Kevin Gates

Background

Kevin Gates was born on February 5, 1986, in New Orleans. He moved with his family to Baton Rouge a few years later. Gates had a tumultuous upbringing, first being arrested at age 13 for ‘joyriding’ — that is, for temporarily stealing a car to race with. At age 14 he started rapping; at age 17 he attended the local community college in Baton Rouge.

He first gained attention with the release of the mixtape “Pick Of Da Litter” in 2007. In 2008, he released ‘Get in the Way,’ one of his most successful singles — alongside ‘Lil Boosie.’ ‘Аll оr Nuthіn,’ wаѕ also rеlеаѕеd іn 2008 but hіѕ muѕіс саrееr was grеаtlу аffесtеd аѕ hе ѕреnt 31 mоnthѕ іn рrіѕоn for being possession of a firearm. After being released from prison in 2011, he returned, and his song, ‘Make’m Believe.’

His independent album “Stranger than Fiction” was released a few months after signing his contract with Atlantic Records in 2013, and it peaked at number 37 on the Billboard 200. “By any Means,” his second independent album, was released in 2014 and peaked at number 14 on the Billboard charts. In August 2015, he was involved in a controversy when he assaulted a fan during a concert in Lakeland, Florida, and claimed it was to defend himself. In October of the same year, he married his longtime girlfriend Dreka Haynes, known as Mrs. Dreka. His debut studio album “Islah” was released in 2016 by Bread Winners’ Association and distributed by Atlantic Records. “Islah” featured the singles ‘La Familia,’ ‘The Truth’ and ‘Kno One.’