At 14, Gunz was signed to Casablanca Records and Def Jam Recordings by Tommy Mottola, leading to a joint venture with Jay-Z at The Island Def Jam Music Group. He gained recognition for his work on Rihanna's "If It's Lovin' That You Want" remix and contributed a verse to the original version of Lil Wayne's "A Milli." Subsequently, Gunz was featured on Lil Wayne's hit single "6 Foot 7 Foot" from Tha Carter IV, solidifying his place in the industry and earning a deal with Young Money.