Kevin Gates American Rapper Born 1986 in New Orleans

Early life

Kevin Gates was born Kevin Jerome Gilyard on 5 February 1986 in New Orleans, Louisiana. His family later settled in Baton Rouge, and he attended McKinley Senior High School. He took his professional surname from his mother's family. He has said that his mother is of Puerto Rican descent and his father of Moroccan descent.

Career

Gates began recording in 2007, when he signed to the local label Dead Game Records. He made his first mixtape, Pick of Da Litter, that year with the Baton Rouge rappers Boosie Badazz and Webbie, and he followed it with All or Nuthin' in 2008. His work then paused for a few years. When he returned, the 2012 mixtape Make 'Em Believe drew attention, and Lil Wayne's label, Young Money Entertainment, took him on for management, although he never signed a recording contract with it. He credits the label's co-founder Birdman with the idea of starting his own imprint, which he named Bread Winners' Association.

In early 2013 he issued The Luca Brasi Story through that imprint. Critics responded well to it, and Rolling Stone ranked its single "Wylin'" as the 40th best song of the year. Atlantic Records signed him soon afterward. His first release for the major label, the mixtape Stranger Than Fiction, appeared in July 2013, reached number 37 on the Billboard 200, and was followed by a tour of the United States. By Any Means came out on 18 March 2014 and peaked at number 17, with guest appearances from 2 Chainz, Plies and Rico Love. Luca Brasi 2 followed in 2014 and carried "I Don't Get Tired", his first song to enter the Billboard Hot 100 and his first to be certified gold. In 2014 he also launched an energy drink named after that single.

His first studio album, Islah, was released on 29 January 2016. The title is an Arabic word meaning "to make better", and it is also the name of his daughter. The album sold 112,000 copies in its first week and reached number two on the Billboard 200. Its singles included "Kno One", "Time for That", "Really Really" and "2 Phones". Murder for Hire 2 appeared in 2016. By Any Means 2 was released in September 2017, and it reached number four on the Billboard 200. The EP Chained to the City arrived in May 2018.

In 2019 he put out the EP Only the Generals Gon Understand and the album I'm Him, led by the single "Push It". His 2021 mixtape Only the Generals, Pt. II was recorded in Puerto Rico, a choice he linked to his family heritage. The album Khaza followed in June 2022 and debuted at number two on the Top Rap Albums chart. In 2023 he reissued The Luca Brasi Story and Stranger Than Fiction to mark their tenth anniversaries. The Ceremony arrived on 26 January 2024, and I'm Him 2 on 19 March 2025. Luca Brasi 4 was released in August 2025.

Critics often describe his work as confessional, mixing autobiographical lyrics with melodic Southern production. In more recent releases he has added more singing, after studying with the singer Monica.

Recognition

In May 2014 XXL magazine named Gates to its Freshman Class, its yearly list of emerging rappers. Three of his early mixtapes, Stranger Than Fiction, By Any Means and Luca Brasi 2, placed in the top 40 of the Billboard 200, and Islah reached the second position.

Public roles

Gates runs his own label, Bread Winners' Association, in partnership with Atlantic Records. He has more than 11 million Instagram followers and about 9.2 million YouTube subscribers, according to counts taken in 2026.