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Kevin GatesAmerican rapper, singer, songwriter and entrepreneur
Date of Birth: 05.02.1986
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Kevin Gates: A Comprehensive Biography
- Career
- 2013-2014: Atlantic Records and Mixtape Breakthrough
- 2015-2016: Success with "I Don't Get Tired" and Islah
- 2016-2018: Mixtape Releases
- 2019: Only the Generals Gon Understand and I'm Him
- 2021: Only the Generals, Pt. II and Khaza
- Personal Life
Kevin Gates: A Comprehensive Biography
Early LifeKevin Jerome Gilyard was born on February 5, 1986, to a Puerto Rican mother and an African American father. He and his family relocated to New Orleans, Louisiana, before settling in Baton Rouge. Gates' upbringing was often tumultuous, and he was first arrested at the age of 13 in 1999 for riding in a stolen vehicle as a passenger. He lost contact with his father at a young age, but reconnected with him as a teenager. His father died of complications from AIDS when Gates was 14. Briefly attending Baton Rouge Community College at age 17, Gates soon dropped out.
Career
2007-2012: Early Career, Legal Troubles, and Young MoneyGates began his music career in 2007, signing with local label Dead Game Records. His career blossomed alongside fellow Baton Rouge natives Boosie Badazz and Webbie in the mid-2000s. The trio collaborated on Gates' debut mixtape, "Pick of Da Litter," in 2007. Another mixtape, "All or Nuthin'," was released in 2008 and featured what Gates described as "a lot of pain... a lot of true stories." In 2008, both Gates and Boosie were jailed on separate cases, effectively putting Gates' music career on hold. He served 31 months in prison from 2008 to 2011. During this time, Gates claims he earned a Master's degree in psychology through the prison's program. He was released early for good behavior.
Upon his release from prison, Gates re-entered the music scene almost immediately. In 2012, he made waves with the mixtape "Make 'Em Believe." He also caught the attention of Lil Wayne's record label, Young Money Entertainment. Gates was later signed to the label's management wing. Although Gates was signed to management, he never inked a recording deal with Young Money. However, he credits Birdman with giving him the idea to later start his own label, Bread Winners' Association.
2013-2014: Atlantic Records and Mixtape Breakthrough
In early 2013, Gates released the mixtape "The Luca Brasi Story" on his label Bread Winners' Association. The mixtape garnered critical acclaim, with Pitchfork stating that it "fills trap's claustrophobic gloom with emotional nakedness, strong lyrics, and a melodic assurance that's eluded many of his recent peers." Rolling Stone named the mixtape's single "Wylin'" the 40th best song of 2013.
Hot on the heels of this mixtape's success, Gates signed with Atlantic Records. In July 2013, he released his first major-label mixtape, "Stranger Than Fiction." The mixtape thematically spans topics from depression to Gates' time in prison. It received positive reviews as well, despite being shorter than Gates had initially hoped. "Stranger Than Fiction" also became Gates' first mixtape to chart on the Billboard 200, peaking at number 37.
In support of the mixtape, Gates embarked on a 4-week nationwide tour called the Stranger Than Fiction Tour in October. The tour featured supporting acts Starlito and Don Trip. Following the tour, Gates was once again incarcerated for violating his parole. He was sentenced to 4 months in jail, but served only 3 and a half. Upon his release in early March 2014, he refocused his efforts on music, particularly on his next mixtape project, "By Any Means." The mixtape was released on March 18, 2014. It featured guest appearances from artists such as 2 Chainz, Plies, and Rico Love. The mixtape also charted on the Billboard 200, peaking at number 17.
In May 2014, Gates was named a member of XXL's Freshman Class. He also announced the By Any Means Tour, which ran from July 15 to August 30, 2014, with support from Chevy Woods. In August 2014, Gates announced the creation of a new energy drink called "I Don't Get Tired" or "#IDGT." The beverage was based on Gates' 2014 single of the same name, which also featured August Alsina.
2015-2016: Success with "I Don't Get Tired" and Islah
With the release of his 13th mixtape, "Luca Brasi 2," Gates charted on the Billboard 200 for the third time in a row. The mixtape reached number 38. It included the hit single "I Don't Get Tired," which became Gates' first song to chart on the US Billboard Hot 100 and his first to be certified gold. In February and March 2015, Gates embarked on the "I Don't Get Tired Tour" across much of the South.
In May 2015, Gates released another mixtape, "Murder for Hire," which is said to be the third installment in the Luca Brasi series.
In July 2015, he released the song "Kno One," which became the lead single from his debut studio album, "Islah."
In late August 2015, Gates became the subject of controversy after a video surfaced of him allegedly punching a female fan in the chest at a show in Lakeland, Florida. Gates responded to the allegations soon after with the song "The Truth," noting (among other things) that the fan had been pulling on his shorts. Later, in October 2015, Gates announced the title and release date of his debut studio album, "Islah," which translates to "to make better" in Arabic and is also the name of his firstborn child. The album was originally scheduled to be released on December 11, 2015. The album's release was eventually pushed back to January 29, 2016. It featured four singles in total: "Kno One," "Time for That," "Really Really," and "2 Phones." Both "Really Really" and "2 Phones" achieved commercial success. The album sold 112,000 copies in its first week after its release and debuted at number two on the Billboard 200. The album features almost no guest appearances, with the exception of Trey Songz, Ty Dolla $ign, and Jamie Foxx, who are all featured on the bonus track "Jam." "Islah" received generally positive reviews, with Inverse calling it "the Best Album of 2016." Pitchfork noted that it contained "unquestionably the best singles of his career."
2016-2018: Mixtape Releases
On May 26, 2016, Gates announced that the sequel to "Murder for Hire" would be released on May 27, 2016.
On September 22, 2017, Gates' wife Dreka released "By Any Means 2" while he remained in jail. She served as executive overseer of the project. The mixtape reached number four on the Billboard 200.
In May 2018, Gates released the three-song EP "Chained to the City." It was his first release since his release from prison.
2019: Only the Generals Gon Understand and I'm Him
On May 31, 2019, Gates released his second EP, "Only the Generals Gon Understand."
On June 28, 2019, Gates released "Push It" along with an accompanying music video. The song served as the lead single from his second album, "I'm Him."
2021: Only the Generals, Pt. II and Khaza
On February 19, 2021, Gates returned with his first project since 2019, the 17-track mixtape "Only the Generals, Pt. II."
Personal Life
Gates married his longtime girlfriend Dreka Haynes in October 2015. The couple has two children together, Islah and Khaza. Gates has hinted that he has children by other women in a 2013 interview with Complex: "I got kids. I'm real cool with 'em. I lay in the bed with 'em, I cuddle with 'em, I love 'em. Ain't no point in talkin'. It's not in no bad way, but the public will probably never see my kids, and if they do, they won't know they mine."
Gates is a practicing Muslim with his wife, and traveled to Mecca in September 2016 to perform Hajj.
