Kevin Gates is an American singer, rapper, and entrepreneur.
Gates began his career in 2007 by signing for local label Dead Game Records. His career blossomed in the mid-2000s. Gates collaborated with Boosie Badazz and Webbie on his first mixtape, Pick of Da Litter, in 2007. He released another mixtape, All or Nuthin’, in 2008. In 2012, his mixtape Make ‘Em Believe generated some buzz and caught the attention of Lil Wayne’s record label, Young Money Entertainment. However, he never signed a record deal with Young Money.
In 2013, Gates released the mixtape The Luca Brasi Story. The mixtape released via Bread Winners’ Association, Gates’ record label, received critical praise and helped Gates secure a contract with Atlantic Records. Gates released his first major label mixtape, Stranger Than Fiction, in July 2013. It was the first time one of Gates’ mixtapes was charted on the Billboard 200, peaking at number 37. He repeated the feat with his next two mixtapes By Any Means, peaking at number 17 and Luca Brasi 2, peaking at number 38.
In 2016, Gates released his debut studio album, Islah which peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 chart.