01
Islah
2016The studio album that brought Kevin Gates major commercial recognition and reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200.
American Rapper • Songwriter • Artist
Kevin Gates
Explore the story, music and career of Kevin Gates, one of the distinctive voices associated with Baton Rouge and Southern hip-hop.
1986
Born
2007
Career Beginning
Louisiana
Musical Roots
Hip-Hop
Primary Genre
Biography
Kevin Jerome Gilyard
Kevin Gates, born Kevin Jerome Gilyard on February 5, 1986, is an American rapper, singer and songwriter whose musical identity became closely associated with Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Gates developed a reputation for combining emotionally direct songwriting with Southern rap production. His recordings regularly explore ambition, relationships, personal struggles, loyalty and experiences from his life.
He began releasing music during the 2000s and gradually built an audience through independent mixtapes. Projects including The Luca Brasi Story, Stranger Than Fiction and By Any Means helped expand his audience beyond Louisiana.
His first major studio album, Islah, was released in 2016. It became one of the defining commercial releases of his career and reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200.
Profile
Kevin Gates Biodata
Essential information about the American rapper and recording artist.
Stage Name
Kevin Gates
Birth Name
Kevin Jerome Gilyard
Date of Birth
February 5, 1986
Birthplace
New Orleans, Louisiana
Associated City
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Nationality
American
Occupation
Rapper, Singer, Songwriter
Career
2007 – Present
Genre
Hip-Hop / Southern Rap
Known For
Emotional & introspective rap
History
Career Journey
From Baton Rouge's independent rap scene to nationally recognized albums and mixtapes.
2007
Early Career
Gates began building his recording career in Louisiana and released early material including the mixtape Pick of da Litter.
2013
The Luca Brasi Story
The release of The Luca Brasi Story helped Gates gain national attention. Later that year, Stranger Than Fiction entered the Billboard 200.
2014
By Any Means
His growing mixtape catalog established him as one of the notable voices emerging from the Southern rap scene.
2016
Islah
Kevin Gates released his major studio debut Islah. The album reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and became a major commercial milestone.
2018
Luca Brasi 3
Gates returned with Luca Brasi 3, continuing one of the mixtape series most closely associated with his career.
2019
I'm Him
His second major studio album I'm Him debuted inside the upper reaches of the Billboard 200.
2022
Khaza
Gates released his studio album Khaza, which continued his presence on the American album charts.
2024
The Ceremony
The Ceremony marked another chapter in Gates' catalog and continued his combination of introspective writing and Southern rap production.
2025
I'm Him 2
Gates followed his earlier I'm Him project with I'm Him 2, further expanding his studio catalog.
Music Catalog
Major Albums
Selected studio projects from Kevin Gates' recording career.
02
I'm Him
2019Gates' second studio album, featuring introspective songwriting and his recognizable Southern rap style.
03
Khaza
2022A personal project continuing Gates' combination of melodic hooks and autobiographical rap.
04
The Ceremony
2024A later studio project showcasing the evolution of Gates' songwriting and production.
05
I'm Him 2
2025The sequel to his 2019 album, continuing the themes and identity associated with the I'm Him series.
06
Luca Brasi Series
2013 – PresentThe Luca Brasi projects became an important part of Gates' identity and development as an artist.
Sound
Musical Identity
Kevin Gates is known for combining hard-edged Southern rap with emotionally expressive songwriting.
Southern Hip-Hop
His music reflects the sound and storytelling traditions associated with Louisiana and Southern rap.
Personal Storytelling
Gates frequently approaches songwriting from an autobiographical perspective, discussing emotions, relationships and personal experiences.
Rap & Melody
His recording style regularly moves between direct rapping, melodic vocal passages and emotionally charged hooks.
Media
Kevin Gates Gallery
Replace the placeholder images below with properly licensed Kevin Gates photographs whenever additional images are available.
Kevin Gates
Performance Photo
Performance Photo
Kevin Gates
Studio Photo
Studio Photo
Kevin Gates
Concert Photo
Concert Photo
Kevin Gates
Artist Portrait
Artist Portrait
Independent Information Website
KVNGTS.com is an independent informational website created for biographical and entertainment-information purposes. This website is not presented as the official website of Kevin Gates, his management, record label, or affiliated companies.