Gunplay (rapper)

Richard Morales, Jr. (born July 18, 1979), better known by his stage name Gunplay, is an American hip hop recording artist from Carol City, Florida. He embarked on his career in hip hop, as a member of fellow Florida-based rapper Rick Ross's southern hip hop group, Triple C's. Triple C's released their debut album, Custom Cars & Cycles, in 2009. After signing to Ross's Maybach Music Group label, upon its inception in 2009, Gunplay would announce he secured a solo recording contract with Def Jam Recordings, in July 2012. He released several mixtapes, such as 601 & Snort. His debut studio album, titled Living Legend, was released on July 31, 2015.

He grew up in Carol City in South Florida with his Jamaican mother. He started using and selling cocaine at age 16 saying he used to spend $600–700 a week on drugs and thousands after his record deal.

1997–2009: Career beginnings with Triple C’s

In 1997, he met with Carol City native Rick Ross and their passion for music led them to form the group Triple C's (Carol City Cartel) alongside rappers Torch and Young Breed. The group released their debut album Custom Cars & Cycles in 2009, which debuted at #44 on the U.S. Billboard 200.

2009–2014: Solo career

Gunplay made his solo debut by appearing on Rick Ross' track "Gunplay" on the his album Deeper Than Rap (2009). He released mixtapes under Maybach Music Group while appearing on featured tracks and making appearances on collaborative albums. In July 2012, he signed a solo deal with Def Jam and will be releasing his debut album Medellin, originally called Bogotá, under both labels. He announced he was working with producers from the south and he will be collaborating with producer Pharrell Williams. His mixtape, titled "601 & Snort," released on September 2012 and has been well praised by critics and was named the tenth best album of 2012 by Spin Magazine. One of his featured guest appearance songs, "Cartoon & Cereal" with Kendrick Lamar, was ranked in Complex's Best 50 Songs of 2012 list at #2.

Gunplay's mixtape Cops & Robbers was released on January 18, 2013. On May 7, 2013, he announced he had changed the title of his debut album from Medellín to Living Legend. The album was described as "raw" and a "real street album by Gunplay and it was claimed to be 75-80% done. He would go on to reveal Pharrell Williams will be producing a track titled "Steel Drums" for the album and Yo Gotti and Big Sean would also be featured on the album. He was also featured on Lil Wayne's I Am Not a Human Being II on the song "Beat The Shit".

2015–present: Living Legend

On March 8, 2015, he announced via instagram his debut album will be released in July 2015. On May 19, 2015, he released the official Living Legend single, WuzHaninDoe featuring YG with production by DJ Mustard and with Def Jam backing it, making it an official album single. It was then revealed that his long-awaited debut album Living Legend would be released on July 31, 2015. He is also working on the release of Maybach Music Group's fourth collaborative album, Self Made 4.

Gunplay has a son with his ex-wife whom he divorced in 2008.

Legal issues

TMZ reportedthat on Wednesday, October 10, 2012, Gunplay turned himself in to Miami authorities after a warrant was issued for his arrest on charges of armed robbery. According to the rapper's attorney, Gunplay could have faced life in prison if convicted on both counts. On October 22, 2012, he was given a $150,000 bond and placed on house arrest in connection to the robbery which took place at a Miami tax business. He was released from house arrest during January 2013.

On February 25, 2013, Gunplay's trial began on the charges of armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon and aggravated assault, stemming from when he allegedly pulled a gun on his accountant during April 2012. On the same day, it was announced that the case was dismissed because the victim, Turron Woodside, refused to further cooperate with authorities. Woodside refused to authenticate the footage of the incident and was "out of town" according to his family. Subsequently, the prosecution in the armed robbery case was forced to drop the charges against Gunplay.

Controversies

Gunplay has a Swastika tattoo and has given differing explanations for it. In a 2012 interview with Pigeons & Planes, Gunplay said he deliberately uses the tattoo to conflate Nazi atrocities with his intentions to deal with "bullshit out here." He continued: "I came to Nazi that shit. I came to Hitler that motherfucker. Put all the fake motherfuckers in the gas chamber and gas your fuck ass. That’s what I’m here to do." Several months later, in a 2013 interview with Complex, he said, "Swastika was originally a sign of peace, happiness, and love. The Nazis turned it into the symbol of death. That’s the same way I feel society does to people. We start off as innocent babies and it turns us into monsters. If the shoe fits, wear it."

At the 2012 BET Hip Hop Awards, Gunplay was involved in a fist fight with members of 50 Cent's G-Unit affiliates backstage.

• Custom Cars & Cycles (with Triple C's) (2009)
• Living Legend (2015)