Kevin Gates

Kevin Gates was married to Dreka Haynes from October 2015 until their divorce in 2025. They have two daughters, Islah and Khaza, and Gates named his debut studio album Islah after his firstborn daughter.

Gates entered a Nikah marriage with Brittany Renner in April 2025, and the marriage ended in May 2025. He is a practicing Muslim, and he and Haynes traveled to Mecca for Hajj in September 2016.

Gates began releasing music through Baton Rouge's Dead Game Records in 2007. His first mixtape, Pick of Da Litter, was created with fellow Baton Rouge artists Boosie Badazz and Webbie. He followed it with All or Nuthin' in 2008, a project centered on personal experiences and hardship.

Gates spent 31 months in prison between 2008 and 2011, which interrupted his early music career. After his release, he returned to recording and gained attention with the 2012 mixtape Make 'Em Believe. Young Money Entertainment subsequently signed him to its management division, although he did not sign a recording deal with the label. Gates later credited Birdman with inspiring him to establish Bread Winners' Association.

Gates' 2013 mixtape The Luca Brasi Story brought him wider critical attention and led to a recording deal with Atlantic Records. Its single "Wylin'" was ranked among the best songs of 2013 by Rolling Stone. His first major-label mixtape, Stranger Than Fiction, addressed depression and his time in prison and reached number 37 on the Billboard 200.

He released By Any Means in March 2014 after serving a short sentence for parole violations. The mixtape featured 2 Chainz, Plies, and Rico Love and peaked at number 17 on the Billboard 200. Gates was named to XXL's 2014 Freshman Class and later launched the By Any Means Tour with Chevy Woods.

The mixtape Luca Brasi 2 gave Gates his third consecutive Billboard 200 entry and included "I Don't Get Tired," featuring August Alsina. The song became his first single to appear on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and his first to receive a Gold certification. Gates also announced an energy drink using the song's title, styled as "I Don't Get Tired" or "#IDGT."

Released in January 2016, Islah became Gates' breakthrough studio album. It debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and included the singles "Kno One," "Time for That," "Really Really," and "2 Phones." While Gates was in prison, Dreka handled executive controls for the 2017 mixtape By Any Means 2, which reached number four on the Billboard 200.

Gates returned from prison with the three-song EP Chained to the City in 2018. He followed it with Only the Generals Gon Understand in 2019 and the album I'm Him, led by the single "Push It." In 2021, he released Only the Generals, Pt. II, a project recorded in Puerto Rico that reflected his connection to his family's heritage.

His 2022 album Khaza debuted at number two on the U.S. Top Rap Albums chart and number four on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Gates later commemorated the tenth anniversaries of The Luca Brasi Story and Stranger Than Fiction with re-releases. His subsequent albums include The Ceremony, I'm Him 2, and the mixtape Luca Brasi 4.

Gates is known for confessional songs that combine autobiographical writing with Southern beats. His lyrics often address depression, poverty, incarceration, and personal trauma. He has also incorporated more singing into his music and trained with Monica. His stated influences include Nas, the Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, Tupac Shakur, and Eminem.

Gates was convicted of battery in Florida in October 2016 and sentenced to 180 days in jail after an incident involving a female fan at a concert. He also received a 30-month sentence for firearm charges connected to an earlier Illinois case. He was released on parole in January 2018, and his parole ended early later that year.