Kevin Gates, whose real name is Kevin Jerome Gilyard, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur born on February 5, 1986. He is known for his autobiographical lyrics and Southern hip-hop style. Gates is signed to Bread Winners' Association in partnership with Atlantic Records. He gained significant recognition with his debut studio album Islah (2016), which peaked at number two on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart. Before that, he released several mixtapes including Stranger Than Fiction (2013), By Any Means (2014), and Luca Brasi 2 (2014), all of which charted on the Billboard 200
. Born to a Puerto Rican mother and African American father, Gates grew up in Louisiana, facing a challenging childhood including early legal troubles. He began his music career in 2007 and has been active since then, despite interruptions due to incarceration. Gates is also known for blending rap with melodic singing and often addresses themes such as depression, poverty, and prison time in his music. He is a practicing Muslim and married to Dreka Haynes, with whom he has children
. He has released multiple projects over the years, including mixtapes, EPs, and albums, with his more recent works including I'm Him (2019), Khaza (2022), and The Ceremony (2024). Gates maintains a strong presence on social media and continues to release music and tour
. In summary, Kevin Gates is a prominent figure in contemporary hip-hop known for his raw, honest storytelling and a blend of rap and singing, with a career spanning over a decade.
