Kevin Gates

Artist Image: Kevin Gates
Attribution
Image Credit: Jimmy Fontaine (Atlantic Records), CC BY-SA 4.0

Biography

Kevin Gilyard (born February 5, 1986), better known by his stage name Kevin Gates, is an American rapper and singer born in New Orleans, Louisiana and moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana shortly after, where he was raised. On February 15, 2013, it was announced that Gates signed with Atlantic Records. Musical career: Kevin Gates first began rhyming in 2007, when he began making music with fellow Louisiana natives such as Webbie and Lil Boosie. Gates first received attention with his 2008 single "Get in the Way" featuring Lil Boosie. Soon after, he and Boosie would be incarcerated in separate cases. Gates would then be released in 2011 and immediately returned to recording music. He would soon earn the attention of Lil Wayne and would start being managed by Young Money Entertainment's management wing. In early 2013, Gates released a mixtape, The Luca Brasi Story which was called "easily the best rap-related thing" in February 2013 by Spin Magazine, who also said he has "been a rapper to watch for a few years now".The Luca Brasi Story has been downloaded from popular mixtape sharing site, DatPiff, over 130,000 times. On February 15, 2013, it was announced that Kevin Gates signed with Atlantic Records. Gates was also featured on Pusha T's 2013 mixtape Wrath of Caine on the song "Trust You" and was featured on frequent collaborator Gudda Gudda's mixtape Guddaville 3 on the song "Hustle All Day" also featuring Flow. On July 16, 2013 Gates released a street album titled Stranger Than Fiction, the street album featured guest appearances by Wiz Khalifa and Juicy J along with being supported by the single "4:30".Stranger Than Fiction debuted at number 37 on the Billboard 200 selling 8,400 copies in its first week.Rolling Stone ranked his song "Wylin" at number 40, on their list of the 100 Best Songs of 2013. His second street album By Any Means was released on March 17, 2014. It debuted at number 17 on the Billboard 200, selling 17,000 copies in the United States. Gates was named part of the 2014 XXL Freshmen Class. Artistry: Influences: In an interview with XXL Gates has stated hes a fan of Southern beats citing Master P and Cash Money Records as a big influence. Gates also cites Nas, The Notorious B.I.G., Jay Z, Big L and Eminem as influences to his lyricism.

Details

Item Name Item Details
Year Formed 1986
Number of Albums 107
Record Label Atlantic
Website
Wikipedia Kevin Gates on Wikipedia
Social Networks

Trivia

How long did Kevin Gates spend on the mixtape circuit?

fiveplus years

...ke to the genre of gangsta rap, Louisianabased MC Kevin Gates spent fiveplus years on the mixtape circuit before climbing into the Top 40 of the Billb...
What year did Gates release Stranger Than Fiction?

2013

...pe circuit before climbing into the Top 40 of the Billboard 200 with his 2013 release Stranger Than Fiction. The gruff but lyrical MC narrowly missed ...
From 2016 to 2018, what is the name of his mixtape series?

Murder for Hire, By Any Means, and Luca Brasi

...the Billboard 200 with volumes in his mixtape series Murder for Hire, By Any Means, and Luca Brasi , and reached number four with his sophomore fulllen...
What is the name of his sophomore fulllength?

I'm Him

...ca Brasi, and reached number four with his sophomore fulllength, 2019's I'm Him . In 2021, he delivered a sequel to that album with the mixtape Only th...
In what city was Kevin Jerome Gilyard raised?

Baton Rouge

...that album with the mixtape Only the Generals, Pt. Born and raised in Baton Rouge , Kevin Jerome Gilyard made his mixtape debut in 2007 with Pick of da...
What was Gilyard's first mixtape?

Pick of da Litter

...on Rouge, Kevin Jerome Gilyard made his mixtape debut in 2007 with Pick of da Litter . Mixtapes with titles like All In and I Don't Know What to Call I...
In what year did Gilyard make his debut?

2007

...nd raised in Baton Rouge, Kevin Jerome Gilyard made his mixtape debut in 2007 with Pick of da Litter. Mixtapes with titles like All In and I Don't Kno...
Who made his debut with Pick of da Litter?

Kevin Jerome Gilyard

...e mixtape Only the Generals, Pt. Born and raised in Baton Rouge, Kevin Jerome Gilyard made his mixtape debut in 2007 with Pick of da Litter. Mixtapes ...
What was the name of the first album to bear the logos of Bread Winners' Association and Atlantic?

Stranger Than Fiction

...ith wife and booking manager Dreka Gates things changed quickly. Stranger Than Fiction , the first of several releases to bear the logos of Bread Winne...
Where was Kevin Gates born?

New Orleans, Louisiana

...tage name Kevin Gates, is an American rapper and singer born in New Orleans, Louisiana and moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana right after where he was ra...
What song did Gates first receive attention with?

Get in the Way

...and Lil Boosie. Gates first received attention with his 2008 single Get in the Way featuring Lil Boosie. Soon after, he and Boosie would be incarcerat...
When was Gates released from incarceration?

2011

...would be incarcerated in separate cases. Gates would then be released in 2011 and immediately returned to recording music. He would soon earn the atte...
What was the name of Gates' 2013 mixtape?

The Luca Brasi Story

...ment's management wing. In early 2013, Gates released a mixtape, The Luca Brasi Story which was called easily the best raprelated thing in February 20...
What is the name of the popular mixtape sharing site?

DatPiff

...Luca Brasi Story has been downloaded from popular mixtape sharing site, DatPiff , over 130,000 times. Mid2013 he released a street album titled Strange...
Stranger Than Fiction debuted at what number on the Billboard 200?

37

...along with being supported by the single 4:30. Stranger Than Fiction debuted at number 37 on the Billboard 200 selling 8,400 copies in its first week....
How many copies of Than Fiction were sold in its first week?

8,400

...along with being supported by the single 4:30. Stranger Than Fiction debuted at number 37 on the Billboard 200 selling 8,400 copies in its first week....
What is the name of Kevin Gates's debut album?

Islah

...iation with a partnership with Atlantic Records. His debut studio album, Islah , released in January 2016 and peaked at number two on the US Billboard ...
When was his debut album, Islah, released?

January 2016

...ip with Atlantic Records. His debut studio album, Islah, released in January 2016 and peaked at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart. Prior to Isl...
How did the album peaked on the US Billboard 200 chart?

number two

...His debut studio album, Islah, released in January 2016 and peaked at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart. Prior to Islah, Gates also released a ...
When was Kevin Jerome Gilyard born?

February 5, 1986

...e Billboard 200 chart. Early life Kevin Jerome Gilyard was born on February 5, 1986 , to a Puerto Rican mother and an African American father. He and h...
How old was Gates when he was arrested for joyriding as a passenger?

13

...uous upbringing and was arrested for the first time in 1999 at the age of 13 for joyriding as a passenger. He lost contact with his father at a young ...
When was he arrested for the first time?

1999

...ad an often tumultuous upbringing and was arrested for the first time in 1999 at the age of 13 for joyriding as a passenger. He lost contact with his ...
How old was Gates when his father died of complications from AIDS?

14

... with his father at a young age, but later reconnected with him as a teenager. His father died of complications from AIDS when Gates was 14 years old....
What year was Kevin Gates born?

1986

...Kevin Gates (born February 5, 1986 ) is a renowned American rapper and singer who is best known for his numerous hit mixtapes including By Any Means, L...
When was Gates debut album released?

2016

...sful hits throughout his career. His debut album, Isiah, was released in 2016 and was listed as number 2 on the US Billboard 200 chart which helped hi...
How many fans did Gates have?

millions

...sted as number 2 on the US Billboard 200 chart which helped him garner millions of fans all over the world. Biography: Age and more Regarding age, Kev...
How old is Kevin Gates as of 2022?

36

...all over the world. Biography: Age and more Regarding age, Kevin Gates is 36 years old as of 2022. His birthday falls on February 5 which makes his zo...
What is his zodiac sign?

Aquarius

...22. His birthday falls on February 5 which makes his zodiac sign to be Aquarius . He is of Puerto Rican and Moroccan descent and holds the American nat...
When does Gates turn 36?

2022

...Biography: Age and more Regarding age, Kevin Gates is 36 years old as of 2022 . His birthday falls on February 5 which makes his zodiac sign to be Aqua...
What is Kevin Gates' nationality?

American

... be Aquarius. He is of Puerto Rican and Moroccan descent and holds the American nationality. Kevin Gates was born and raised in Louisiana and follows ...
What religion does Kevin follow?

Islam

...an nationality. Kevin Gates was born and raised in Louisiana and follows Islam religion. Parents, Siblings & Early Life Kevin Gates was born in Louisi...
What is his mother's ethnicity?

Puerto Rican

...blings & Early Life Kevin Gates was born in Louisiana to a mother of Puerto Rican descent and a father of African American descent. His family moved t...
What was his father's race?

African American

...n in Louisiana to a mother of Puerto Rican descent and a father of African American descent. His family moved to Baton Rouge while he was still a chil...
What did he do when he was arrested?

joyriding

...up. Having lost the trace of his father while still young, he was arrested for the first time in his life when he was just 13 years old for joyriding ....
Who was the lead singer on the single Get in the Way?

Lil Boosie

...irst received attention with his 2008 single Get in the Way featuring Lil Boosie . Soon after, he and Boosie would be incarcerated in separate cases. G...
What number did Islah peaked at on the US Billboard 200 chart?

two

... debut studio album, Islah, released in January 2016 and peaked at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart. Prior to Islah, Gates also released numer...
What was the name of the first mixtape released by Gates?

Pick of Da Litter

...e in the mid2000s. The three collaborated on Gates' first mixtape, Pick of Da Litter , in 2007. In 2008, both Gates and Boosie were incarcerated in sep...
What label did he sign to in 2007?

Dead Game Records

...assenger. Gates began his career in 2007 by signing to local label Dead Game Records his career would blossom along with fellow Baton Rouge natives Bo...
How many months did Gates spend in prison between 2008 and 2011?

31

...oth Gates and Boosie were incarcerated in separate cases, effectively pausing Gates' music career. He spent 31 months in prison between 2008 and 2011....
In what year did Kevin Gates begin his career?

2005

...Career Kevin Gates began his career in the year 2005 after he signed to Dead Game Records, a local label. Together, the three released their mixtape P...
What was the name of the mixtape that Gates released after his release?

Make Em Believe

...from prison, he began working on his music. He released the mixtape Make Em Believe which was a mild success. In 2014, he released the mixtape By Any ...
What mixtape did he release in 2014?

By Any Means

...m Believe which was a mild success. In 2014, he released the mixtape By Any Means . It debuted at number 17 on the Billboard 200. It had the hit single...
At what number did By Any Means debut on the Billboard 200?

17

...cess. In 2014, he released the mixtape By Any Means. It debuted at number 17 on the Billboard 200. It had the hit singles Dont Know, Posed to be in Lo...
What city did Gates settle in before settling in Baton Rouge?

New Orleans

...mother and an African American father. He and his family relocated to New Orleans , Louisiana, before settling in Baton Rouge. Gates had an often tumul...
What is Gates known for in his songs?

autobiographical themes

...is debut studio album Islah. The rapper is known mostly for his autobiographical themes in his songs. Gates has been involved in numerous controversie...
Who raised Kevin?

his mother and grandparents

...ighborhood, where he spent his childhood. Kevin was raised by his mother and grandparents . His grandmother was an English teacher, and she stressed to...
What type of childhood did Kevin have?

difficult

...e was the only real father figure he ever had in his life. Kevin had a difficult childhood, so he found solace in music. He listened to south rock, pu...