:Gunplay (rapper)

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Gunplay

| image =

| caption =

| birth_name = Richard Welton Morales Jr.{{Cite news|url=https://www.miaminewtimes.com/music/gunplay-could-face-life-in-prison-6460032|title=Gunplay Could Face Life in Prison|first=S.|last=Pajot|date=October 12, 2012|newspaper=Miami New Times|access-date=2020-04-13}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/search/workID/886787130 |title=ALWAYS |website=ASCAP |publisher=American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers |access-date=July 6, 2023}}

| alias = Don Logan

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1979|7|18}}

| birth_place = Texas, U.S.

| origin = Carol City, Florida, U.S.

| genre = Hip hop

| occupation = Rapper

| discography = Gunplay discography

| years_active = 2000–present

| label = {{hlist|Black Builderburg|

X-Ray|Cleopatra|Real Talk|Def Jam|Maybach Music|Warner Bros.}}

| current_member_of = {{flatlist|

Triple C's}}

{{Infobox person

| child = yes

| children = 2}}

}}

Richard Welton Morales Jr. (born July 18, 1979), better known by his stage name Gunplay, is an American rapper known for his association with fellow 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.[http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2012/07/gunplay-signs-solo-record-deal-with-def-jam/ Gunplay Signs Solo Record Deal With Def Jam | XXL]. Xxlmag.com (July 3, 2012). Retrieved on 2012-10-26. His debut studio album, Living Legend (2015), narrowly entered the Billboard 200 and served as his only release on a major label.

Early life

Born Richard Morales Jr. to a Puerto Rican father and Jamaican mother on July 18, 1979, Morales spent some of his early childhood in Opa-locka.{{Cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2013/05/20-rappers-who-arent-from-where-you-think-theyre-from/|title=20 Rappers Who Aren't From Where You Think They're From|website=Complex.com|access-date=2020-04-13}} 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 Miami-Dade County.{{cite web|url=http://www.power1051fm.com/pages/onair/breakfast-club/#23340171 |title=The Breakfast Club |publisher=Power1051fm.com |date= |access-date=2015-08-13}}[http://hiphopweekly.com/hardrock12/site/meet-the-hard-rock-12-gunplay/ Meet The Hard Rock 12: Gunplay « The Hard Rock 12]. Hiphopweekly.com. Retrieved on 2012-10-26. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012055349/http://hiphopweekly.com/hardrock12/site/meet-the-hard-rock-12-gunplay/ |date=October 12, 2013 }} At the age of 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 the age of 16 saying he used to spend $600–700 a week on drugs and thousands after his record deal.{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2012/11/interview-gunplay-pharrell-house-arrest-drugs |title=Interview: Gunplay Talks Working With Pharrell, House Arrest, and How Much He Used to Spend on Drugs |publisher=Complex |date=January 5, 2013 |access-date=2013-04-07}}

Music career

=1997–2009: Career beginnings with Triple C's=

In 1997, he met with Miami-Dade County 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.[https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gunplay/197538510272628?v=info Gunplay]. Facebook (February 15, 2011). Retrieved on 2012-10-26.

=2009–2014: Solo career=

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[http://www.datpiff.com/mixtapes-search.php?criteria=keyword:%20gunplay Free Gunplay Mixtapes @]. Datpiff.com. Retrieved on 2012-10-26. 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.{{cite web|author=Best Music 2012 |url=https://www.spin.com/2012/12/spin-40-best-hip-hop-albums-of-2012/121204-10-gunplay/ |title=Gunplay – 601 & Snort (Self-Released) – SPIN's 40 Best Hip-Hop Albums of 2012 | SPIN | Year-End Lists | Best Albums |publisher=SPIN |date=December 11, 2012 |access-date=2013-04-07}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2012/12/2012-year-in-review-the-50-best-songs-of-2012/kendrick-lamar-cartoon-and-cereal |title=2. Kendrick Lamar f/ Gunplay "Cartoon & Cereal" – The 50 Best Songs of 2012 |publisher=Complex |date=December 11, 2012 |access-date=2013-04-07}} Gunplay's mixtape Cops & Robbers was released on January 18, 2013.{{cite web|last=Horowitz |first=Steven J.|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.21686/title.gunplay-cops-n-robbers-mixtape-release-date|title=Gunplay "Cops N Robbers" Mixtape Download & Stream|publisher=HipHop DX|date=January 18, 2013|access-date=2013-04-07}} Gunplay was featured on Dirty Diana's R.I.P. To The Competition in June 2013.{{cite web |title=Breeding Ground Spotlight: Dirty Diana (@WhosDIRTYDIANA) |url=https://allhiphop.com/news/breeding-ground-spotlight-dirty-diana-whosdirtydiana-cI5B782MfkmVyW40euvT-A/ |date=November 7, 2013 |access-date=August 21, 2019 |archive-date=August 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822044648/https://allhiphop.com/news/breeding-ground-spotlight-dirty-diana-whosdirtydiana-cI5B782MfkmVyW40euvT-A/ |url-status=dead }} He was also featured on Lil Wayne's 2013 album I Am Not a Human Being II on the song "Beat The Shit".{{cite web |last=Horowitz |first=Steven J. |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.22759/title.gunplay-to-appear-on-lil-wayne-s-i-am-not-a-human-being-ii-taps-pharrell-williams-big-sean-for-medellin- |title=Gunplay To Appear on Lil Wayne's "I Am Not A Human Being II," Taps Pharrell Williams & Big Sean For "Medellin"|publisher=HipHop DX |date=February 1, 2013|access-date=2013-04-07}}

=2015–present: ''Cry baby''=

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEuTYFLrNI8 |title=Gunplay Talks "Living Legend" Album, Being on Lil Wayne Album, Self Made 3, Def Jam & More |publisher=YouTube |date=May 7, 2013 |access-date=2015-08-13}} 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", but these did not materialize. Four singles were released from Living Legend: "Tell 'Em", "Wuzhanindoe", "Be Like Me" and "Blood on the Dope".{{cite web|url=http://news.hiphopearly.com/rick-ross-says-self-made-4-coming-early-2015/ |title=Rick Ross Says 'Self Made 4' Coming Early 2015 – hiphopearly |publisher=News.hiphopearly.com |date=November 23, 2014 |access-date=2015-08-13}}{{cite web|author= |url=https://twitter.com/MaybachMusicGrp/status/540542074018598912 |title=Maybach Music Group on Twitter |publisher=Twitter.com |date=December 4, 2014 |access-date=2015-08-13}}

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".{{Cite web|url=https://freemusicempire.com/2019/10/31/song-review-bail-bond-by-mozzy-gunplay/|title=Song Review-Bail Bond by Mozzy & Gunplay|website=Freemusicempire.com|date=October 31, 2019|access-date=2020-04-13}}

Personal life

Gunplay has a son{{Cite web|url=https://grantland.com/features/three-days-rapper-gunplay/|title=Gunplay Is at an All-Time High|first=Amos|last=Barshad|website=Grantland.com|date=May 2, 2013|access-date=2020-04-13}} with his ex-wife, from whom he divorced in 2008.{{cite web| url=https://www.vice.com/read/gunplay-doesnt-fear-the-pine-box-or-prison| title=Gunplay Doesn't Fear the Pine Box or Prison| date=November 26, 2012| author=Wilbert L. Cooper| work=Vice| access-date=October 21, 2014}}

His wife, Von'Shae Taylor-Morales, gave birth to his second child and first daughter, 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.{{cite web | url=https://www.xxlmag.com/gunplay-loses-custody-daughter-child-abuse-charges/ | title=Gunplay Loses Custody of Daughter Following Child Abuse Charges - Report | date=October 10, 2023 }} Von'Shae stated this was due to Gunplay's severe drug abuse, and has since filed a restraining order against the rapper.{{cite web | url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/gunplay-loses-custody-daughter | title=Gunplay Loses Custody of Newborn Daughter Following Child Abuse Arrest | date=October 10, 2023 }}

Gunplay practices Santeria, stating that he felt a "deeper connection" with God when he began practicing it.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/bnybk5/gunplay-doesnt-fear-the-pine-box-or-prison|title=Gunplay Doesn't Fear the Pine Box or Prison|first=Wilbert L.|last=Cooper|website=Vice.com|date=November 26, 2012|access-date=2020-04-13}}

Legal issues

TMZ reported[http://www.tmz.com/2012/10/10/gunplay-jail-armed-robbery-jail/ Rapper Gunplay Turns Himself In to Jail on Robbery Charge]. TMZ.com (September 30, 2012). Retrieved on 2012-10-26. that on October 10, 2012, Gunplay turned himself in to Miami authorities after a warrant was issued for his arrest on charges of armed robbery.[http://www.tmz.com/2012/10/13/gunplay-gun-video-accountant-tape-footage/ Gunplay PULLS GUN on Accountant ... CAUGHT ON TAPE]. TMZ.com (October 13, 2012). Retrieved on 2012-10-26. According to his attorney, Gunplay could have faced life in prison if convicted on both counts.{{cite web

|last=Kuperstein

|first=Slava

|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.21518/title.gunplays-armed-robbery-caught-on-tape-rapper-could-face-life-in-prison

|title=Gunplay's Armed Robbery Caught on Tape, Rapper Could Face Life in Prison

|publisher=HipHop DX

|date=October 13, 2012

|access-date=2013-04-07

}} 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.{{cite web

|last=Morales

|first=Richard

|title=Rapper Gunplay Gets $150,000 Bond, House Arrest, Attorney

|date=October 22, 2012

|url=http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/Rapper-Gunplay-Gets-150000-Bond-House-Arrest-Attorney-175265131.html

|publisher=NBC 6 Miami

|access-date=October 22, 2012

}} He was released from house arrest in 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 in April 2012. On the same day, 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.{{cite web

|url=http://miami.cbslocal.com/2013/02/25/armed-robbery-charges-dropped-against-miami-rapper-gunplay/

|title=Armed Robbery Charges Dropped Against Miami Rapper Gunplay

|publisher=Miami.cbslocal.com

|date=February 25, 2013

|access-date=2013-04-07

}}{{cite web

|author= |url=http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/gunplay-says-his-case-is-dismissed-avoids-life-sentence-from-armed-robbery-charges-news.4666.html

|title=Gunplay Says His Case Is Dismissed, Avoids Life Sentence From Armed Robbery Charges

|publisher=Hotnewhiphop.com

|date=February 25, 2013

|access-date=2013-04-07}}

=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."{{Cite web |url=http://pigeonsandplanes.com/in-depth/2012/07/interview-gunplay-speaks-on-drugs-swastikas-and-his-deal-with-def-jam |title=Interview: Gunplay Speaks On Drugs, Swastikas, and His Deal With Def Jam |access-date=December 17, 2016 |archive-date=December 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222064834/http://pigeonsandplanes.com/in-depth/2012/07/interview-gunplay-speaks-on-drugs-swastikas-and-his-deal-with-def-jam |url-status=bot: unknown }} 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.{{cite web

|last=Kuperstein

|first=Slava

|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.21356/title.additional-footage-released-of-gunplay-g-unit-brawl

|title=Additional Footage Released of Gunplay & G-Unit Brawl

|website=HipHopdx.com

|date=October 3, 2012

|access-date=2013-04-07}}