Bartlett was born in the [[Old Town, Chicago|Old Town]] area of Chicago, Illinois, to Taurus Bartlett and Stacia Mac.<ref>{{cite web|title=#CivilTV - Polo G "Welcome To My Neighborhood"|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PC3pfpiGxWQ|via=YouTube|access-date=June 10, 2021}}</ref> Mac, a former property manager, serves as Bartlett's manager.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ihaza|first=Jeff|last2=Ihaza|first2=Jeff|date=2021-10-06|title=Polo G Saw All of This Coming|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/polo-g-rapstar-hall-of-fame-album-tour-chicago-1233792/|access-date=2021-10-07|website=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}</ref> He grew up in the [[Marshall Field Garden Apartments]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://rollingout.com/2018/12/25/chicago-rapper-polo-g-explains-why-he-is-different/ |title=Chicago rapper Polo G explains why he is different |publisher=Rolling Out |date=December 25, 2018 |access-date=October 11, 2019}}</ref> He is the second of four children, having an older sister, a younger brother and a younger sister.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.revolt.tv/news/2020/5/29/21274772/polo-g-the-goat-documentary/ |title=Polo G releases 'The Goat' documentary |publisher=Revolt TV |date=May 29, 2020 |access-date=January 5, 2021}}</ref> After graduating high school, Bartlett was accepted to [[Lincoln University (Pennsylvania)|Lincoln University]] with a broadcasting major, but decided not to go on his first day, opting to pursue a music career full-time.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ihaza|first=Jeff|date=October 6, 2021|title=Polo G Saw All of This Coming|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/polo-g-rapstar-hall-of-fame-album-tour-chicago-1233792/|url-status=live|website=Rolling Stone}}</ref>