Gunplay (rapper)

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Gunplay
Birth nameRichard Welton Morales Jr.[1][2]
Also known asDon Logan
Born (1979-07-18) July 18, 1979 (age 44)
Miami, Florida, U.S.
OriginCarol City, Florida, U.S.
GenresHip hop
Occupation(s)Rapper
DiscographyGunplay discography
Years active2000–present
Labels
Member of
Children2

Richard Welton Morales Jr.[1] (born July 18, 1979), better known by his stage name Gunplay, is an American rapper from Carol City, Florida. He is best known for his association with fellow Florida-based rapper Rick Ross, with whom he formed the hip hop group Triple C's in 2005, along with rappers Torch and Young Breed. Following their debut album, Custom Cars & Cycles (2009), Morales signed a solo recording contract with Ross' Maybach Music Group, which entered a joint venture with Def Jam Recordings in July 2012.[3] His debut studio album, Living Legend (2015), narrowly entered the Billboard 200 and served as his only release on a major label.

Early life[edit]

Born Richard Morales Jr. to a Puerto Rican father and Jamaican mother in 1979, Morales spent some of his early childhood in Opa-Locka, Florida.[4] By age 10, Morales' parents divorced and the family split. His father returned to Puerto Rico. Morales, his mother and younger brother later settled in Carol City located in Dade County.[5][6] At age 15, Morales dropped out of high school after being told he would have to repeat ninth grade. After leaving school, Morales 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.[7]

Music career[edit]

1997–2009: Career beginnings with Triple C's[edit]

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.[8]

2009–2014: Solo career[edit]

Gunplay made his solo debut by appearing on Rick Ross' track "Gunplay" on his album Deeper Than Rap (2009). He released mixtapes under Maybach Music Group[9] while appearing on featured tracks and making appearances on collaborative albums. In July 2012, he signed a solo deal with Def Jam. He released his first mixtape, 601 & Snort, in September 2012. It was praised by critics and was named the tenth best album of 2012 by Spin magazine.[10] 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.[11] Gunplay's mixtape Cops & Robbers was released on January 18, 2013.[12] Gunplay was featured on Dirty Diana's R.I.P. To The Competition in June 2013.[13] He was also featured on Lil Wayne's 2013 album I Am Not a Human Being II on the song "Beat The Shit".[14]

2015–present: Cry baby[edit]

Gunplay's debut album, Living Legend, was released on July 31, 2015. It had first been announced in 2012, initially with the title Bogota, then the title Medellin.[15] Gunplay described the album as "raw" and a "real street album" by Gunplay. The album includes guest appearances by Rick Ross, Yo Gotti, YG, and Currensy, among others; it was meant to include other collaborations, including a track with Big Sean and another produced by Pharrell Williams titled "Steel Drums",[7] but these did not materialize. Four singles were released from Living Legend: "Tell 'Em", "Wuzhanindoe", "Be Like Me" and "Blood on the Dope".[16][17]

In 2019, Gunplay released the full-length collaborative album, Chop Stixx and Banana Clips with Mozzy. Writing about the project for Freemusicempire, Dan-O praised the project: "Gunplay and Mozzy paint pictures so you can see the crook's whole journey, not just the sentence".[18]

Personal life[edit]

Gunplay has a son, Richard Morales III[19] (b. 2004), with his ex-wife, whom he divorced in 2008.[6][5][20] His wife, Von'Shae Taylor-Morales gave birth to his second child and first daughter Osanna (born 2023), although Gunplay lost custody of her in October 2023. The month prior, he was arrested and charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, child abuse, and domestic abuse.[21] Von'Shae, who is twenty years his junior, stated this was due to Gunplay's severe drug abuse, and has since filed a restraining order against the rapper.[22]

Gunplay practices Santeria, stating that he felt a 'deeper connection' with God when he began practicing it.[23]

Legal issues[edit]

TMZ reported[24] that 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.[25] According to the rapper's attorney, Gunplay could have faced life in prison if convicted on both counts.[26] 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.[27] 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.[28][29]

Controversies[edit]

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."[30] 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."[7] At the 2012 BET Hip Hop Awards, Gunplay was involved in a fist fight with members of 50 Cent's G-Unit affiliates backstage.[31]

Discography[edit]

Main articles: Gunplay discography and Triple C's discography

Studio Albums

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Pajot, S. (October 12, 2012). "Gunplay Could Face Life in Prison". Miami New Times. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  2. ^ "ALWAYS". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  3. ^ Gunplay Signs Solo Record Deal With Def Jam | XXL. Xxlmag.com (July 3, 2012). Retrieved on 2012-10-26.
  4. ^ "20 Rappers Who Aren't From Where You Think They're From". Complex.com. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  5. ^ a b "The Breakfast Club". Power1051fm.com. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
  6. ^ a b Meet The Hard Rock 12: Gunplay « The Hard Rock 12. Hiphopweekly.com. Retrieved on 2012-10-26. Archived October 12, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ a b c "Interview: Gunplay Talks Working With Pharrell, House Arrest, and How Much He Used to Spend on Drugs". Complex. January 5, 2013. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
  8. ^ Gunplay. Facebook (February 15, 2011). Retrieved on 2012-10-26.
  9. ^ Free Gunplay Mixtapes @. Datpiff.com. Retrieved on 2012-10-26.
  10. ^ Best Music 2012 (December 11, 2012). "Gunplay – 601 & Snort (Self-Released) – SPIN's 40 Best Hip-Hop Albums of 2012 | SPIN | Year-End Lists | Best Albums". SPIN. Retrieved April 7, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ "2. Kendrick Lamar f/ Gunplay "Cartoon & Cereal" – The 50 Best Songs of 2012". Complex. December 11, 2012. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
  12. ^ Horowitz, Steven J. (January 18, 2013). "Gunplay "Cops N Robbers" Mixtape Download & Stream". HipHop DX. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
  13. ^ "Breeding Ground Spotlight: Dirty Diana (@WhosDIRTYDIANA)". November 7, 2013. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
  14. ^ Horowitz, Steven J. (February 1, 2013). "Gunplay To Appear on Lil Wayne's "I Am Not A Human Being II," Taps Pharrell Williams & Big Sean For "Medellin"". HipHop DX. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
  15. ^ "Gunplay Talks "Living Legend" Album, Being on Lil Wayne Album, Self Made 3, Def Jam & More". YouTube. May 7, 2013. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
  16. ^ "Rick Ross Says 'Self Made 4' Coming Early 2015 – hiphopearly". News.hiphopearly.com. November 23, 2014. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
  17. ^ "Maybach Music Group on Twitter". Twitter.com. December 4, 2014. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
  18. ^ "Song Review-Bail Bond by Mozzy & Gunplay". Freemusicempire.com. October 31, 2019. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  19. ^ Barshad, Amos (May 2, 2013). "Gunplay Is at an All-Time High". Grantland.com. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  20. ^ Wilbert L. Cooper (November 26, 2012). "Gunplay Doesn't Fear the Pine Box or Prison". Vice. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  21. ^ https://www.xxlmag.com/gunplay-loses-custody-daughter-child-abuse-charges/
  22. ^ https://hiphopdx.com/news/gunplay-loses-custody-daughter
  23. ^ Cooper, Wilbert L. (November 26, 2012). "Gunplay Doesn't Fear the Pine Box or Prison". Vice.com. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  24. ^ Rapper Gunplay Turns Himself In to Jail on Robbery Charge. TMZ.com (September 30, 2012). Retrieved on 2012-10-26.
  25. ^ Gunplay PULLS GUN on Accountant ... CAUGHT ON TAPE. TMZ.com (October 13, 2012). Retrieved on 2012-10-26.
  26. ^ Kuperstein, Slava (October 13, 2012). "Gunplay's Armed Robbery Caught on Tape, Rapper Could Face Life in Prison". HipHop DX. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
  27. ^ Morales, Richard. "Rapper Gunplay Gets $150,000 Bond, House Arrest, Attorney". NBC 6 Miami. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
  28. ^ "Armed Robbery Charges Dropped Against Miami Rapper Gunplay". Miami.cbslocal.com. February 25, 2013. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
  29. ^ "Gunplay Says His Case Is Dismissed, Avoids Life Sentence From Armed Robbery Charges". Hotnewhiphop.com. February 25, 2013. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
  30. ^ "Interview: Gunplay Speaks On Drugs, Swastikas, and His Deal With Def Jam". Archived from the original on December 22, 2016. Retrieved December 17, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  31. ^ Kuperstein, Slava (October 3, 2012). "Additional Footage Released of Gunplay & G-Unit Brawl". HipHopdx.com. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
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