Stacia Mac, the latter of whom serves as his manager. After graduating from high school, Bartlett was accepted to Lincoln University with a broadcasting major, but he decided on his first day not to attend, choosing instead to pursue music full-time. In his youth, he was also affiliated with the Chicago-based gang Almighty Vice Lord Nation.

Bartlett began his career by releasing music online, starting with his initial track "ODA" on YouTube and gaining traction on SoundCloud in 2018 with tracks like "Gang with Me." Late that year, he released "Finer Things," a song written while incarcerated, which drew millions of views. In early 2019, he achieved a commercial breakthrough with "Pop Out" featuring Lil Tjay, which peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song's success led to a record deal with Columbia Records. On June 7, 2019, Bartlett released his debut studio album, Die a Legend, which peaked at number six on the Billboard 200.

In May 2020, Bartlett released his second studio album, The Goat, which debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and featured ten Billboard Hot 100 entries. Later that year, he announced the launch of his own record label, Only Dreamers Achieve (ODA). His third studio album, Hall of Fame, was released in June 2021 and became his first album to top the Billboard 200. The album produced his first number-one single, "Rapstar," which debuted at the top of the Billboard Hot 100. A deluxe version, Hall of Fame 2.0, followed in December 2021.

Between 2022 and 2024, Bartlett released various standalone singles and collaborations, including "Distraction," "No Time Wasted," and "Sorrys & Ferraris." In August 2024, he released his fourth studio album, Hood Poet. Associated with the Chicago drill sound, Bartlett's music is recognized for its melodic tone and frequent use of piano-driven beats. His lyrics often cover real-life subjects such as racism and mental health, and he has cited Lil Wayne, Tupac Shakur, Gucci Mane, Lil Durk, and G Herbo as major influences.

In his personal life, Bartlett has a son born in July 2019. Following a near-fatal drug overdose in August 2019, he chose to quit taking Ecstasy and Xanax. Throughout his career, he has faced several legal incidents, including arrests in Miami, Los Angeles, and Manhattan regarding firearm, traffic, and robbery charges, several of which were ultimately dismissed, resolved through program completion, or followed by bail.