His Biography

Kevin Jerome Gilyard (born February 5, 1986) is a well-known American rapper, musician, actor, and entrepreneur known professionally as Kevin Gates. He is best known for his 2016 blockbuster studio album ‘Islah,’ as well as his mixtapes ‘Stranger than Fiction’ and ‘By Any Means.’ He is one of America’s most successful contemporary vocalists, with numerous hit singles and mixtapes to his credit.

Kevin Gates rose to prominence in the late 2000s after signing to the local label Dead Game Records with rappers Webster Gradney, better known as Webbie, and Torrence Hatch, better known as Boosie Badazz. ‘Pack of Da Litter,’ the trio’s first mixtape, was released in 2007. The album ‘All or Nothing’ was released in 2008.

Kevin Gates is well-known for his compositions with autobiographical themes. He rose to prominence following the release of his debut studio album, ‘Islah.’ Famous artists such as Eminem and Jay-Z have influenced him.

Kevin Gates, in addition to his musical brilliance, has a darker side, having spent time in and out of prison on several occasions. When he kicked a female fan during a theatrical performance in 2015, he sparked outrage. He is currently serving a 30-month prison sentence.

Kevin Gates

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Full Name:	Kevin Jerome Gilyard
Stage Name:	Kevin Gates
Born:	5 February 1986 (age 36 years old)
Place of Birth:	New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Record:	Bread Winners’ Association
Nationality:	American
Height:	1.87 m
Parents:	Martha Green Gates
Siblings:	Brandon Gilyard
Wife • Spouse:	Dreka Gates (m. 2015)
Girlfriend • Partner:	N/A
Children:	Khaza Kamil Gates, Islah Koren Gates
Occupation:	Rapper • Songwriter
Net Worth:	US$2 million

His Early Life

Kevin Gates was born on February 5, 1986, as Kevin Jerome Gilyard. He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, the son of Martha Green Gates, who also happens to be his mother.

His father died when he was only 17 years old, shortly after he began dating him in 8th grade. Kevin Gates grew up with his younger brother, Brandon Gilyard.

The multi-talented American citizen grew up in the United States.

His Career

Kevin Gates’ career began in 2005, when he signed with the local label Dead Game Records.

Boosie Badazz and Webbie were also involved with him. The three collaborated on the mixtape ‘Pack of Da Littler’ in 2007.

Their second mixtape, ‘All or Nuthin,’ was released in 2008. Kevin Gates, on the other hand, had a run-in with the law not long after and was sentenced to more than two years in prison. During this time, he completed a prison education program and earned a Master of Science in psychology. Because of his excellent behavior, he was released early. He started writing songs as soon as he was released from prison. His mixtape “Make Em Believe” was a moderate success.

In 2014, he released the mixtape ‘By Any Means.’ It was released on his Bread Winners’ Association label and distributed by Atlantic Records. It sold 17,000 copies in the United States and featured the smash singles “Don’t Know,” “Posed to Be in Love,” and “Amnesia.”

In December of the same year, Kevin Gates released ‘Luka Brasi 2,’ another financially successful mixtape. Bread Winners’ Association, his independent record label, and Atlantic Records released it. It debuted at number 38 on the Billboard 200 and sold over 83,000 copies in the United States in less than ten months.

Another hit mixtape he produced over the years was ‘Murder for Hire 2’ in 2016. It debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and sold 20,000 copies in its first week. Among the songs were ‘The Prayer,’ ‘Great Example,’ and ‘Click Mouse.’

His debut studio album, ‘Islah,’ was released in January 2016. The album was a huge success due to popular singles such as ‘2 Phones,’ ‘Time for That,’ and ‘Really Really.’ It debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and sold 93,000 copies in its first week in the US. It also reached number 16 on the Canadian Albums Chart.

His Personal Life

Kevin Gates was born Kevin Jerome Gilyard on February 5, 1986, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Soon after his birth, his family relocated to Baton Rouge, where he grew up. He had a love of music since he was a child and began rapping when he was 14 years old.

He married his longtime lover, Dreka Haynes, in 2015. The couple’s only children are Khaza Kamil Gates and Islah Koren Gates, their son and daughter. In 2016, the couple became Muslims and performed hajj in Mecca.

Kevin Gates has been involved in a number of legal battles over the years. After admitting to having a sexual relationship with his cousin and kicking a woman in the chest during a show in 2015, he received a lot of negative press. As of June 2017, he was serving a 30-month prison sentence.