Kevin Gates is getting ready for a possible return right before the end of 2023 with a brand-new album. Soon after teasing its release, he put out a YouTube video for the possible lead single, “God Slippers.” It is rumored to appear on the project which will be named Ceremony. While that is all fine and dandy, Gates might have just received something that will top any accomplishment this year and maybe over the next few. Over the weekend the Louisiana native was performing at the Uno Lakefront Arena, which is located near his hometown. In fact that arena is on the campus of the University of New Orleans.
During his performance, the New Orleans Mayor, LaToya Cantrell, presented him with a prestigious honor. In the city’s over 200 years of history, they have never had a woman in this position. She earned this title on May 7, 2018, making this moment for Gates all the more special. While there is no official name for this award, the meaning behind it is what makes it all worth it.
LaToya gave an impassioned speech in front of a raucous crowd as Kevin Gates stood near her soaking it all in. The recognition was for Gates’ commitment to addressing crucial societal issues. From bullying, mental health, depression, and suicide prevention, the rapper is also a philanthropist of the highest honor. You can check out the live moment above.
What are your initial thoughts on Kevin Gates receiving this honor from New Orleans’ first-ever female mayor? Is Gates deserving of this recognition? Are you excited for his upcoming album? We would like to hear what you have to say about all of this. With that in mind, be sure to leave all of your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest breaking news around Kevin Gates, as well as everything else going on around the music world.
Earlier this week one of the strangest rap beefs in recent years emerged. It started when a barber who cut YK Osiris’ hair claimed that he never paid her for the cut. “Y’all know I cut my first celebrity client, YK Osiris, last week. I charged him $150 for the cut, the cut went up, he paid me $200. He tipped me $50. No complaints but he had hit me up to come line him up last Tuesday. I charge him $100 for the lineup. This n***a hit me with the, ‘Alright, I’ma Cash App you.’ Instantly I was like… I’m like ‘I don’t think he gonna do me like that.’ It’s just $100 dollars, it’s not $100,000.” they said in an Instagram video explaining the incident.
YK Osiris responded to the situation and refuted her allegations. “She got paid. She just want clout. Give her a lil clout lol,” he claimed. While he did eventually pay the barber, before that Kevin Gates stepped up. Gates allegedly reached out to them through DMs and sent $200 through Zelle as some sort of makeup payment. That clearly rubbed YK the wrong way and he took to his Instagram story to express his disappointment. “I hate n*ggas, literally I don’t fw any of you lame ass, corny ass, n*ggas. Get that through y’all mind man. PLEASE DO. Shake my hand in public but play me on social media people wake up please I pray y’all do.” Check out the entire rant below.
This isn’t even the only time recently that YK Osiris has been accused of not paying people. Last month, a jeweler claimed that he agreed to purchase a $20k Audemars Piguet watch. But in the years since he’s reportedly dodged any request for him to pay up.
Earlier this year YK Osiris released his new single “Dear Fans.” The track addressed his die-hard listeners directly after a widely criticized public interaction with Sukihana earlier this year. What do you think of YK Osiris’ Twitter rant taking aim at Kevin Gates? Let us know in the comment section below.
Kevin Gates is known for his brash lyrics and wild antics, but his camaraderie with his peers is often overlooked. Gates was recently spotted attending Drake’s LA tour stop. In a clip that recently surfaced online, the “2 Phones” rapper appears to be enjoying himself during Drake’s set. Following a quick intermission, Drake noticed Gates in the crowd and embraced him. The pair quickly dapped it up before the “Nonstop” rapper resumed his performance.
The last time the two names were mentioned together was during YNW Melly’s murder trial. An undercover cop ended up mentioning the rappers during his testimony regarding the violent content in their lyrics. Juelz Santana, Young Thug, and French Montana were also among those referenced.
Drake Kicked Off His “It’s All A Blur Tour” In July
Drake’s latest trek started last month, and it has already broken records. Drake earned $5 million each night at Capital One Arena, making him the first rapper to earn that amount in a single performance. Spanning 54 dates across the US and Canada, the tour will run until October. There will be stops in notable cities like Inglewood, Toronto, and more. The tour has featured various special guests so far, including Lil Yachty and, most recently, Meek Mill.
In other news, Kevin Gates recently came back to Instagram to send a message to his followers. In a clip posted to his official page, the rapper seems to be relaxing in the ocean as he speaks directly to the camera. He had quite a bit to say. “Let the record reflect,” he began. “[If] [you] ever did me dirty when I wasn’t nothing but genuine with you people… Hey, I forgive you. I didn’t understand it when I was going through it, but I thank you.” He continued: “‘Cause y’all… provoked me to be something that I never, ever thought I could be… I’m gonna step away for a while, and I’m gonna have my executive assistant take care of my affairs.” He added, “Hey, but do me two favors…Find me two n*ggas. Find me that n*gga that could say I told on him, and find me that n*gga that could say he stuck his d*ck in me.”
Like him or love him, Kevin Gates doesn’t hold back in opening up about sharing his personal life, no matter how uncomfortable it may make others. From glimpses into his romantic relationship or past traumas, Gates is an open book. In his new single, “I Don’t Apologize,” the Baton Rouge native takes it a step further.
Across the song’s chorus, Gates recalls his journey into the limelight to stress why he takes pride in showing off his current luxurious lifestyle. “Make sure you keep your head up when told you won’t be nothin’ / Told that a lot of times, I lost of partnas / I cried a lot of times / They said I was a problem, labeled me a problem child / I done a lot of crimes, survived a lot of times / Fast forward to modern times, I look like dollar signs / I’m drivin’ foreign cars, I don’t apologize / I’m f*ckin’ foreign broads, I done a lot of dimes, I don’t apologize, I don’t apologize,” raps the star.
What others consider showboating — or, as the kids call it, “flexing” — Gates views it as showing gratitude for all he has. He won’t make himself or his accomplishments small to make others comfortable. Instead, he will unapologetically flaunt his faith, family, friends, and fame to help inspire others that their dreams are within their reach, just as Gates makes his way to the 2023 BET Awards red carpet to be celebrated by his peers. The viewer should be able to imagine similar professional milestones in their life.
Watch the video for “I Don’t Apologize” above.
Kevin Gates is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Kevin Gates has delighted fans by announcing his highly anticipated Only The Generals Tour. The “Satellites” rapper revealed the tour dates and shared that presale tickets would be available soon. The 31-city tour will kick off on August 23 in Glendale, Arizona, and conclude on December 16 in Greensboro, North Carolina. The tour will feature […]
Today (June 27), marks Jamell Demons’ ninth day in court amid his double murder trial. At this time, it remains unclear which way the death-qualified jury will lean in the nail-biting case. It could result in the rapper receiving a fatal sentence with a minimum 8-4 vote thanks to new state laws. Demons – better known as YNW Melly – seems calm, confident, and even playful amid proceedings which have been live-streamed by Law & Crime throughout the month.
Much of the focus remains on the 23-year-old and his alleged victims, YNW Juvy and YNW SakChaser. Nevertheless, it wouldn’t be a true hip-hop trial if other artists weren’t also brought into the conversation. Boosie Badazz is the only public figure to set foot in Melly’s courtroom so far (though he was arrested on federal charges of his own shortly after). This week, we’ve been hearing several names referenced during the testimony of undercover Detective Danny Polo. On Monday, he suggested that Juelz Santana is a member of the Bloods while also noting that he’s unsure if French Montana is gang-affiliated or not.
Howard replays yesterday’s video presented by the prosecution of Melly reciting the same lyrics pic.twitter.com/FLxTPgJa4M
— Bryson “Boom” Paul (@brysonboompaul) June 27, 2023
The next day, Polo answered questions from YNW Melly’s attorney, David A. Howard, regarding two other famous lyricists. The first was Drake, who the gang expert confirmed has made references to violence throughout his songs. Elsewhere the lawyer brought up Kevin Gates’ “4:30 AM,” on which he raps, “No regrets for the shit I did.” As per journalist Bryson “Boom” Paul, Howard replayed a video the prosecution presented of his client reciting the same lyrics.
Being dragged into yet another trial likely isn’t how Drake wants to spend his summer. Thankfully, the Canadian has other major projects underway to keep his mind occupied from the drama, such as his It’s All A Blur tour and his recently announced For All The Dogs album. See what Drizzy has said about the latter so far at the link below, and check back later for more hip-hop/pop culture news updates.
At this rate, Kevin Gates is better known for his outlandish antics than he is for his successful hip-hop career. Whether he’s waltzing around in overly tight pants on a concert stage or embarking on social media tirades, there seems to always be a new controversial story surrounding the Baton Rouge-born artist. However, Kevin Gates’ story from being a mainstay in the prison system to his modern-day notoriety is an inspirational one. Music was always the therapeutic release for Gates. He told XXL, “I could say I really appreciated it when I couldn’t do it. I missed it when I was incarcerated and was away from the music.”
You wouldn’t exactly know it in front of the bravado of his personality, but Gates has been through the journey of a lifetime to get back to where he’s at today. His burgeoning hip-hop career has constantly been put on pause to a decade-long run of various stints in prison. For example, he was sentenced to five months in prison for kicking an aggressive fan, a woman, at one of his shows. Whereas hip-hop careers are usually fleeting, his ability to sustain his chaotic career off of chart-topping hits such as “Really Really” and “2 Phones” is downright impressive.
Kevin Gates Has Helped Re-vitalize Southern Rap
The 37-year-old kicked off his hip-hop career in 2007. Debut mixtape Pick of Da Litter wasn’t exactly doing numbers, but his standout cavernous voice and ability to bounce from singing to rapping warranted waves throughout the Louisiana hip-hop scene. Kevin Gates’ sound has always emulated the booming Cadillac-esq sound of the South. That sound conjoined him with fellow Louisiana MCs such as Boosie BadAzz and Webbie. It wasn’t until 2014 that his local notoriety would translate to the international world of hip-hop. Kevin Gates got his first big break in the form of “I Don’t Get Tired (#IDGT).”
Throughout the 2020s, Gates’s focus has been on repairing what was a chaotic 2010s. Fully committed to his Muslim faith, family, and fitness, his modern-day look is a stark contrast to the enraged person of his early works. In fact, the Southern hip-hop icon was sitting in a prison cell as Islah soared to No. 2 on the Billboard charts. To worsen the sting, he was nominated for a Grammy that he never would’ve been able to accept in person. While the experience was a challenging one for Gates, it motivated him to turn his life around. Even if he was creating hits, the rest of his life was riddled with drug use and depression.
Gates Has Focused On Repairing His Health
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – JULY 23: Kevin Gates attends Spotify x Rolling Loud Miami 2022 – Day 2 at Hard Rock Stadium on July 23, 2022 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Sergi Alexander/Getty Images for Spotify )
Somewhere along the way, Kevin Gates transitioned from a drug-induced illegal routine to a newfound emphasis on fitness. Just as impressively, he was able to do it without compromising his madcap image in the hip-hop scene. The interviews are still as unpredictable and downright hilarious as ever. After the revelatory success of 2016’s Islah, 2019’s I’m Him saw Gates revitalized. Blown-out bass rumbles and sung melodies reminded the hip-hop world of his innate talent. The project also has moments of vulnerable sentimentality. For example, “Betta For You” is a heartfelt story of apology regarding past mistakes to Kevin Gates’s daughter Islah.
Regarding Kevin Gates’ relationship with his kids, he is currently in the care of an unspecified number of children. Many of the children he’s responsible for are non-biological. However, he has two biological kids with his wife Dreka Haynes. In fact, Islah is named after the two’s daughter. In addition, he’s had two kids with two other women. There’s no doubt that the increased responsibilities levied on Gates forced him to change his lifestyle. Speaking to us back in 2015, he stated “If I wasn’t doing this, I wouldn’t be able to provide for my children. So I would be laying down on them…it puts things into perspective, like, if I ever want to go buy a chain, I gotta be like really, really rich.”
Kevin Gates’ Story Is Unparalleled in Hip-Hop
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 04: Kevin Gates performs during 2023 Rolling Loud Los Angeles at Hollywood Park Grounds on March 04, 2023 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Timothy Norris/WireImage)
Both hardheaded and heartfelt, Kevin Gates remains one of the defining personalities in hip-hop. He’s been on the streets of Baton Rouge, a Native American shaman ceremony, and the hopeless gates of prison. Amid all of the chaos, music has been the one continuity that’s managed to (just barely) keep it all together. He partakes in a revitalized lifestyle which includes weightlifting sessions at 2:00 a.m. Gates is looking to encourage others to not copy and paste his past mistakes. That message is beginning to manifest itself in the music, as highlighted by the recent release The Luca Brasi Story (A Decade of Brasi).
Rapper Kevin Gates recently expressed his views on financial arrangements in relationships through an Instagram Live session. During the session, a viewer inquired about his stance on splitting finances equally with his partner. Gates responded by recounting his own personal experience. The rapper mentioning that he had been involved with a woman who offered him something invaluable that money couldn’t purchase. It was a nice moment of clarity for an artist that often posts some pretty odd or explicit things on his social media accounts.
“I have been in a relationship where the woman provided me intangible wealth,” Gates said of the previous union. He said that “no amount of money” could buy what she gave him. “She did everything to make my life peaceful and it motivated me and allowed me to focus and make more money,” Gates continued. “50/50 wasn’t half of the rent, but she provided a place of peace to me in order to reach my highest potential.” Gates went on to say that there are several types of wealth. Some are tangible and others are intangible.
Kevin Gates recently came back to Instagram to send a message to his followers. The rapper seems to have gained a certain level of peace in his life recently. In interviews not too long ago, he even spoke about hunting for his own meat. He also posted an extremely NSFW video of a child being born. While some may find it disturbing, one can see the value in posting it. The rapper’s latest video, however, has some confused. In it, Gates seems to be relaxing in the ocean as he speaks directly to the camera. He had quite a bit to say. Some parts of it made more sense than others.
“Let the record reflect, he or she that ever did me dirty when I wasn’t nothing but genuine with you people… Hey, I forgive you. I didn’t understand it when I was going through it, but I thank you,” Gates said sincerely. “‘Cause y’all… provoked me to be something that I never, ever thought I could be.” This is where the rapper’s message started to go a little bit off the rails. “I’m gonna step away for a while, and I’m gonna have my executive assistant take care of my affairs… Hey but do me two favors,” Gates said. “Find me two n*ggas. Find me that n*gga that could say I told on him, and find me that n*gga that could say he stuck his d*ck in me. Everybody that comes around takes my style and tries to steal it.” Many were confused by the second half of his statement. What do you think about it? Be sure to sound off in the comments!
On Monday, Kevin Gates made a surprise visit to his alma mater. The “2 Phones” rapper stopped by Mckinley Senior High School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Students and staff were excited to see the hometown rapper walk the hallways. Gates has been received well in his hometown as of late.
Earlier this year, the Mayor granted him the key to the city. Right now, he is set to do a few shows, which he had four hours away the night before. Gates admits he didn’t get any sleep because he was just too excited to be back in his city and his school. He believes he is the voice for the voiceless.
”God didn’t put me here to be selfish with the knowledge and wisdom that I attain; so I use this to combat depression. I use this to combat bullying. I use this to combat suicide. It’s so many people that may be suffering in silence and don’t have an outlet. I’m their voice. It also empowers me by empowering them.”
The school auditorium erupted in screams and applause when Kevin Gates walked on. Taking out their phones to record, this was a moment that those students wouldn’t forget.
Kevin Gates surprised students at McKinley High School this morning! https://t.co/80m2jfbIZA
Hip-hop artists are known for their creative prowess and captivating performances, but many struggle with their own battles of inner demons behind the scenes. Many hip-hop artists have courageously opened up about their mental health struggles in recent years, shedding light on the often-overlooked aspect of fame and success. In honor of Mental Health Awareness […]
