In 2012, one of the artists to pique the interest of Hip Hop aficionados was the rapper Gunplay. The rapper had just departed from his group to embark on a solo music career. By the time 2012 rolled around, rap was having a progressive year, and the genre was breaking further into the mainstream. As such, there was no better time than the present for Gunplay to debut as a solo artist.
The MC was recently involved in a controversial case and has received backlash for allegedly pointing a gun at his partner and child. He currently faces allegations related to domestic violence and more. Gunplay has faced legal troubles and backlash throughout his career. Obviously, this has overshadowed his music and professional career. As a result of this, many have understandably struggled to separate the artist from his personal issues.
Miami rapper Gunplay was born Richard Morales Jr. on July 18, 1979. Growing up, Morales struggled with academics and dropped out of school at the age of 15. The following year, a 16-year-old Morales started selling and using drugs. The rapper shared in an interview with Complex that during that time, he was spending a lot of money weekly on his habit.
“I was 16 years old. I used to sell coke, and one day I just tried it, and I liked it,” he said. He continued by revealing he got hooked on the drug. “I ain’t put it down since. I used to spend around $600 to $700 a week on drugs. [After my label deal], I spent thousands of dollars a week.”
Before he struggled with drug abuse, Morales developed an early interest in music. Eventually, he started rapping as a teen. Several years later, he became associated with the Carol City Cartel. The local rap group was founded by rapper and label executive Rick Ross in 2005. Morales became popularly known by his stage name, Gunplay. Likewise, he rose to prominence as a member of Carol City Cartel alongside rappers Torch and Youngbreed.
Meanwhile, the rap group was eventually popularly referred to as “Triple C’s.”. Their introduction to the rap scene was achieved through a feature on Rick Ross’s debut album, Port of Miami. Triple C’s was featured on the track "It Ain’t a Problem." Subsequently, in 2008, the group was featured again on the Ross track “Reppin’ My City.” The song appeared on the rapper’s sophomore studio album, Trilla.
Thereafter, Triple C’s debut album, Custom Cars & Cycles, dropped in 2009. It is the group’s sole album and achieved moderate commercial success. The album peaked at No. 44 on the Billboard 200 chart. Gunplay gained significant recognition, leading to the rapper snagging a solo deal with Def Jam in 2012.
Although he did not sign a solo deal until 2012, Gunplay’s debut was actually in 2009. During his Triple C’s run, he appeared as the eponymous feature on the Rick Ross song “Gunplay.” He had an impressive feature run thereafter, spanning a couple of years before and after he got signed. The MC’s first mixtape, 601 & Snort, was released in 2012 to critical acclaim. His debut studio album followed three years after that, in 2015.
The album, Living Legend, received generally positive reviews upon release for its raw and unfiltered style. In 2019, Gunplay shared a collaboration album with rapper Mozzy. Further, Gunplay is expected to appear on Self Made 4, a long-awaited and highly anticipated collaborative project from Maybach Music Group.
Besides his musical endeavors, the rapper is also a father to two children. The first, a son, was born in 2004 by his ex-wife, whom he separated from in 2008. His second child is a daughter he shares with a 24-year-old Instagram model. Recently, she accused him of domestic and child abuse, among other claims. Unfortunately, this is not the first time the rapper has been accused of violence. In 2012, the Gunplay allegedly pointed a firearm at his accountant.
Additionally, and throughout his career, Gunplay has dealt with numerous legal issues and controversies. One of his most notable involves the swastika tattoo he has. The rapper has also struggled with substance abuse and has been open about his efforts to overcome addiction. His recent alleged actions, though, if true, mean that he still has quite a ways to go with his personal growth.
NEWS
Massive Attack have been using their latest live show to challenge American data analytics and software company Palantir, with the band describing the firm's ambitions as "terrifying".
The pioneering trip hop group have woven criticism of the controversial surveillance technology company into their new stage production. During their upcoming performance at Primavera Sound, they plan to deploy "custom-made facial recognition software" capable of "scanning a 75,000-person crowd" and projecting audience members onto giant screens with tongue in cheek labels such as "11 weeks no time off, burnout" and "unfinished books", according to Novara Media.
Speaking with the publication, the visual concept takes direct aim at Palantir, the company established two decades ago by billionaire Peter Thiel. Backed financially by the CIA, the firm counts the US and Israeli militaries, ICE, the FBI and the NHS among its clients.
After unveiling the production in Helsinki, Robert Del Naja told Novara Media that he wanted audiences to better understand how Palantir's reach has expanded from supplying "kill chain tech" reportedly used in Gaza to now having access to the medical records of people across Britain.
"We really need a much wider debate on the suitability of a company like this having such capture of our societal infrastructure," he said. He explained that the criticism is embedded throughout Massive Attack's two hour performance and was developed alongside long time collaborator Adam Curtis and London art collective United Visual Artists.
"One visual element represents how a Palantir Gotham monitoring and ‘decision chain’ interface might look," Del Naja explained. "Using facial recognition technology, it lands on groups and individuals – implying a consequential outcome for a given target."
Novara Media also detailed how Palantir's software can connect information from multiple databases. The outlet reported that ICE allegedly combines the platform with body camera footage, social media data and information gathered through Israeli developed hacking software Paragon to identify protesters involved in resistance to immigration raids.
The publication further claimed that Palantir contributes to Maven, a software platform used by the US military, which has recently faced criticism after being linked to the bombing of a girls' school in Iran.
"I find their declarations, objectives and moral framing pretty terrifying," Del Naja said. "To enable AI systems to map police records, satellite tracked locations, health records and personal financial transactions and place all of that information – for the first time – into the hands of a company with an overt political agenda and social objectives of its own is a huge, potentially irreversible and dangerous overreach."
Another moment in Massive Attack's current live production appears during the closing section of "Girl I Love You", when a quote from Peter Thiel is projected on screen reading: "I no longer believe that freedom and democracy are compatible".
Last year, Massive Attack introduced the satirical "facial recognition" sequence during their concerts and quickly rejected suggestions that genuine data recognition systems were being used on audiences.
"No Massive Attack live show has ever recorded or stored personal data," the group stated. "Only government departments, relevant authorities & approved contractors can access public databases in the UK, & doing so in multiple cities/countries would be impossible."
The band also pointed to the growing use of facial recognition technology across Britain, arguing that authorities are "overreaching almost all other western democracies with their use of public facial recognition … while there is no specific legislation regulating police use of these systems."
The statement arrived shortly after Massive Attack welcomed Kneecap onto the stage during their major show at the OVO Wembley Arena, introducing them as a group "who refused to be silenced for their solidarity with the Palestinian people."
Massive Attack have consistently spoken out in support of Palestine and a range of other progressive causes. More recently, they pledged to boycott Spotify following reports that CEO Daniel Ek had invested heavily "in a company producing military munition drones and AI technology integrated into fighter aircraft."
During their headline appearance at London's LIDO Festival last summer, the band were joined by actor and activist Khalid Abdalla along with Yasiin Bey, formerly known as Mos Def. Earlier this year, Del Naja also criticised what he described as a "draconian government" after being arrested while protesting the ban on Palestine Action.
The musician was one of hundreds of demonstrators who gathered in Trafalgar Square on April 11 to oppose the Palestine Action ban. He carried a placard stating "I Oppose Genocide, I Support Palestine Action".
Police removed him from the protest and arrested him on suspicion of expressing support for a proscribed organisation. He later responded with an extensive statement posted to Instagram.
Back in February, the band revealed a small run of European dates for the summer. The tour began on May 27 at Veikkaus Arena in Helsinki before continuing to Dalhalla in Rättvik on May 30.
The Bristol trip hop pioneers have not released new material since the 2020 EP "Eutopia". Their most recent studio album remains 2010's "Heligoland".
Speaking with NME in 2024, Robert Del Naja revealed that the band had "some new music which we've been sitting on for four years". He later shared in November that he hoped to finally release some of that material in 2026.
