Gunplay Gives A Complete Update On His Album ‘Living Legend’
Then trouble hit, and it seemed like the Carol City, Fla. native couldn’t keep himself away from negative headlines. First, he was involved in a fistfight with members of 50 Cent’s crew backstage at the 2012 BET Hip-Hop Awards. Then a video allegedly showing ‘Play robbing an accountant of his jewelry and money at gunpoint emerged, leading to charges of armed robbery; later, a second charge of aggravated assault with a firearm was tacked on, which could have potentially put him in jail for life. After he posted $150,000 bail he was placed on house arrest, putting his recording career on the back burner indefinitely.
But during that time when he couldn't leave his home, his life changed. He gave up drugs, became more focused on his craft, started to hone his skills, beat his court case and was released from house arrest in January 2013. His long-awaited Def Jam debut, with the original cocaine-obsessed title, Medellin, was renamed Living Legend, and he re-focused on delivering on the promise that had led to his solo deal in the first place. "I feel [Living Legend's] overdue, so I’m ready to just get it out," Gunplay told XXL in a recent interview at the XXL offices in New York. "I’m ready for the world to finally hear my music. I feel like my music tells who Gunplay is. Now I feel like Gunplay is ready for the world. Now I want to give the world my music."
Nearly two years after it was first announced, Living Legend is, finally, promised for a 2014 release. XXL spoke to 'Play to get the most up-to-date facts on what we can expect from the MMG soldier. —Emmanuel C.M.