The Herd with Colin Cowherd — Joe and Jada: Lefty Gunplay on Kendrick Lamar, Grammy Win, Rehab, and Black-Latino Unity

Date: February 26, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, hosted by Joe and Jada, features a candid conversation with guest Lefty Gunplay—a rising Mexican-American rapper and recent Grammy winner. The interview delves deep into Lefty’s challenging upbringing, his experiences in gang culture and prison, his journey through addiction and recovery, and his advocacy for Black and Latino unity in hip-hop. The conversation also explores music industry insights, family relationships, and the transformative power of making positive choices. Throughout, the hosts and guest maintain an honest, streetwise, yet uplifting tone.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Grammy Win & Kendrick Lamar’s Influence

• [04:53] Lefty shares the significance of winning a Grammy, especially as a Latin artist in LA’s rap scene.
  • “He gave me a platform. And it’s been something that's so hard to do in Los Angeles to, you know, break into the rap game as a Latino. And, you know, Kendrick really—you know, Black and Brown unity at its finest right there.” — Lefty Gunplay
• The importance of collaboration and unity with Black artists is highlighted, with Kendrick Lamar credited for helping Lefty break barriers.
  • “Stronger together. And you ain't gonna get nowhere in rap if you ain't cool with no Blacks, you know, it's their culture.” — Lefty Gunplay ([07:01])

2. Black and Latino Relations in Hip-Hop

• [06:30] Fat Joe describes differences in Black and Latino unity between the East Coast and West Coast, sharing personal anecdotes to illustrate cultural divides.
  • “In New York, everybody’s a mixed baby. Everybody's Black and Puerto Rican...But that's when I started to realize that there's parts of the country that Latinos and Blacks ain't connected like that.” — Joe
• The guests underscore the cultural responsibility they carry as influential artists to foster unity.

3. Gang Culture, Prison, and Transformation

• [12:00] Lefty recounts being drawn into gang life at age 13, cycling through juvenile hall, and eventually deciding to break free by dedicating himself to music.
  • “I was sitting in Pelican Bay and I'm like, man...it's just a revolving cycle. I manifested everything. I seen it in my head. I ran with it..." — Lefty Gunplay

4. Overcoming Addiction & Importance of Sobriety

• [16:55] Lefty opens up about his recovery from drug addiction, which started in his early teens—a pattern common in the gang lifestyle.
  • “I was blowing all this opportunity. Everybody’s all like, man, you got a once in a lifetime opportunity. You throwing it away.” — Lefty Gunplay
• A pivotal moment of change occurred at a concert, leading him to seek rehab with the support of Top Dawg and Kendrick Lamar.
  • “I told them, you know what? Fuck it. I’m gonna go to rehab. And then I called Top Dog and Kendrick Lamar and they said, that’s the most gangster shit you ever said.” — Lefty Gunplay ([18:18])
• The hosts affirm that sobriety is not an obstacle to creating great music.
  • “Any fucking hit you ever heard in your life, sober. Don’t let nobody tell you you gotta be high to write. Not true.” — Joe ([20:40])

5. Family, Fatherhood, and Finding Role Models

• [49:01] Lefty reveals his father left when he was two, which contributed to seeking father figures in gangs.
  • “Every boy, every man needs their dad...That’s why I joined the hood, because I didn’t have one.” — Lefty Gunplay

6. Community Legacy & Giving Back

• Lefty’s vision is to inspire and uplift, breaking cycles for future generations.
  • “I feel like I’m the first Latino they really opened the door to...I don’t use the N-word...just out of respect, you know, for the culture.” — Lefty Gunplay ([54:37])
  • Giving back and helping kids in the community is central to his purpose.
  • “I really want to get back to the people… I want to get back to the city and all the kids and make a difference out here.” — Lefty Gunplay ([1:11:20])

7. Navigating Success & Industry Pitfalls

• Joe and Lefty reflect on the challenges of newfound wealth and fame: pressure, jealousy, and staying grounded.
  • “Ain’t nothing like that feeling when you get that first whip from rapping and you on the freeway and you just by yourself...” — Joe
  • “That hood shit gonna get you killed. And I know that, you know, I realize that. So you gotta find a balance between it.” — Lefty Gunplay ([57:13])
• The destructive role of drugs, with examples from both hip-hop and the music business at large, is discussed in depth.
  • “The direct correlation between guys who make it and become successful and guys who don’t is drugs. And that’s the difference.” — Joe ([1:00:07])

8. Upcoming Projects and Musical Process

• [1:07:00] Lefty describes his creative process and upcoming collaborations with top producers like Scott Storch and Roddy Ricch.
  • “I like to write from scratch...just write my story.” — Lefty Gunplay
• Album announcement: Fountain Blue—named after the trailer park where Lefty grew up, promising a raw, authentic narrative.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On breaking barriers
  • “Kendrick really…black and brown unity at its finest right there. I appreciate him for giving me that platform. I got the bar and I’m running with it.” — Lefty Gunplay ([05:23])
• On inspiration
  • “I always said that the biggest rapper on earth is going to be a Mexican rapper...if he finds a way to let. I always tell you that.” — Joe ([08:12])
• On addiction and inspiring others
  • “That’s your real purpose, to turn that shit around. Somebody like Jelly Roll…he inspired so many people. And now he’s the biggest in the game.” — Joe ([15:55])
• On authenticity and respect
  • “I do it my own way. Like, I don’t use the N word...just out of respect, you know, for the culture and, you know, I’m paving my own way.” — Lefty Gunplay ([54:37])
• On jealousy and success
  • “That’s the first time I ever experienced jealousy. And that’s where the name of that album, Jealous Ones, Envy…came from.” — Joe ([59:42])
• On giving back
  • “What’s the one thing you want people to remember and know Lefty Gunplay for? For being one of the ones. Open the door for the Latinos…putting off for the culture. Black and Brown, unity.” — Lefty Gunplay ([1:11:11])

Important Timestamps

• 04:53 – 09:00: Grammy win, LA hip-hop, and the importance of Black-Latino unity
• 12:00 – 16:55: Gang upbringing, prison, and decision to change life trajectory
• 16:55 – 22:30: Rehab, overcoming addiction, and the role of music in recovery
• 49:01 – 52:40: Fatherhood, absence, and the search for role models in the streets
• 54:37 – 56:00: Respect for hip-hop culture, not using the N-word, defining authenticity
• 59:42 – 1:00:07: Handling jealousy, envy, and pitfalls of success
• 1:07:00 – 1:09:45: Music process, collaborations, and album announcement
• 1:11:11 – end: Legacy, unity, and giving back to the community

Conclusion

In this rich, unfiltered conversation, Lefty Gunplay, with the support of Joe and Jada, paints a vivid picture of the personal, musical, and cultural journey that brought him from LA’s gang life to Grammy-winning stages. The episode stands as both cautionary tale and celebration—of resilience, sobriety, self-definition, and community impact. Both hosts and guest emphasize that, in hip-hop and in life, unity and authenticity are the keys to breaking cycles and making real change.

Support Lefty Gunplay’s music on all platforms, and stay tuned for the upcoming album, Fountain Blue.