Kevin Gates, born Kevin Jerome Gilyard in 1986, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur. He is signed to Bread Winners' Association in partnership with Atlantic Records. Gates gained widespread attention with his debut album Islah in 2016, which reached number two on the US Billboard 200. Before his debut album, he built a strong fan base through successful mixtapes like Stranger Than Fiction, By Any Means, and Luca Brasi 2, all making the top 40 on the Billboard 200.