Club Shay Shay - Kevin Gates Part 2

Podcast: Club Shay Shay
Host: Shannon Sharpe
Guest: Kevin Gates
Release Date: January 28, 2026

Episode Overview

Part two of Kevin Gates’ conversation with Shannon Sharpe dives deep into Gates’ journey through the music industry, entrepreneurship, parenthood, love, personal struggles, mental health, and spiritual evolution. This episode sees Gates at his most open and vulnerable, discussing not only the highs and lows of fame but his struggles with addiction, the impact of relationships on his life and art, and the mindsets that have helped him grow and heal.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Surviving and Thriving in the Music Business

• Owning a Label & Negotiating Deals

  • Gates reveals he has his own record label, humorously saying all “seven personalities” are signed, but in reality, he’s signed other artists as well [00:06].
  • Quote: "You get what you negotiate. I’ve been having a beautiful time in the industry." (Kevin Gates, 00:39)
  • Early days were hard due to self-sabotage, but now he enjoys the business by handling things on his terms.

• Streaming vs. Physical Media

  • Despite digital dominance, Gates still sells physical records for fans at concerts, honoring roots of passing out CDs to build a following [01:44–02:22].
  • Emphasizes fan connection over sales numbers.

• Entrepreneurship Outside of Music

  • Started an energy drink line, discontinued after prison, but his coffee brand continues [03:01].
  • On mistakes: “Over again, I definitely wouldn’t do this none.” (Kevin Gates, 03:35)
  • Gates views failures as lessons, not mistakes.

Fatherhood, Family, and Morals

• Best Purchase and Fatherhood Philosophy

  • The best things in life are free – specifically his children [03:48].
  • Gates instills maturity in his kids, gives them chores, pays allowances, and expects accountability [04:47–05:16].
  • Quote: “I promote maturity. They have responsibilities, they have chores, and they get paid once a week.” (Kevin Gates, 04:47)

• Teaching Self-Sufficiency

  • His children ask "You got anything you need me to do?" rather than asking for handouts [05:16].

Honest, Candid Talk About Relationships & Love

• Valentine’s Day and Everyday Love

  • Gates doesn’t celebrate Valentine’s Day – for him, every day is a celebration of love due to past experiences with loss [07:43].
  • Quote: “I’ma live every day like it’s my last. I’m gonna do my best to enjoy every day.” (Kevin Gates, 07:47)

• Intimacy Beyond the Physical

  • Praying and connecting spiritually with a partner are more intimate than sex [17:01].
  • Memorable: “It’s the intellectual intercourse. It’s the spiritual side of things. Like us praying together is more intimate than any sex will ever be.” (Kevin Gates, 17:07)
  • He and his wife pray before sex to ward off soul ties and negative energies [17:18–17:40].

• Transparency & Honesty in Relationships

  • Gates values honesty over judgment, never asks his partner about her past unless necessary, and believes manipulation is the real sin [15:00–15:56].
  • Quote: “That’s not player. You being an interrogator.” (Kevin Gates, 15:36)

• Importance of Matching Energies and Growth

  • Discusses growing together or apart in relationships, remaining respectful, and having no ill feelings for exes [26:22].
  • Shares that his wife changed his life: “She healing your central nervous system… You got this calmness about you now.” (Kevin Gates, 11:03)

• Finance in Relationships

  • Keeps finances separate after learning from past relationships where financial dependence led to stress and unhappiness [56:36–57:56].
  • Quote: “I done committed financial suicide… I woke up and started putting safeguards in place.” (Kevin Gates, 56:51)

Mental Health, Addiction & Healing

• Substance Abuse and Suicidal Thoughts

  • Gates honestly talks about opioid use, lean, weed, and a period of deep depression where he considered suicide [58:27–61:08].
  • Memorable: “I ain’t wanna live, Unc. I done shot myself in the head… I ain’t nobody gonna miss me anyway.” (Kevin Gates, 58:47–61:08)
  • Shares importance of speaking up for men suffering in silence.

• Struggle for Fulfillment & Self-Love

  • Worked out relentlessly to cope but felt “tolerated, not celebrated” [61:10–63:55].
  • Music (specifically creating “couples therapy” with his wife) was part of his healing journey.

• On Therapy and Inner Work

  • Did not rely on formal therapy but instead practiced deep inner reflection and found purpose in helping others turn pain into passion [65:14–65:54].
  • Quote: “I’m showing the world, but mostly men, how to turn their pain into passion. Take your pain and turn it into purpose.” (Kevin Gates, 65:38)

Physical Health & Discipline

• Weight Loss Journey

  • Once weighed 315 pounds (“Ken jail, sitting in that b*tch, eating all day” [35:57]); lost over 100 pounds through self-discipline and lifestyle changes [37:21].
  • On self-improvement: “Who wanna be a fat slob with titties… Who wanna be that?” (Kevin Gates, 38:20)

• Diet and Fasting

  • Eats once a day, doesn’t miss old foods, prioritizes discipline [43:10–43:16].
  • Fasts not just during Ramadan but periodically for mental clarity (“When you got too much food, you can’t really hear God talking" [44:40]).
  • Longest fast: 42 days [45:14].

Personal Growth, Spirituality, and Legacy

• Trip to Mecca & Spiritual Centering

  • Describes his pilgrimage to Mecca as deeply meaningful; spiritual epiphanies happened afterward [76:20–76:52].
  • Wants to return with his wife and children to keep his relationship God-centered.

• Family Ideals

  • Wants a big family, inspired by his grandparents who “died married” [33:00].
  • Admires discipline and mutual support in marriage.

• No Regrets, Only Lessons

  • Despite pain from past relationships and betrayals, Gates harbors no resentment, seeing the hardship others endure as their own lessons [51:29–52:23].
  • Focused on being his best self and a positive model for his children.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments with Timestamps

• On Negotiation & Industry:
  “You get what you negotiate. I’ve been having a beautiful time in the industry.” – Kevin Gates [00:39]

• On Fatherhood:
  “The best things in life are free. The best thing that ever happened to me? My children…they changed me. They made me want to change, to be a better father.” – Kevin Gates [03:56]

• On Transparency in Relationships:
  “That’s not player. You being an interrogator.” – Kevin Gates [15:36]

• On Love:
  “A woman is a good…a good woman, that’s a gift from God. But the man is the prize.” – Kevin Gates [10:50]

• On Dealing with Loss:
  “I’m gonna live every day like it’s my last. I’m gonna do my best to enjoy every day.” – Kevin Gates [07:47]

• On Spiritual Intimacy:
  “It’s the intellectual intercourse. It’s the spiritual side of things. Like us praying together is more intimate than any sex will ever be.” – Kevin Gates [17:07]

• On Soul Ties and Energy:
  “Just shaking hands with somebody…you can form a spiritual agreement. Cause you don't know what their intentions were.” – Kevin Gates [34:47]

• On Self-Improvement:
  “I’m addicted to self-improvement though. It make me feel better.” – Kevin Gates [37:50]

• On Past Trauma & Mental Health:
  “I ain’t wanna live, Unc. I done shot myself in the head… I ain’t nobody gonna miss me anyway.” – Kevin Gates [58:47–61:08]

• On Purpose:
  “I’m showing the world, but mostly men, how to turn their pain into passion…take your pain and turn it into purpose.” – Kevin Gates [65:38]

• On Self-Reflection:
  “When I wasn’t speaking my truth, it would affect my throat chakra. Your body know when you lying.” – Kevin Gates [68:23]

• On the Value of the Streets:
  “The streets made me. God bless the dead and all the junkers that took care of me.” – Kevin Gates [74:03]

• Freestyle, “Scripture”:
  “I've been shot, I've been stabbed / Head like cheap liquor I done slipped and got back on my feet like C billows...” – Kevin Gates [74:30]

Important Segments with Timestamps

• [00:06] — Launching a label and discussing industry strategy
• [03:01] — Entrepreneurship, failures, and the coffee business
• [03:48] — Fatherhood and best things in life being free
• [04:47] — Raising children with maturity and structure
• [07:47] — Conversation on loss, love, and living fully
• [15:36] — Philosophy of honesty in relationships
• [17:07] — Spiritual intimacy, praying with partners
• [35:57] — Losing weight, physical transformation
• [37:50] — The drive for self-improvement
• [43:16] — Diet, fasting, and eating habits
• [51:29] — Letting go of resentment, seeing pain as lesson
• [58:47–61:08] — Mental health struggles, suicidal thoughts
• [65:38] — On purpose and serving as a role model
• [76:20] — Pilgrimage to Mecca and after-effects
• [80:34] — Hopes for his legacy and future

Tone & Language

Gates is unfiltered, confessional, warm, and wise. He uses street vernacular, humor, and direct speech. There’s constant vulnerability—from bravado to raw admissions of pain—grounded by a spiritual, growth-oriented worldview. Sharpe balances with empathy, probing questions, and light-hearted banter.

Takeaways for Non-Listeners

• Gates reveals the transformative powers of honesty, self-improvement, and spirituality.
• The music industry’s pitfalls can be navigated with knowledge and self-reliance.
• True intimacy is rooted in emotional and spiritual connection, not just physical.
• Discipline is a cornerstone—whether in health, business, or relationships.
• Healing and generational change start with self-knowledge and accountability.
• The podcast is a testament to vulnerability and hope, especially for men facing silent struggles.

For more, tune in to Club Shay Shay: Kevin Gates – Part 2.