Kevin Jerome Gilyard known professionally as Kevin Gates is an American rapper, singer, and entrepreneur. He has a partnership with Atlantic Records and is currently signed to Bread Winners’ Association. Gates’ musical career began with the release of mixtapes including Stranger Than Fiction (2013) By Any Means (2014) and Luca Brasi 2 (2014) all of which achieved top 40 positions on the Billboard 200 chart.
In January 2016 he released his debut studio album Islah which peaked at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart.
Early life
Kevin Jerome Gilyard was born on February 5, 1986, to a Puerto Rican mother and an African American father. He spent his childhood in New Orleans, Louisiana, before eventually settling in Baton Rouge. Despite experiencing a tumultuous upbringing, Gates managed to reconnect with his father as a teenager after losing contact at a young age.
Unfortunately, his father passed away from complications related to AIDS when Gates was just 14 years old. At the age of 13, he was arrested for joyriding in a stolen vehicle. Later, when he turned 17, he briefly attended Baton Rouge Community College. Gates’ ethnic background includes Moroccan and Puerto Rican heritage.
Early Career
In 2007, Kevin Gates started his music career by signing to the local label Dead Game Records. Along with fellow Baton Rouge natives Boosie Badazz and Webbie, Gates gained popularity in the mid-2000s.
The trio collaborated on Gates’ first mixtape, Pick of Da Litter, in 2007. Gates released another mixtape, All or Nuthin’, in 2008, which showcased his personal experiences and struggles. However, in 2008, Gates and Boosie were incarcerated in separate cases, effectively halting Gates’ music career.
He served 31 months in prison between 2008 and 2011. While in prison, Gates claimed to have earned a master’s degree in psychology through a prison program and was released early for good behavior.
After his release, Gates resumed working on his music immediately. He gained attention in 2012 with the mixtape Make ‘Em Believe, and Lil Wayne’s record label, Young Money Entertainment, took notice.
While Gates was signed to the management wing of the label, he never signed a record deal with them. It was Birdman who encouraged him to start his own record label, which Gates named Bread Winners’ Association.
Career Achievement
Kevin Gates has achieved several accomplishments throughout his music career. his debut studio album Islah released in January 2016 peaked at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
He has also had several other chart-topping projects including mixtapes like Stranger Than Fiction (2013) By Any Means (2014) and Luca Brasi 2 (2014).
In addition to his commercial success, Gates has been recognized for his talent by several industry experts and publications. He was named one of XXL’s Freshman Classes in 2014 and was nominated for BET’s Best New Artist award in 2015.
Gates has also won several awards including the BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards for Songwriter of the Year in 2018 and the iHeartRadio Music Award for Best New Hip-Hop Artist in 2017.
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Beyond his music career, Gates has also made a name for himself as an entrepreneur. He founded his own record label Bread Winners’ Association which has released several of his own projects as well as those of other artists. Gates has also partnered with brands such as Boost Mobile and Ethika on various ventures.
Kevin Gates Net Worth
Kevin Gates is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter who has emerged as a prominent figure in the hip-hop industry. He has collaborated with numerous well-known musicians throughout his career and has gained widespread recognition as a solo artist.
With a net worth of $1 million, Gates’ success has been attributed to his unique style of music that combines catchy beats with deep meaningful lyrics that explore themes such as depression and poverty.
Gates’ personal experiences with the criminal justice system have also been a recurring theme in his music as he has been arrested multiple times for various offenses. Despite these challenges, he has persevered and continued to produce chart-topping music that resonates with audiences worldwide.
Gates’ debut album which showcased his raw talent and powerful storytelling ability, helped him gain a loyal fanbase and establish himself as a rising star in the industry. His success has only continued to grow over the years, as he has released several chart-topping mixtapes and albums and won multiple awards for his contributions to the music industry.