Peter Cory Pankey, Jr. (born June 22, 1987), better known by his stage name Cory Gunz, is an American
rapper
Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...
from
The Bronx
The Bronx () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Bronx County, in the state of New York. It is south of Westchester County; north and east of the New York City borough of Manhattan, across the Harlem River; and north of the New Y ...
, New York City.
[Jessica Koslow, "Interview: Cory Gunz: Youngest In Charge," February 1, 2005, found a]
HipHopDx website
Accessed January 23, 2010. Gunz is currently signed to After Platinum Records,
Young Money Entertainment
Young Money Entertainment is an American record label founded by rapper Lil Wayne. Young Money's president is Lil Wayne's lifelong friend and fellow rapper Mack Maine. The label was an imprint of Cash Money Records and is distributed by Republ ...
,
Cash Money Records
Cash Money Records is an American record label founded in 1991 by brothers Ronald "Slim" Williams and Bryan "Birdman" Williams. Distributed by Republic, formerly known as Universal Republic, the label has been home to a roster of mostly hip ...
, and
Universal Republic Records
Republic Records is a New York City–based American record label owned by Universal Music Group (UMG). It was founded by Avery Lipman and Monte Lipman as an independent label in 1995, and was acquired by UMG in 2000. Republic was initially an ...
.
["Nick Cannon and Gunz bringing elegance in '09 and oranges ,]
Nick Cannon's website
Accessed January 23, 2010.
Career
At age 14, Gunz was first signed by
Tommy Mottola
Thomas Daniel Mottola (born July 14, 1948) is an American music executive, producer and author. Mottola is currently the Chairman of Mottola Media Group and was previously the Chairman and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment, parent of the Columb ...
to
Casablanca Records
Casablanca Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group and operated under Republic Records. Under its founder Neil Bogart, Casablanca was most successful during the disco era of the mid to late 1970s. The label current ...
and
Def Jam Recordings
Def Jam Recordings (also simply known as Def Jam) is an American multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It is based in Manhattan, New York City, specializing predominantly in hip hop, contemporary R&B, soul and pop.
The l ...
.
Jay-Z shepherded him into a joint venture through
The Island Def Jam Music Group
The Island Def Jam Music Group (IDJMG) was an American recording music unit, formed on New Year's Eve 1998 by the Universal Music Group. It consists of labels devised and consisted under the basic operations of Island Records and Def Jam Recordi ...
. He was featured on a
remix of
Rihanna's single "
If It's Lovin' That You Want
"If It's Lovin' That You Want" is a song by Barbadian singer Rihanna from her debut studio album, ''Music of the Sun'' (2005). It was written by Samuel Barnes, Scott La Rock, Makeba Riddick, Jean-Claude Oliver, Lawrence Parker, and produced b ...
". Gunz mixtape ''The Apprentice 3 – Season Finale'' has amassed over 85,000 listens on the
mixtape website
DatPiff
DatPiff is an online audio distribution platform that was launched in 2005. It is headquartered in Pennsylvania. It specializes in hip-hop, rap, and urban music. The site was founded in the spring of 2005 by Marcus Frasier. It is owned by Med ...
. He also contributed a verse to the original version of
Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. (born September 27, 1982), known professionally as Lil Wayne, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record executive. His career began in 1995, at the age of 12, when he was signed by rapper Birdman, joining ...
's "
A Milli" before it was replaced with new verses by Wayne for the album version.
In 2009, Gunz signed a contract with After Platinum Records. In early 2010, Gunz signed with
Young Money Entertainment
Young Money Entertainment is an American record label founded by rapper Lil Wayne. Young Money's president is Lil Wayne's lifelong friend and fellow rapper Mack Maine. The label was an imprint of Cash Money Records and is distributed by Republ ...
and
Universal Motown
Universal Motown Records was an American record label
A record label, or record company, is a brand or trademark of music recordings and music videos, or the company that owns it. Sometimes, a record label is also a publishing company tha ...
. Gunz has worked with actor and musician
Nick Cannon
Nicholas Scott Cannon (born October 8, 1980) is an American television host, actor, rapper, and comedian. In television, Cannon began as a teenager on ''All That'' before going on to host '' The Nick Cannon Show'', ''Wild 'n Out'', ''America's ...
.
In 2011, he was featured on Lil Wayne's single "
6 Foot 7 Foot
"6 Foot 7 Foot" (also styled as "6'7") is a song by rapper Lil Wayne featuring label mate Cory Gunz. It is taken from Wayne's ninth album, ''Tha Carter IV'' (2011). It was officially released on iTunes on December 16, 2010. It was produced by "A ...
" from ''
Tha Carter IV
''Tha Carter IV'' is the ninth studio album by American rapper Lil Wayne, released on August 29, 2011, through Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records and Universal Republic Records. Recording sessions for the album began in late 2008, sh ...
''. Also in 2011, Gunz starred on
MTV's "Son of A Gun" a reality show that follows Gunz after and before he got signed by Young Money. The show features appearances from close friend
Nick Cannon
Nicholas Scott Cannon (born October 8, 1980) is an American television host, actor, rapper, and comedian. In television, Cannon began as a teenager on ''All That'' before going on to host '' The Nick Cannon Show'', ''Wild 'n Out'', ''America's ...
. It was announced that
Universal Republic Records
Republic Records is a New York City–based American record label owned by Universal Music Group (UMG). It was founded by Avery Lipman and Monte Lipman as an independent label in 1995, and was acquired by UMG in 2000. Republic was initially an ...
was going defunct, all of the artists on the roster moved from the label including (Cory Gunz) was being moved to
Republic Records making the label itself revived. Gunz was a featured artist on Dirti Diana's 2013 mixtape ''R.I.P. To The Competition''. On July 16, 2013, he released his first mixtape in two years with ''Datz WTF I'm Talkin Bout'', it featured guest appearances by
Busta Rhymes, Charlie Rock,
Mack Maine
Jermaine Anthony Preyan (born July 28, 1982), better known by his stage name Mack Maine, is an American record executive, songwriter, and rapper from New Orleans, Louisiana. Mack Maine has been the president of Young Money Entertainment since ...
,
Wiz Khalifa
Cameron Jibril Thomaz (born September 8, 1987), better known by his stage name Wiz Khalifa, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor. He released his debut album, ''Show and Prove'', in 2006 and signed to Warner Bros. Records in 20 ...
, and
Juicy J
Jordan Michael Houston III (born April 5, 1975), known professionally as Juicy J, is an American rapper and record producer. Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, he is a founding member of the Southern hip hop group Three 6 Mafia, established i ...
among others. In March 2014, Gunz revealed he was working on an EP titled ''Kriminal Mind'' and following its release he would release his debut studio album.
Controversies
Legal issues
On January 28, 2012, Gunz was arrested for possession of a gun and faced three and a half years in prison, which was lowered to a -year sentence. Cory Gunz' father,
Peter Gunz admitted that he had encouraged his son to keep a low profile and stop releasing music for a while in the aftermath of his arrest. In an interview from December 17, 2013, Peter Gunz stated that Cory Gunz was trying to work on new records in Miami while on probation.
Personal life
Pankey is the father of two twin daughters.
Discography
Compilation albums
Mixtapes
Singles
As a featured artist
Guest appearances
Filmography
References
External links
Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gunz, Cory
1987 births
Living people
African-American male rappers
Cash Money Records artists
East Coast hip hop musicians
Rappers from the Bronx
Young Money Entertainment artists
21st-century American rappers
21st-century American male musicians
21st-century African-American musicians
20th-century African-American people