In a new interview with Big Boy’s Neighborhood, Kevin Gates shared a story of where he was when Kobe Bryant tragically passed away. Furthermore, he spoke of the negativity he felt in the air on that day before the news broke. However, many raised eyebrows at Gates as he freestyles in the middle of his story. Still, the Louisiana native shared a chilling account of January 26, 2020. Moreover, the NBA star and his 13-year-old daughter Giana tragically passed in a helicopter crash. While his loss continues to sting, this is one of many testimonies that kept and will continue to keep his spirit alive.
“The crash site [was] seven minutes from my house,” he expressed. “Rest In Peace the Black Mamba. This here going to Virginia, got a hundred keys in a black Honda (that’s the freestyle part). All of this was going on at the time. My nana came in. I told my tattoo artist- remember I told you? I said, ‘Man, I don’t feel like we should leave the house today. We just need to stay in today.’ She came right to the house. I hate to even say this, but that’s what happened. She came in the house and was like, ‘They say Kobe just had a helicopter crash.’”
Furthermore, Big Boy asked, “So you said ‘We shouldn’t leave the house before?” “Before that s**t happened,” Gates replied. “That s**t happened seven minutes from my house. Like, weird s**t like that always be happening to me.” Ironically, the 37-year-old previously called Bryant a “rat” before his untimely passing. Granted, it was nearly four years before the tragic incident, and he made those claims after Kobe’s last game. From what Gates said, he claimed that Kobe snitched on Shaquille O’Neal during Mamba’s alleged rape trial.
Regardless, those emotions and postures mean nothing in the face of the immense void the legendary Laker left behind. This year, millions of fans remembered his legacy on the anniversary of his passing. Moreover, they shared some of their favorite memories of his games, his character, and the joy he gave so many. As Kevin Gates and others reflect on his absence, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest on Kobe Bryant’s legacy.