Kevin Gates

Born Kevin Gilyard and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, of Moroccan and African American heritage, Kevin Gates developed a deeply confessional, melodic style shaped by a turbulent early life that included multiple incarcerations and an embrace of meditation and self-improvement philosophy.

After a string of acclaimed mixtapes including "The Luca Brasi Story" and "By Any Means," his 2016 debut album "Islah" reached the top of the charts, blending raw emotional vulnerability with hard-edged street narratives and producing platinum singles like "2 Phones."

His debut "Islah" debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and went on to platinum certification, and he has sustained a devoted national fan base through his candid, introspective music.

Kevin Gates brought an unusually raw, self-examining vulnerability to Southern street rap, influencing the genre's turn toward emotional candor.