// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did Lefty Gunplay say when shooting? "I'm all right.
Lefty Gunplay | |
|---|---|
Lefty Gunplay in 2025 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Franklin Scott Holladay April 28, 1996 Baldwin Park, California, U.S. |
| Genre | West Coast hip-hop |
| Occupation | Rapper |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 2023–present |
| Labels |
|
Franklin Scott Holladay (born April 28, 1996), better known by his stage name Lefty Gunplay, is an American rapper.[1] Born and raised in Baldwin Park, California, Holladay is signed to OTR Records and JasonMartin's Diamond Lane Music Group. He gained recognition and received a Grammy along with Kendrick for "Best Rap Song" at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards for his appearance on Kendrick Lamar's 2025 single "TV Off".
Early life
[edit]With his mother and grandmother, Holladay grew up in a mobile trailer park in Baldwin Park, California.[2] His mother is half Guatemalan and half Mexican, and his father is white, from Mississippi. His first encounter with music happened in high school when, for a talent show, he performed songs by Kanye West and 50 Cent and won. All through high school, Holladay played varsity-level sports like baseball, football, and basketball. While incarcerated for several years after high school, Holladay met the rapper Jap5 who encouraged him to pursue rapping.[3]
Career
[edit]After being released from prison, Holladay pursued a career as a hip-hop artist.[4] In 2023, Holladay released two singles, "Spin the Block" and "Certified Stepper.” Shortly afterward, in December, he was signed to OTR Records, an independent label based in Los Angeles. A few months later, in February 2024, he released his debut album, Rookie of the Year.[2] Throughout the year, he released three more albums: Famous Gangbanger, PreSeason, and Most Valuable Gangbanger.[5][6][7]
In November 2024, Holladay was featured on "TV Off" by Kendrick Lamar, a single from Lamar's album GNX. The song charted in numerous countries and peaked in second place on the Billboard Hot 100.[8] Reports indicate that the feature made streaming numbers for Holladay's entire catalog increase by 84%.[5] In an interview, Holladay stated that he recorded a few other songs with Lamar during their studio sessions and stated that a deluxe version of GNX was coming.[9] He additionally pushed back on Drake's decision to pursue legal action against Universal Music Group for proceeding with the release of Lamar's "Not Like Us" diss track.[10]
He signed to JasonMartin's label Diamond Lane Music Group in 2025.[11] Holladay released his sixth studio album Ghetto Heisman on 19 September 2025, with guest appearances from RJMrLA, Alemán, Waka Flocka Flame, Hit-Boy, and 03 Greedo among others.[12]
Discography
[edit]Studio albums
- Rookie of the Year (2024)
- Famous Gangbanger (2024)
- PreSeason (2024)
- Most Valuable Gangbanger (2024)
- Can't Get Right (2025) (Hosted by JasonMartin)
- Ghetto Heisman (2025)
Awards and nominations
[edit]| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Grammy Awards | Best Rap Performance | "TV Off" (with Kendrick Lamar) | Nominated | [13] |
| Best Rap Song | Won |
References
[edit]- ↑ "ASK FOR MORE". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
- 1 2 "Baldwin Park Rapper Lefty Gunplay is Playin' for Keeps". L.A. Taco. 2024-02-27. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
- ↑ "An Interview With Lefty Gunplay". Passion of the Weiss. 2024-06-24. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
- ↑ "LEFTY GUNPLAY". UNDRGRND. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
- 1 2 Blake, Cole (2024-12-05). "Kendrick Lamar's "GNX" Collaborators Enjoy Massive Uptick In Streaming Numbers". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
- ↑ Saponara, Michael (2024-11-27). "Meet the Emerging California Rappers Who Appeared on Kendrick Lamar's 'GNX' Album". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
- ↑ Horvath, Zachary (2024-12-04). "Lefty Gunplay & Hitta J3 Capitalize On Their Nods From Kendrick Lamar With "Stoopid"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
- ↑ "Kendrick Lamar Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
- ↑ Moore, Sam (2024-11-28). "Kendrick Lamar Doubling Back With 'GNX' Deluxe, Says 'TV Off' Rapper Lefty Gunplay". HipHopDX. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
- ↑ Andrews, Elias (2024-11-30). "Lefty Gunplay Bashes Drake For Taking Legal Action Against "Not Like Us"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
- ↑ Morton, Devin (9 May 2025). "Lefty Gunplay & JasonMartin "Can't Get Right" On New Joint Album". HotNewHipHop.
- ↑ Horvath, Zachary (19 September 2025). "Lefty Gunplay Declares Himself As The "Ghetto Heisman" Winner On His Latest LP". HotNewHipHop.
- ↑ "Grammy Awards 2026: All the winners and nominees". www.bbc.com. February 2, 2026. Retrieved July 8, 2026.