Table of Biography
Kevin Gates Race is an American rapper and singer. Kevin Gates Race has mostly known for his hits mixtapes such as By Any Means, Luca Brasi 2, and Stranger Than Fiction. Likewise, he is signed with Atlantic Records.
Early Life and Education
Kevin Gates Race was born on the 5th of February 1986, in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. His birth name is Kevin Jerome Gilyard. He was born to an African-American father and a Puerto Rican mother.
Gates is 36 years old in 2022. He belongs to mixed ethnicity. He follows the Muslim religion. Kevin also has a younger brother called Brandon. His family moved to Baton Rouge after his birth.
He grew up in Baton Rouge where he had a rough childhood. He was arrested for the first time at the age of 13 for joyriding in a stolen vehicle as a passenger in 1999.
Gates lost contact with his father at an early age but later reconnected with him as a teenager.
When he was 14, his father died due to AIDS. Kevin briefly joined Baton Rouge Community College when he was 17 years old.
Kevin was always interested in music since his childhood. Gates started rapping at the age of 14.
He completed his master’s degree in Psychology through a prison program when he served his prison time from 2008 to 2011.
Kevin Gates Race – Net Worth 2023
Kevin Gates Race accumulated his fortune from his successful rapping career. He has a total net worth of $1 million. However, there is no information about his annual salary and other asset values.
Personal Life
Kevin Gates is a married man. He is married to his longtime girlfriend Dreka Haynes. Kevin and Dreka got married in October 2015.
The couple shares two children, Islah and Khaza. The duo converted to Muslim and went to Mecca for the hajj in 2016.
In an interview with Complex in 2013, he stated that he also has children with other women too. There are no other details regarding his past relationships.
Caption: Kevin Gates Race with his wife Dreka at an event Source: Gadget Clock
Legal Issues and Controversies
Kevin was arrested for the first time at the age of 13 for joyriding in a stolen vehicle as a passenger in 1999.
In 2003, he got involved in an altercation outside the movie theatre where he stabbed his opponent numerous times.
Gates was also charged with kicking a fan in the summer of 2015 while performing at an event in Lakeland, Florida.
He performed Florida’s stand-your-ground law in defense. Gates was convicted of the charge and sentenced to 180 days in jail on October 26, 2016.
In 2017, Gates was sentenced to 30 months in jail on firearms charges coming from a 2013 incident in East Moline, Illinois. He was later freed on parole on January 10, 2018.
Career and Professional Life
Kevin Gates Race began his career in 2007 when he signed with Dead Game Records, a local label.
His career started to hit off when he collaborated with fellow Baton Rouge natives Boosie Badazz and Webbie. Together, the three of them collaborated on the mixtape Pick of Da Litter in 2007.
Kevin’s second mixtape ‘All or Nuthin’ got released in 2008. But in 2008, Gates was imprisoned for his criminal works.
He served in prison from 2008 to 2011. He completed his master’s degree in Psychology through a prison program when he served his prison time from 2008 to 2011. Kevin was released early for his good behavior.
Atlantic Records
Shortly after his release, he soon started working on his music and released the mixtape ‘Make Em Believe’ in 2012 which had mild success. He signed with Lil Wayne’s subsidiary label that year.
However, he would go and make his own label, Bread Winners’ Association, after listening to Birdman’s advice.
Kevin Gates released his mixtape The Luca Brasi Story, through his Bread Winners’ Association record label in early 2013. The mixtape was a success.
Soon Atlantic Records would sign Kevin. In July 2013, Gates released his first major-label mixtape Stranger Than Fiction.
The mixtape issued his issues from depression to prison time. The mixtape was a success as it charted at 37 on the Billboard 200. After the success of the mixtape, he did a 4-week tour.
In 2014, he released his mixtape By Any Means which was released by his record label but distributed by Atlantic Records.
He released ‘Luka Brasi 2’ in December 2014, another commercially successful mixtape. The mixtape debuted at 38 on the US Billboard 200 and sold over 83,000 copies in the US within 10 months.
He again did a tour after the success of the mixtape. Kevin Gates was named a member of XXL‘s Freshman Class in May 2014.
‘Murder for Hire 2’ in 2016 was another hit mixtape among the several he produced over the years.
It was a major hit, debuting at number two on the Billboard 200 and selling 20,000 copies in its first week. ‘The Prayer,’ ‘Great Example,’ and ‘Click Mouse’ were among the songs included.
Debut Album and more mixtapes
In January 2016, he released his debut studio album ‘Islah’. The album became a great hit thanks to popular singles including ‘2 Phones,’ ‘Time for That,’ and ‘Really Really.’
It debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 and sold 93,000 copies in its first week in the United States.
The album was also ranked 16th on the Canadian Albums Chart. He released mixtapes Murder for Hire on May 27, 2016.
He was imprisoned again in 2016. His spouse Dreka handled executive control of the project and released another mixtape By Any Means 2 on September 22, 2017.
It reached 4 on the Billboard 200. After serving time, he was released from prison. Shortly after his release from prison, he released a three-song EP Chained to the City in May 2018.
He released his 2nd EP Only the Generals Gon Understand on May 31, 2019. He released “Push It”, along with the music video on June 28, 2019.
The song was included and served as the lead single of his 2nd album I’m Him.
Only the Generals, Pt. II and Khaza
Kevin Gates Race released his 17th mixtape, Only the Generals, Pt. II, on February 19, 2021, was his first project since 2019.
The project, which was unexpectedly released, is the follow-up to Gates’ 2019 EP Only the Generals Gon Understand.
The mixtape was recorded in Puerto Rico in 2021, with Gates noting that he did so to honor his family’s history on the island.
The mixtape was recorded in Puerto Rico earlier in 2021. Gates said that he did so to celebrate his family heritage on the island.
It also includes the previously released single, “Plug Daughter 2”, produced by Internet Money’s Taz Taylor. Kevin recently teased his third studio album, Khaza.
Caption: Kevin Gates Race performing on the stage Source: HipHopDX
Kevin also won the Favourite Rap and Hip-Hop Album in 2014 and 2016.
Body Measurements
Kevin Gates has a height of 6 feet 2 inches and he weighs 92kg. Gates has black hair and his eyes are black in color.
Kevin Gates Race – Social Media
Kevin Gates is quite active on social media. He has an Instagram account @iamkevingates with 9.8 followers.
His Twitter account @iamkevingates has 1.8m followers. He also has a Facebook Page named Kevin Gates with 9.7m followers. His YouTube channel kevingatesTV has 7.46m subscribers.