Kevin Gates

Kevin Jerome Gilyard, known as Kevin Gates, is an American rapper born in New Orleans and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He began releasing music in the mid-2000s and built his early profile through relentless mixtape output, developing a reputation for raw, confessional storytelling that mixes street narratives with unusually candid reflections on mental health, relationships, and personal struggle.

Gates founded the label Bread Winners' Association (BWA), through which he has released much of his catalog, and his sound blends Southern hip-hop with elements of R&B melody, often singing as much as he raps. His breakout mixtapes and singles like «2 Phones» and «Really Really» brought him wider mainstream attention, showcasing his ability to move fluidly between menacing street bars and vulnerable, diary-like verses.

His 2016 album «Islah», named after his daughter, is considered a career-defining project and reflects the deeply personal, family-centered themes that run through much of his work alongside his wife Dreka Gates, who has also served as his manager and creative partner. Gates has continued to release prolifically across albums and mixtapes, maintaining a devoted fanbase drawn to his emotional honesty and distinctive, melodic delivery within Southern rap.