Kevin Gates

At 38 years old, Kevin Gates has this physical status:

Kevin Jerome Gilyard (born February 5, 1986), better known as Kevin Gates in his stage name, is an American rapper, singer, and entrepreneur.

He is currently a member of Atlantic Records and is a member of Bread Winners' Association.

Islah, his debut studio album, was released in January 2016 and ranked second on the US Billboard 200 chart.

Gates also released numerous mixtapes, including Stranger Than Fiction, By Any Means, and Luca Brasi 2, all of which appeared in the top 40 on the Billboard 200 chart prior to Islah.

Early life

Kevin Jerome Gilyard was born on February 5, 1986, to a Puerto Rican mother and an African American father. He and his family migrated to New Orleans, Louisiana, before settling in Baton Rouge. Gates saw a lot of turmoil in 1999 and was arrested for the first time as a tourist in a stolen car. At a young age, he lost touch with his father, but as a child, he regained contact with him. When Gates was 14 years old, his father died of AIDS complications. He was 17 years old when he first attended Baton Rouge Community College for a short time. The gates are of Moroccan and Puerto Rican descent.

Personal life

In October 2015, Gates married Dreka Haynes, his long-time girlfriend. Islah and Khaza are two children of the couple's marriage. In a 2013 interview with Complex, Gates suggested that he had children by other women: "I have some children." I'm actually close to them. I lay in the bed with them, hold them, and love them. It really doesn't make sense to say [how many children I have]. Not in a negative way, but it's not like the public will ever get to see my children, and if they do, they won't know they're mine."

Gates and his wife went to Mecca in September 2016 for Hajj.

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Career

Gates began his career in 2007 by signing to local company Dead Game Records. In the mid-2000s, his career flourished along with fellow Baton Rouge residents Boosie Badazz and Webbie. In 2007, the threesome collaborated on Pick of Da Litter, Gates' first mixtape. In 2008, Gates introduced All or Nuthin, a new mixtape, which featured "a lot of pain...a lot of true stories." Both Gates and Boosie were incarcerated in separate cases in 2008, effectively ending Gates' musical career. Between 2008 and 2011, he spent 31 months in jail. Gates claimed to have obtained a master's degree in psychology through a jail program at this time. He was released early from jail for good conduct.

Gates began playing music again after being in jail. Make 'Em Believe', a 2012 mixtape, made some buzz. Young Money Entertainment, Lil Wayne's record company, attracted the attention of his brother, Young Money Entertainment. Later this year, Gates was signed to the company's management team. Despite being signed to the administration team, Gates never signed a record contract with Young Money. He did not mention that it was Birdman who gave him the idea to start his own record label, the Bread Winners' Association later on.

Gates introduced The Luca Brasi Story, a mixtape from early 2013 on his Bread Winners' Association record label in early 2013. "Imbues trap's claustrophobic bleakness with an emotional nakedness, nass, and melodic certitude, which many of the film's recent breakout stars have lacked," Pitchfork said. "Wylin'," Rolling Stone's single, "Megatron"," was the 40th best song of 2013. Gates was signed to Atlantic Records on the heels of the success of the mixtape. In July 2013, he unveiled Stranger Than Fiction, his first major label mixtape. The tapestry examines topics ranging from depression to Gates' time in jail. Despite being shorter than Gates' expected, the mixtape received laudatory feedback. Stranger Than Fiction was the first time one of Gates' mixtapes charted on the Billboard 200 for the first time, peaking at number 37.

Gates embarked on the Stranger Than Fiction Tour, in support of the mixtape, in October. Starlito and Don Trip were also on tour. Gates was found himself in jail for parole infractions following the tour. He was sentenced to 4 months in prison, but he only completed 3 and a half of those. Since being released in early March 2014, he remained focusing on music and, in particular, his latest mixtape project, By Any Means. The mixtape was first published in March 18, 2014. Artists such as 2 Chainz, Plies, and Rico Love were among the mixtape's featured guest appearances. The mixtape also made it to the Billboard 200, peaking at number 17.

Gates was also named a member of the XXL Freshman Class in May 2014, a series that will run from July 15 to August 30, 2014 and feature Chevy Woods. Gates also revealed the development of "I Don't Get Tired" or "#IDGT," a new energy drink. The drink is based on Gates' 2014 single of the same name that also featured August Alsina.

Luca Brasi 2, Gates' third Billboard 200 tops in a row after the introduction of his 13th mixtape. The mixtape reached its high point at 38. Gates' first song to make the US Billboard Hot 100 and his first song to be certified Gold were included on the mixtape. Gates embarked on the I Don't Get Tired Tour tour through much of South in February and March 2015.

Gates also unveiled Murder for Hire, the third installment in the Luca Brasi series, in May 2015.

In July 2015, he released "Kno One," the first single from his debut studio album, Islah.

After a video of him allegedly kicking a female fan in the chest at a show in Lakeland, Florida, in late August 2015, Gates became the subject of some controversies. Gates responded to the allegations quickly thereafter in the form of "The Truth" album, noting (among other things) that the fan had been tugging on his shorts. Gates revealed the name and release date of his debut studio album, Islah, which means "to make more" in Arabic, as well as the name of his firstborn daughter. The album was originally scheduled for release on December 11, 2015. The album will eventually be postponed until January 29, 2016. "Kno One," "Time for That," "Really Really," and "2 Phones were among the ten singles included in this collection. Both "Really" and "2 Phones" were a hit in the corporate world. The album sold 112,000 copies in the first week of its debut, with Billboard 200's top 20 charts at number two. With the exception of Trey Songz, Ty Dolla Signing, and Jamie Foxx, who are all included on the bonus track "Jam," the album had almost no guest appearances. Islah's general reaction made it the "Best Album of 2016 So Far," Inverse titled it the "Best Album of 2016 So Far." It was "by far the best single debut of his career," Pitchfork said.

Gates revealed on May 26, 2016, that the sequel to Murder for Hire would be coming on May 27, 2016.

Dreka's spouse was released by Any Means 2 on September 22, 2017 as he continued in jail. She was in charge of the project's executive oversight. The mixtape debuted on Billboard 200 at number four.

Gates unveiled the three-song EP Chained to the city in May 2018. This is his first release since being released from jail.

Gates' second EP, Only the Generals Gon Understand, was released on May 31, 2019.

Gates, along with the music video, released "Push It" on June 28, 2019. The song was released as the lead single from his sophomore album I'm Him.

Gates' first project since 2019 (Only the Generals, Pt. ), was released on February 19, 2021. II. The project is the sequel to Gates' 2019 EP Only the Generals Gon Understand. The mixtape was released in Puerto Rico earlier in 2021, with Gates describing it as an effort to celebrate his family's roots on the island. It features Taz Taylor's "Plug Daughter 2," the previously released single. The mixtape was released along with the unveiling of a music video for the song "Puerto Rico Luv," which reflects his admiration for his roots, as well as the song "Cartel Swag." Khaza, Gates' third studio album, has been teased before.

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