Lefty Gunplay Talks Black & Brown Unity, Maturing, and His Vision for 2025 (Exclusive Interview)

Photo credit: @aldaleophotography

From championing Black and Brown unity to inspiring the next generation, Lefty Gunplay shares his growth, lessons, and vision for the future in this candid interview

Shortly before the Christmas break, amidst the buzzing energy of the Lemonade Dispensary event in Van Nuys, Hype Off Life sat down with rising rap sensation Lefty Gunplay for an exclusive interview. The event, sponsored by Blizzy Cones, was a high-energy celebration of Hip Hop culture that brought fans face-to-face with the artist who’s quickly becoming a voice for unity and inspiration. Between meet-and-greets, giveaways, and food trucks, Lefty made time to share his journey and vision for the future.

In our candid conversation, Lefty reflected on his whirlwind 2024, a year that saw him leap from local recognition to a platform of international acclaim. “I’m blessed,” he shared, emphasizing the power of manifesting dreams against all odds. Whether it’s inspiring kids to stay out of gangs or championing Black and Brown unity, Lefty’s purpose-driven mindset shines through his music and actions, proving he’s more than just a rising star—he’s a movement.

Throughout the interview, Lefty delved into his plans for 2025, including his mission to break barriers and create opportunities for underrepresented voices. From his heartfelt thoughts on family and community to his big dreams of Grammy wins, Lefty Gunplay gave us a glimpse of an artist evolving in real-time—one who’s determined to leave a lasting legacy while staying true to his roots.

Hype Off Life: Thanks for coming through. How has 2024 been treating you?

Lefty Gunplay: Man, 2024 has been treating me very well. I'm blessed. I got an opportunity, I had a vision, and I manifested it and I ran with it. Nobody believed it. But now we're here, and I got a chance to change the world and inspire kids one at a time. I got a bigger platform and it's a bigger picture.

Hype Off Life: That's really dope. You're up. LA's up. Everybody's up! What do you love most about being from LA

Lefty Gunplay: I just love the culture. The black culture, the Mexican culture, the vibes, Asians and whites, just everybody. It is a little mixture of everybody. It's beautiful, a beautiful struggle. But it is at a different time. I feel like everybody's more united now and that's what I'm pushing for. Black and Brown unity, and breast cancer awareness. My girl, she has a ribbon on her leg, so I want to push that. Also, for the kids to stay out of gangs and eat their vegetables.

Hype Off Life: You had a really big year, but you also mentioned you had a vision. What was your vision for this year?

Lefty Gunplay: 50 million. But that changed now. I was chasing the money, but as recently the fame came so quick and I got a chance to do something legendary, and I feel like I'm onto something. I want to give back just like the way Nip did. I feel like I'm feeling Holy right now. You know what I'm saying? My mindset changed when I see the kids.

 They look up to me. So I can't be Gunplay. I got to start maturing because I got a platform and I'm blessed to have that platform. There are so many people that wish they were in my spot. So, I'm realizing that and I'm learning as I go. It happened so fast, but I feel like I'm growing in front of everybody's eyes and I'm not going to disappoint. I'm not done yet. I'm not happy with the success I got. This is the beginning.

Hype Off Life: Speaking of the children, how do you plan on being a role model for them? What goals do you have for your vision for next year as far as being a role model goes, like maturing?

Lefty Gunplay: I want them to know that they don't got to get in a gang, you know? Because what I'm doing is one in a million. That gang stuff you think is cool is a never-ending cycle. And God blessed me and got me out of it. I've been in jail my whole life and I got nothing from it.

You got to respect your family and your mom and enjoy the moments. Just don't grow up too fast and miss being a kid. And yeah, you don't got to get in a gang. And even if they are in a gang, just go hard at everything you do. Just manifest it and believe in yourself. Don't doubt yourself and you don't got to be pressured into [it]. Once you find out who you are, do what you want to do. Follow your heart.

Don't do what you think is cool or what people want to do. Do what you want to do. And stay in school. I would've stayed in school if this wouldn't have worked out. It was hard for me. I wish I was a firefighter. Definitely. It is always been my dream. But once you start getting into gangs and messing up, a lot of opportunities go out the door. So it's harder. But yeah, follow your dreams and I hope the kids just stay healthy, work out, go outside, and play.

Hype Off Life: You had a really good year. But you also had some challenges in your past. What did you tell yourself to keep going when you had some dark times?

Lefty Gunplay: I sat there in that prison cell and my biggest fear was, man, I'm about to go. When you go to prison, them years add up. So, my biggest fear was for me not having gone for my dream and me to go to jail and not have done it. And I said, man, I'm going to do it. And everybody laughed at me. Everybody laughed at me. Everybody thought I was crazy. Don't tell nobody what's in your head. God put it in your head for a reason. Just do it and manifest it. You can do anything. [When] you put your mind to it.

Hype Off Life: What lessons have you learned this year that you're going to take with you in 2025?

Lefty Gunplay: 2025? You got to try new things. Surround yourself around different people. People that want better for you. You know what I saying? Think before you speak. You got to enjoy the moment and you got to have peace of mind. Don't just go without thinking because your life could change for better, for worse in a second. You can lose it all.

Hype Off Life: What are you most excited about next year?

Lefty Gunplay: I'm about to get some Grammys. I'm about to change some lives. I'm not going to stop. I'm not looking back. I'm just going to make history, keep breaking records for my people, and opening doors and keep pushing forward that black and brown unity. It's a different time in LA. You can just feel it out here.

Hype Off Life: What's your vision for black and brown unity?

Lefty Gunplay: You know what I just want to say, I performed in the Nickerson Gardens in the projects in Watts, and I didn't realize how big it was until after that. I was the first Ese that performed in there, and that's beautiful. I'm saying that they allowed me to go in there and embrace it. So, I'm going to keep doing what I do. And Kendrick Lamar, he changed my life, but what am I going to do with it? You know what I'm saying? So, I got a lot of spotlight and yeah, we're going to figure it out.

But my goal is just to give back to my people and tell the Latino story of what's really going on in Latino homes. Because I'm really like that. You can't forget about the hood and forget about where you came from. You know what I'm saying? But yeah, I'm on a mission. I'm obligated. You know what I'm saying? I wake up every morning for that mission. Some days I don't want to do it. But, you wake up every morning and I run the play and we're one step closer.

Hype Off Life: Yeah, that's true. Build it brick by break.

Lefty Gunplay: That's a good word to say because when I'm done at the end of the day, and it's such a hard day, I feel like I'm throwing one more stone to the top. You know what I'm saying? But the hard work pays off. It really does. And follow your dream, man. That's the worst thing not to do, is to follow your dream. Whether there's to be a nail salon or whatever it is.

The worst thing for me is to get older and I didn't get to do what I really wanted to do, and I'm living my dreams right now. I've done stuff [like] perform at Crypto Arena. So, it is beautiful. I haven't really looked at it and tripped out because I'll look at it later. But it starts tripping me out when I start looking at it like, damn, I'm doing some things. But yeah, 2025, a little bit more maturing and a little bit more telling our story.

Hype Off Life: I have one more question for you.

Lefty Gunplay: Am I the best rapper? Yes.

Hype Off Life: OK, I have a second question for you. [Lol] What advice do you have for people that are chasing dreams?

Lefty Gunplay: Nobody's going to believe it. And your mom, nobody's going to believe it. Don't get discouraged because they're going to think you're crazy. Even the girls. I remember being in my trailer, fresh out of prison, no money with a bad girl, and I'll be right there rapping [saying] I'm going to be a rapper. This is going to work. And they just laughed at me. Everybody laughed at me.

I stayed down and I believed in it so much. But when you want to quit, and I wanted to quit ... man, I'm cool. I'm going back to the block. But I stayed down. My mom said, nah, just stay down. Right when you're going to quit, that's when it happens. You know what I'm saying? You got to be patient. It happens when God wants it to happen for you. But when it happens, it really happens.