Kevin Jerome Gilyard, born on February 5, 1986, and known professionally as Kevin Gates, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur. Gates is known primarily for his "confessional anthems" that blend often autobiographical lyrics with refined Southern beats.
In a review of his debut album Islah, Consequence of Sound noted that "autobiography and honesty have always been central to [Gates'] artistry." Spin has noted that Gates often combines "melodic tunefulness" and "clenched-teeth street rap." In recent releases, he has incorporated more singing, having trained with the singer, Monica.
Early Life and Background
Kevin Jerome Gilyard was born on February 5, 1986, to a Puerto Rican mother and a Moroccan father. He and his family relocated to New Orleans, Louisiana, before settling in Baton Rouge. Gates had an often tumultuous upbringing and was arrested for the first time in 1999 at the age of 13 for joyriding in a stolen vehicle as a passenger. He lost contact with his father at a young age, but he later reconnected with him as a teenager.
In multiple songs, Gates has rapped about his Hispanic heritage, revealing that he is half Puerto Rican and half Black. In his song "The Truth," Gates raps, "Father Moroccan, my mother Boricua / Daddy a Muslim, my mother a Christian."
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Musical Career
Gates began his career in 2007 by signing to local label Dead Game Records. His career blossomed along with fellow Baton Rouge natives Boosie Badazz and Webbie in the mid-2000s. The three collaborated on Gates' first 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 incarcerated in separate cases, effectively pausing Gates' music career. He spent 31 months in prison between 2008 and 2011. During this time, Gates claimed he earned a master's degree in psychology through a prison program. After his stint in prison, Gates began working on music again almost immediately.
In 2012, he earned some buzz with the mixtape Make 'Em Believe. He also caught the attention of Lil Wayne's record label, Young Money Entertainment. Gates was signed to the management wing of the label later that year. Although he was signed to the management wing, Gates never signed a record deal with Young Money.
In early 2013, Gates released the mixtape, The Luca Brasi Story, via his Bread Winners' Association record label. In support of the mixtape, Gates embarked on a 4-week tour in October across the United States called the Stranger Than Fiction Tour. The tour also featured Starlito and Don Trip. After the tour, Gates again found himself in prison for parole violations. He was sentenced to 4 months, but only served 3 and a half of those. Upon his release in early March 2014, he again focused on music and, in particular, his new mixtape project, By Any Means.
Kevin Gates returns to Baton Rouge!
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With the release of his 13th mixtape, Luca Brasi 2, Gates earned his third Billboard 200 listing in a row. In late August 2015, Gates was the subject of some controversy after a video surfaced of him allegedly kicking a female fan in the chest at a show in Lakeland, Florida. Gates responded to the allegations shortly thereafter in the form of a song called "The Truth," noting (among other things) that the fan had been tugging on his shorts.
Later in October 2015, Gates announced the title and release date of his debut studio album, Islah, which means "to make better" in Arabic and is also the name of his firstborn daughter. The album was originally slated for release on December 11, 2015. The album would eventually be pushed back to January 29, 2016.
On September 22, 2017, Gates' spouse Dreka released By Any Means 2 while he remained in prison. In May 2018, Gates released the three-song EP Chained to the City. On June 28, 2019, Gates released "Push It", along with the music video.
Recent Projects
On February 19, 2021, Gates returned with his first project since 2019 - his 17th mixtape, Only the Generals, Pt. II. Surprise-released, the project is the sequel to Gates' 2019 EP Only the Generals Gon Understand. The mixtape was recorded earlier in 2021 in Puerto Rico, with Gates explaining that this was done to celebrate his family heritage on the island.
On January 28, 2022, Gates began teasing an upcoming studio album via Instagram. On May 16, 2022, Gates would release its lead single, "Bad for Me".
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On October 25, 2023, Gates announced the release of his next studio album, revealing the title as The Ceremony. Gates would release four of the album's singles between August 2023 and January 2024, "Rumors", "God Slippers", "Yonce Freestyle", and "Birds Calling".
The Ceremony released on January 26, 2024 to mixed reviews, with Pitchfork writing "it's quicksand on The Ceremony. Gates would announce his upcoming studio album, I'm Him 2, via Instagram as a sequel to his 2019 album I'm Him.
Personal Life
Gates married his longtime girlfriend, Dreka Haynes, in October 2015. The couple have two children. Gates hinted that he had children by other women in a 2013 interview with Complex: "I got some children. I'm real real close with them. I lay in the bed with them, hold them, love on them. It really doesn't make sense to say [how many kids I have].
He entered into a Nikah marriage with social media personality Brittany Renner in April 2025, while already married to Haynes.
In 2016, Gates and his wife Dreka converted to Islam. According to Dreka, her and Gates had "unknowingly been Muslims" their entire lives. That same year, the two made the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia - the most holy city of the Muslims.
Legal Issues
Gates was charged with battery for kicking a female fan in the summer of 2015 while he was performing on stage at an event in Lakeland, Florida. Gates was sentenced to a 30-month prison term at the East Moline, IL correctional facility for gun charges stemming from a warrant which arose from an October 2013 arrest in Chicago.
In April 2018, Gates filed a lawsuit (Kevin Gilyard v. John R. On June 18, Gates was granted his requested voluntary dismissal of his own case (FRAP 42(b)) as the issue had become moot-his parole was terminated early by the Illinois DOC in motu proprio.
Discography and Achievements
Here is a summary of Kevin Gates' album chart performance:
| Album | Year | Billboard 200 Peak Position |
|---|---|---|
| Islah | 2016 | 2 |
| Khaza | 2022 | 8 |
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