Club Shay Shay - Kevin Gates Part 2

Summary

Club Shay Shay - Kevin Gates Part 2

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

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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.

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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.

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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]

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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

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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.

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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.

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

Transcript

[Interviewer]

Thank you for coming back. Part two is underway. You started your own record label?

[Kevin Gates]

Yes, sir.

[Interviewer]

You. You got artist signed?

[Kevin Gates]

Yep, I got all seven of my different personalities signed. Nah, we got some artists that, you know, we got some artists.

[Interviewer]

Tell us about the business. What, what, what, what, what? What am I missing about the rap business? Because, you know, I'm getting. I've got a lot of. I haven't heard a lot of. I mean, had a lot of entertainers on here that do what you do. I hadn't heard a whole lot good about the. About the. About the music industry.

[Kevin Gates]

You get what you negotiate. I've been having a beautiful time in the industry.

[Interviewer]

Okay.

[Kevin Gates]

Now, in the beginning, I wasn't because I had to learn how to get out of my own way, so. But I've been having fun lately. Yeah.

[Interviewer]

So in other words, if Ted Cruz once said, don't nod yes and mean.

[Kevin Gates]

No, you get what you negotiate. People love me. Cause I. I'm straight to the point.

[Interviewer]

Right.

[Kevin Gates]

Say what I mean.

[Interviewer]

Okay.

[Kevin Gates]

I mean what I say.

[Interviewer]

What's my percentage? What am I getting out of this? What are you taking from this?

[Kevin Gates]

Well, I'm gonna agree to the terms of disagree, and then we gonna go back and forth. Okay. And then when it gets to where I want it to get to it, I'll engage.

[Interviewer]

Do you have representation or do you represent yourself?

[Kevin Gates]

I'm able to represent myself, but it's always good to have representation.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, somebody read over the Fire.

[Kevin Gates]

I'm both of them.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, yeah, I agree. Help me understand the streaming industry. Because everybody's like, you know, the mom and Pop store is there no more. I mean, you remember you used to go to Tower and Goodies and used to go to the mom and Pop show. You put the record on, you could listen to it.

[Kevin Gates]

You know what's crazy?

[Interviewer]

What's crazy?

[Kevin Gates]

I still sell hard copies and I sell records. Do you like the record? Yeah, yeah.

[Interviewer]

The 45 33.

[Kevin Gates]

Yeah, I still sell them and I do them like for my fans.

[Interviewer]

Okay.

[Kevin Gates]

I do them like at the Merch Tables concerts.

[Interviewer]

Man. I can't remember last time.

[Kevin Gates]

Cause I come from that era of passing out CDs.

[Interviewer]

Yeah. Cause you know, you had. First you had the LP 45 33. Then you had. Well, you had the eight track and all those. Then you got a casino.

[Kevin Gates]

I was passing out my mixtape, going everywhere. Going to the mall and shout out to all my partners. That helped me with that. Cause I know that was. They believed in me. Them dudes ain't have to help Me pass out no CDs?

[Interviewer]

Right.

[Kevin Gates]

We was all passing out CDs together.

[Interviewer]

Let me ask you this. When you pass out a mixed cd.

[Kevin Gates]

I give it to you and I tell you, look, I'm Kevin Gates. I wanna be your favorite rapper. I just wanna be.

[Interviewer]

Are they free or you charge people for free?

[Kevin Gates]

I just wanna be your favorite rapper.

[Interviewer]

Oh, you know what? So I'm glad. Cause, dude, when I was in Atlanta at the mall, they run up on me. They tried to get me to pay.

[Kevin Gates]

For $5 for I'm gonna give. And hopefully you'll become a fan and start coming to the concerts. Okay, Bread won a concert. I'm beyond turn. Yes, Lord.

[Interviewer]

You've launched the energy drink and a coffee.

[Kevin Gates]

I launched the energy drink, but that ended up being resolved when I went to prison. But my coffee is still. It's doing what it's supposed to do.

[Interviewer]

Doing what it's supposed to do.

[Kevin Gates]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

You a coffee drinker?

[Kevin Gates]

Damn. I'm doing better. Yeah, but rehab's for quitters. Yeah, I'm a coffee drinker.

[Interviewer]

What if. What business did you start that you'd like? You know what? This was a mistake. And that you like? No, I wouldn't. I definitely wouldn't do this again. If I had to do this all.

[Kevin Gates]

Over again, I definitely wouldn't do this none.

[Interviewer]

Really? You don't believe in mistakes?

[Kevin Gates]

It was a learning experience.

[Interviewer]

What's the best purchase you made?

[Kevin Gates]

The best purchase. The best things in life are free. The best thing that ever happened to me.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Kevin Gates]

My children. My children, they changed me. They made me want to change, to be a better father for them. And then. What's so beautiful about my relationship with my children? I talked to them the way my grandfather, grandmother, everybody talked to me. Just. They gave me the real. Like our grandfather always told us, either you learn fast or you die young. So he didn't promote, like, adolescence, he promoted maturity. So the Internet went into frenzy when they saw me letting my daughter drive my truck. And she was, like, maybe 8 years old at the time, but she been driving. She might have been 10, but she been driving. You know what I'm saying? I promote maturity, right? They have responsibilities, they have chores, and they get paid once a week.

[Interviewer]

Good grades, do the chores around the house, take out the trash.

[Kevin Gates]

And if you don't, you gotta take your lick. If you don't do what you supposed to do, you're not gonna get paid. So you're not gonna be able to go buy no Robux or go to the mall with your Friend or whatever, you're not gonna be able to do none of that. Wow. If you don't take care of your responsibilities. And it's just beautiful because they don't come to me looking for. Give me. They come looking for. You got anything you need me to do? Cause I'm trying to. All right, I figured something out.

[Interviewer]

If you buy a gift for a young lady you got, would you take it back? You can. No, never.

[Kevin Gates]

I don't even want the energy from it. You keep that gift. I was the. I was the gift. That was just a. That was just a. That was just a trinket. That was just a trinket of my kindness. You keep that. You keep that. You keep that gift. And, and, and you see if, if it gets to the bed and they hold you like I hold you at night. You see if it rub your feet. You see if he eat your little Buddha like I. You heard me. You see if that gift do that. All the stuff I do to you. You see, huh? You a eater, not eater. Hold on, excuse me. Hold on. Rephrase it. What kind of eater? Cause men don't call men eaters.

[Interviewer]

That.

[Kevin Gates]

Nah. Like I got a song when I be like, what's the song that scared of her when she go to reaching for a hair tie. Good, good, good, good. My little eater. She's a eater. I'm not, I ain't. I'm. I can't say I'm no eater, but I, I eat a little poodle that yo.

[Interviewer]

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Eat a little toes.

[Kevin Gates]

Eat a little toes. Eat a lip. Why? That's my wife toes.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, but you didn't come over that arrow.

[Kevin Gates]

I knew her pussy was clean. I could just tell by her toes. Head, shoulder, knees. But I can tell you a pro.

[Interviewer]

But you didn't come up in that era. Downside, we didn't get out like that.

[Kevin Gates]

Where you from?

[Interviewer]

Georgia. I'm a 70. I'm a late 60. 70, baby.

[Kevin Gates]

Yeah, I understand. But you don't know what you miss.

[Interviewer]

I do, I do. Trust me. I know what I'm missing.

[Kevin Gates]

I just, I just. I love my woman. I like to make her feel electric. Oh yeah, and she got some beautiful feet. I love to kiss her little toe. Eat her little booty or woo hoo.

[Interviewer]

Give me another try to get here.

[Kevin Gates]

I love my woman. I love to please my woman. I don't care. That's my post workout meal.

[Interviewer]

Day.

[Kevin Gates]

I just love my woman.

[Interviewer]

Okay, I see, I see.

[Kevin Gates]

Wow. I am so nice.

[Interviewer]

I can imagine what Valentine's Day gonna.

[Kevin Gates]

Be like, I don't celebrate Valentine's Day.

[Interviewer]

You don't celebrate Valentine, Babe.

[Kevin Gates]

When is Valentine's Day for us? Every day. Wow. It ain't that. The reason I live like this is because, unfortunately, I done seen a lot of death. I done seen a lot of that go on. So I' ma live every day like it's my last home. I'm gonna do my best to enjoy every day.

[Interviewer]

Okay.

[Kevin Gates]

Within my means. I ain't gonna.

[Interviewer]

Right.

[Kevin Gates]

Within my means. I'm gonna try to enjoy the best of every day. But I do buku little bitty shit. Like, you know, if it's. Go and get a. Go and watch a movie.

[Interviewer]

You actually go to the movies or you watch. You scream it in the house.

[Kevin Gates]

I like to go to the movie. Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Yeah. I mean, since COVID happened, I hadn't. I think I went to.

[Kevin Gates]

Like that. I like to go to ipic. I like to.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, I like to. I pick. Yeah. I.

[Kevin Gates]

And feel fly. You know what I'm saying? Just watch a little movie on your significant other. We, man, if you guys. It's not what you do, it's who you do it with, right? And you could vibe you have a good little time. I'm on that, you know, date night. Yeah. I'm with all that. Okay. I love all that type of shit. That's me.

[Interviewer]

Desmond Scott video. What made you to post that video?

[Kevin Gates]

Cause no black man should leave his home without his sucked. Nah, different nado. Nah, Though he was getting. I don't like to see people get kicked while they down.

[Interviewer]

Okay.

[Kevin Gates]

He wasn't happy. He wouldn't made himself happy. Only thing I would've.

[Interviewer]

Oh, he's the Jehovah Witness, right?

[Kevin Gates]

I don't know what the he is, but everybody think he's so wrong. No, she's so wrong. Look what you made me do.

[Interviewer]

Come on, K, don't do that. Don't do that. K. Come on now. Come on. She ain't make that man do that.

[Kevin Gates]

Huh?

[Interviewer]

She ain't make that man do that.

[Kevin Gates]

Why he do it?

[Interviewer]

That's a guy. He got to do that. He got to deal with him and him.

[Kevin Gates]

He was suffering in silence. It's all over his face. He was suffering in silence. A lot of men suffering silence. And he was just making himself happy. Then the woman that he was over there with, they talking about. Yeah, man, that motherfucker look like a. That motherfucker like a monster. I got in her DM, too.

[Interviewer]

Come on.

[Kevin Gates]

Camp.

[Interviewer]

Damn.

[Kevin Gates]

I told her. I say. I say I say. I say, ignore the hate. That's just miserable. People keep being amazing. You beautiful. Cause they was trying to talk about her, too. I don't like to see people get kicked when they down. And then I saluted him. I say, man, it ain't the end of the world. Don't get. See, a lot of time when you build a woman, they'll isolate you and make you feel like ain't nothing out there. Oh, no, God ain't stopped. All you gotta do is focus on God. He'll send you something more pressure. More pressure than what you had. Pressure, yes.

[Interviewer]

Well, let me.

[Kevin Gates]

I hate to say this.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Kevin Gates]

A woman is a good. A good woman.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Kevin Gates]

That's a gift from God.

[Interviewer]

Yes.

[Kevin Gates]

But the man is the price. See, that's like my new woman.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Kevin Gates]

A lady told me, she said, kevin, I've been knowing you forever. She said, that new woman you with, she healing your central nervous system. She say, you got this calmness about you now. Cause when I get mad, I shut down. And my woman comes to me. She said, babe, stop running from me. Just let me love you. Cause a lot of times it's easy for us to give love and not receive love.

[Interviewer]

True.

[Kevin Gates]

But back to my brother Desmond. You know how to cook all these different meals. Mm. You nice looking, you intelligent, you articulate. Well, you work out. What woman ain't? Come on, man. You got options, baby.

[Interviewer]

Yeah. I think I'm start taking cooking class. I need to learn how to cook a little better. You took cooking class, but you learn how to cook? Your grandma let you cook?

[Kevin Gates]

I still try to learn how to. I still like to learn new dishes.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Kevin Gates]

It's something new.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Kevin Gates]

And put my own little. Put my own little twist to it.

[Interviewer]

Yeah. A little pasta dish.

[Kevin Gates]

Hey, I'm gonna tell you. I'm gonna tell you. I'm gonna tell you what messed they brain up.

[Interviewer]

Tell me, tell me, tell me. Don't say too loud. Cause I don't want nobody else to know.

[Kevin Gates]

Hey, listen, when I take my woman grocery shopping. What? And we push the basket together. Listen, I'm talking about we picking out. We grocery shopping.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Kevin Gates]

And I just be like, oh, my God, babe, we're grocery shopping. I do my white voice.

[Interviewer]

Yeah. Oh, my goodness. I'd be like, isn't this amazing? We love.

[Kevin Gates]

I love this for us. You know I'll be doing that. I do this little white voice. Yeah. Oh, my God, baby, I love this. You'd be like, yes.

[Interviewer]

I love this whole paycheck going out. Yeah. Yeah. Get The. The organics.

[Kevin Gates]

Mm. Get to the house, you know, woof some up in front of little nice little meal. Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Yeah. Got me thinking. I can't cook, though. But I think it.

[Kevin Gates]

It's easy.

[Interviewer]

I cook breakfast.

[Kevin Gates]

I cook breakfast at night time.

[Interviewer]

I. Oh, I could do that.

[Kevin Gates]

It be nighttime. I might make some eggs.

[Interviewer]

Hey, I can do eggs. I can do pancakes, French toast.

[Kevin Gates]

Come on. Yeah, I do. Hey.

[Interviewer]

Okay.

[Kevin Gates]

Okay, babe, you hungry? Yeah. I'm gonna do something real fast for us right quick. Come back in there, you know, Here you go, baby.

[Interviewer]

Then cut breakfast and bread.

[Kevin Gates]

Cut it bed. Cut it and feed it to her.

[Interviewer]

What?

[Kevin Gates]

Yes, Lord.

[Interviewer]

Kel, you doing all that?

[Kevin Gates]

I got to damn if it's that now, if it's just some wham bam, thank you, ma', am, you can scram. You can scram. But if it ain't no wham bam, ma', am, you can scram. And how you like your head sunny side up or scramble. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. It's that. Now if you just. Now if you're a one hit wonder, how my dog mouth say I work that lumber. Big cucumber, hit her, then forget her. She's a one hit wonder. You just a one hit wonder. But if you. If it's. If I'm. If I'm liking on you like I'm liking on you. I'm loving on you like that, then yeah. Cause I'm a lover. I don't just love.

[Interviewer]

I can't tell. I mean, people not gonna watch this. Ain't gonna say you no lover.

[Kevin Gates]

Yes, they would. No. Any woman. Hey, this real talk. Any woman that has ever been with me, it has been the most beautiful experience ever.

[Interviewer]

For you or for them?

[Kevin Gates]

For them, they. Life will never be the same. Ain't nobody gonna love you like I love you. You can try. Ain't nobody gonna love you like I love you. My love is intense.

[Interviewer]

You love hard, huh?

[Kevin Gates]

Just don't lie to me. Don't lie to me. It ain't nothing I can't forgive. Just don't lie to me.

[Interviewer]

What you mean? Hold on.

[Kevin Gates]

Forgive.

[Interviewer]

Okay. I'm gonna move on. But I forgive you. Or forgive and stay. There are two different things.

[Kevin Gates]

Yeah, it is. But like I say, if a woman come to me, I don't judge no woman based on her past or where she been.

[Interviewer]

Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah.

[Kevin Gates]

I don't do that. I don't go through phones. I don't do none of that.

[Interviewer]

No, none of that.

[Kevin Gates]

It's gonna sound crazy on the things that need to be revealed to me, I just lay back and it reveal itself.

[Interviewer]

Yes.

[Kevin Gates]

All I gotta do is lay back. And I ain't gonna let what one person did me make me change and not be me.

[Interviewer]

I love hard because, you know, it's a big thing, guys like, well, I want you to tell me who you been with. I wanna know.

[Kevin Gates]

And then use it against her on mad day. That's not player. You being an interrogator.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Kevin Gates]

Oh, I need to put that in a song.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Kevin Gates]

That's not player. You being an interrogator. Mm.

[Interviewer]

But you know, but you've heard guys.

[Kevin Gates]

Like, I'm gonna be mad at you for something you did 10 years ago. You should have knew you was gonna be with me.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Kevin Gates]

No. You've tried the rest now come try the best.

[Interviewer]

So you don't. You.

[Kevin Gates]

You.

[Interviewer]

You've never asked a young lady, who have you been with? Have you been professional athlete? Have you been with this guy? Who have you been with that I might know? So that if I'm in that circle.

[Kevin Gates]

That's different though. She lacing me up, putting me on game. That's a debriefing policy.

[Interviewer]

Okay.

[Kevin Gates]

You know what I'm saying?

[Interviewer]

Okay.

[Kevin Gates]

She gonna debrief and let me know so I don't put myself in no situation and be out here looking stupid.

[Interviewer]

Right?

[Kevin Gates]

We tell each other everything. No manipulation. You know what I'm saying? Cause I ain't been no saint, baby. My ain't just started working when I met you. And I'm sure you got a little field experience, you know what I'm saying? You got field credentials?

[Interviewer]

Cause I think the thing is, is that when you with someone new and they do you right, mentally, physically, sexually, you start to think like, damn, who else he did this to who? I mean, who else getting what? Well, who else got what I'm getting? That go through your mind?

[Kevin Gates]

Really? Not really.

[Interviewer]

Cause it don't bother me.

[Kevin Gates]

Cause I get it. I ain't really done. Just I ain't met my match yet. As far as sexually.

[Interviewer]

What?

[Kevin Gates]

Intimacy is not based on sex for me.

[Interviewer]

Okay?

[Kevin Gates]

Intimacy is the knowing. It's the conversations that we have.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, I agree.

[Kevin Gates]

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.

[Interviewer]

The couple that you pray before sex.

[Kevin Gates]

Yeah, I pray. My men, my woman, we pray together. The couple that pray together, stay together. Then we go to the gym. The couple that work out together work out forever.

[Interviewer]

But you just praying with your wife. You not praying with, like, somebody you meet and y' all just have sex. You're not praying with her, though, huh?

[Kevin Gates]

Yes, Lord. I got to. Yeah. Bless this dick. I'm about to bless this child.

[Interviewer]

Oh, no, come on, man. No, Kev, you can't do that.

[Kevin Gates]

Protect me, God, from. I don't want none of these soul ties, spirit. None of these spiritual agreements, spiritual attachments. Keep me protected while, you know, while I take this child of you. Lord, Make this be the best dick she ever had in her life. Amen. God bless the hand that prepared this meal. I'm about to say by grace, man.

[Interviewer]

You can't pray to God for no stuff like that.

[Kevin Gates]

Kev. I talk to God about everything. That's my partner. I talk to him about everything.

[Interviewer]

But hopefully you. You frayed it in such a way.

[Kevin Gates]

Man, I tell God, man. God be like. Like, I just talk to God like I'm talking to you.

[Interviewer]

No, you got to say God, you know I'm about to have sex.

[Kevin Gates]

No, I be like, man, listen, I. I mean, I'm. I have reference when I talk to the Creator, but I'm. I pray about everything. I prayed on the way driving here. I don't. Anything could happen. Like I told you, I can't tie my shoe good without God. I'm nothing without God. I pray before I work out sometime. I don't have the strength to do the extra little rep, but I pray, and God give me the strength to do it sometime before I walk in the room. God give me your confidence. Cuz me as a man just going in here, I'm going to be nervous and all that. So I pray about everything. Ain't no certain shit. I need God all the time. You know, the truth of. The truth is death. This life is a lie. Death is the separation from false pleasures. Things we do in this life don't really feed our soul. It's just vexation. But when you and your woman have a relationship that's surrounded around the most high, that's a different type of intimacy. Like the woman I got now, I prayed for that. I ain't know it was gonna come like that, but it came like that. I ain't know it was gonna come this fast.

[Interviewer]

Did you slide in the dm? How'd you meet her?

[Kevin Gates]

I said on another thing, I was like, I've been knowing her since, but it was really like 20, 22, okay. And she was like a tomboy, like. But we always had fly conversations. But she a Marine, my wife a Marine.

[Interviewer]

You stalled, you waited out.

[Kevin Gates]

No, we just was cool. I never looked at her in the light as a wife, like, just like my partner. I never looked at her like she was just a cool person. And I was like, damn, she do boy push ups. And like, we just always been cool. And then one day when she was coming to me, we had went out to eat a few times or whatever. Then one day I was like, look, I wanna cook for you tonight.

[Interviewer]

Uh oh.

[Kevin Gates]

And she was like, I sure wish.

[Interviewer]

She'D heard this conversation before then.

[Kevin Gates]

Nah, nah, nah. She knew. She done heard this conversation before then. Cause we used to talk about everything. Like that was my partner, for real. My friend first. And then it was raining, but the sun was shining. And I told her on the phone, I just buried my grandmother. I was going through a little bit, but when I seen. I was like. Like we was looking for each other in the mall and I was like, you my wife. And then we went grocery shopping, went back to the house.

[Interviewer]

Damn, you did everything.

[Kevin Gates]

Nah, she. She. How long though? I was still kind of running from her for a little while. I'm gonna be honest. I was running from her for a little while. Cause you know, when you cool with somebody, you got a different level of respect.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Kevin Gates]

And then Ramadan had came. And for people that's not familiar with that, that's what we fed from sun up to sundown for like 30 days. And I end up marrying somebody else. And like that Marriage only lasted 52 days. And I know I'm a legend, but so then.

[Interviewer]

Nah, I mean, why you do that? It ran its course in 52 days.

[Kevin Gates]

Yeah, it could have ran its course in 15 days, but that was beautiful. It was a beautiful situation. I learned everything that I needed to learn. And then that's still my friend. We still cool?

[Interviewer]

Yeah, I think she was. I had on the pod.

[Kevin Gates]

I thought, shey. Listen, I'm gonna tell you something.

[Interviewer]

What?

[Kevin Gates]

I've been proud of knowing that person since like 2014. And she always been a friend of me.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Kevin Gates]

Like outside of this media shit, I don't care what nobody say about her. Like, the only person could make me not with you is you. I don't care. You seen when they was trying to say that pussy shit about you?

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Kevin Gates]

What I got in your dm? What? Hey on.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, you did.

[Kevin Gates]

Cause that shit'll make you. When everybody talking that pussy shit, that make you just. I say, unc, you ain't do nothing wrong. You all that I say keep what I told hey, keep your head up. Hey, hey, we. Hey, we on that. Hey, I'm on that black top. We love you on this black top. I told you that.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Kevin Gates]

Now keep your head up. So it's like, people go through shit.

[Interviewer]

Yes.

[Kevin Gates]

You know what I'm saying? Then a lot of the shit people go through, it be lies and bullshit playing. So, like, that's the type of person I am. I go, I guess I'm like my grandmother. I go off your heart and how you treat me. But that was a beautiful situation too. Like, you know what I'm saying? That's why when people ask me, say who I love, I don't discuss. Cause she always spoke, like, life into me and tried to empower me and all that, but we both was just going through so much at the time that it just wasn't an alignment at that time. But we learned what we needed to learn, and we moved on. Beautiful. And then, like, right after it was in the media, like, Kevin Gates was only married 52 days. He couldn't even keep. It's cool. I ain't tripping, you know, My wife had called me. She said, hey. I said, hey, what's happening? You okay? I said, yeah, I'm good. You know, I'm Gucci, Louis Prada. You know, I do bullshit. You know, talk. She said, how you. You don't feel kind of messed up or nothing about it? I said, nah. Mm. Mm. When we get married, that what you told her from that day that we was in the mind? It been like a year. Like, it was like eight months.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Kevin Gates]

Or something like that. I used to always tell her, you my wife now. I didn't know I was gonna propose to her. But she came back. She came back, and then I was like, I'm about to go on tour by myself. I'm gonna miss you. She was like, I got a surprise. I said, what? She said, I'm gonna come on tour with you. And she came on tour with me. And when I say, like, it was one of the most peaceful tours, like, the love that she poured into me, the way she spoke life into me behind closed doors, things of that nature, the things that a man really needs.

[Interviewer]

Yes.

[Kevin Gates]

You know, just being there, somebody being there, being supportive, you know? And she was like, I like, babe, I got a lot of shit that's wrong with me. She said, no. I say, I think I told her I got a lot of shit that's wrong with me. She said, well, I love everything that's wrong with you. And I was like, wow, that's the one. Yeah.

[Interviewer]

When somebody tell you they gonna love you through all your scars yeah.

[Kevin Gates]

I'm scared. She a expert shooter? Yeah, She a marine.

[Interviewer]

Yeah. You better be careful.

[Kevin Gates]

I like all that type of.

[Interviewer]

Let me. Kev. When do you know it's time to move on? When should people break up? When do you know? When did Kevin Gates know? Say, you know, this relationship that I'm in, the marriage that I'm in, 52 days. That's as long as it's gonna meant to be.

[Kevin Gates]

I knew after 52, I knew.

[Interviewer]

You don't think you started out too strong?

[Kevin Gates]

No. Cause we had already, like, been knew each other. Mm, damn. I don't wanna say this. I've been knowing her. I've been knowing Brittany, that's my daughter.

[Interviewer]

But, Kev, you was in. You had another relationship before Brittany.

[Kevin Gates]

Yeah, but me and Britney were always friends.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, okay, I get that. But this other one.

[Kevin Gates]

Just say it.

[Interviewer]

Nah, I'm just saying. I mean, you was in another relationship.

[Kevin Gates]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. You talking about the public one everybody know about. Yeah, I was.

[Interviewer]

You didn't want to get lead back, like. And this, like.

[Kevin Gates]

I'm gonna say this with. And I'm gonna try to be respectful to all my children, but people either grow together or they grow apart.

[Interviewer]

Right?

[Kevin Gates]

And, you know, there's no hatred or no ill feelings or nothing like that.

[Interviewer]

Right.

[Kevin Gates]

You know, you grow together, you grow apart. Sometimes things start off in alignment, and then it's no longer in alignment. Respectfully, I'm happy now.

[Interviewer]

Are y' all still cool?

[Kevin Gates]

I don't have anything against that person, and I love that person. I do. I do. But I'm happy now.

[Interviewer]

You're happy?

[Kevin Gates]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Is this as happy as you've been in a while?

[Kevin Gates]

Ever?

[Interviewer]

What makes. What makes her. What makes this one.

[Kevin Gates]

This the happiest I ever been in my life?

[Interviewer]

What makes her so different?

[Kevin Gates]

Everything. Like I said, I used to look for my mother inside of women. I found myself, wow, she's strong in all the areas I'm weak. I'm strong in all the areas she weak. And, like, it's so crazy. Like, I took all these different types of martial arts because of what I had been through. And because of what she been through, she went to the Marines. I said, so we really gonna be able to protect our children?

[Interviewer]

You want more kids?

[Kevin Gates]

Yeah. I'm gonna get up pregnant. I'm get up pregnant. Yes, Lord.

[Interviewer]

Have you talked to her about that? Is that what she know was him?

[Kevin Gates]

She ready? I told her I just want to wait a year, baby. Cause I just want to enjoy you. I say, you know, so many lifetimes I've been looking for you. We just finally. I'm glad for us to be reunited in this lifetime. I know, like, people be like, y' all look alike. I say, yeah, we soul mates. Ow.

[Interviewer]

That's your spirit animal. That's your spirit animal.

[Kevin Gates]

What?

[Interviewer]

They say, like, sometimes you find a person that's your spirit, and she's like, you never know. But you said, she's the best. Most that I've ever met. And you, like, I waited a lifetime.

[Kevin Gates]

I ain't trying to keep saluting her like that.

[Interviewer]

No, no, no. But you say that's your spiritual connection.

[Kevin Gates]

All you gotta do is look at the evolution of Kevin Gates and you can see something's different.

[Interviewer]

Yes.

[Kevin Gates]

Like, I prayed for this last Ramadan. I was praying for a wife. I think it's beautiful that you see a lot of men out here, want to be players and all that. I want a wife.

[Interviewer]

Right?

[Kevin Gates]

Like, I got married Cause I wanted a wife. It just wasn't in alignment with what I had going on. Then I married her December 18th. We went straight to the mosque and got married. We had an Islamic marriage. And then we went on our honeymoon in Napa. Every time I used to pass through Napa, T, I used to cry on my way to, like, got a farm, like, 45 minutes away, like, without saying too much. But every time I pass through Napa, I cry. Cause that was my dream, to go to Napa. I cried real tears. My partner say, why you always. I said, I'm gonna be honest with you. It's not what you do, it's who you do it with. And I always wanted a wife. For real. Not an Instagram wife. A wife.

[Interviewer]

But you was in a bunch of people's DMs. And the girl, the lady screenshotted that you was in her dm.

[Kevin Gates]

What? I told her, be blessed.

[Interviewer]

Yeah. Talking about, yeah, okay, I might want to have sex with you at a earlier time.

[Kevin Gates]

No, I didn't. I didn't say those things.

[Interviewer]

What'd you say?

[Kevin Gates]

She said, you talking about the girl who asked me for all the cars.

[Interviewer]

And all that you said?

[Kevin Gates]

I told her, be blessed.

[Interviewer]

No, I said, the one that you.

[Kevin Gates]

Yeah, you talking about the other girl. She said something, and I said that you passed. I say that. I don't know. I was trolling. Then I say that, unfortunately, the response time has been something. I told her I used some professionalism in the speech.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Kevin Gates]

And I told her be blessed. My wife was right on side of me when I sent that. We both laughed about it.

[Interviewer]

But you said one. You said that. Yeah, okay, at an early date and time, I want to have sex with you, but it is what it is.

[Kevin Gates]

I never said those things in no dm.

[Interviewer]

No, I said, no, you said that. When you responded, you saw this. You said it. Yeah.

[Kevin Gates]

Or I said it.

[Interviewer]

You said it.

[Kevin Gates]

No, I might have got in a dm. I was saying, no, you said no.

[Interviewer]

You said, you want, like, in the dm. It was like you wanted to talk to her.

[Kevin Gates]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

When she screenshotted it and showed everybody that you was in a dm.

[Kevin Gates]

No, she. No, that's not what happened. That's not the woman I'm talking about. It was some girls from way back when that sent some shit to my wife, and I was like, yeah, yeah, I wanted to lay dick.

[Interviewer]

Yes. That's the one I'm talking about. Yes.

[Kevin Gates]

Yeah, me, yes. Like any other man. What, you think I ain't getting your dm? Cause I think, oh, my gosh, she all that ass she got. I bet she has some great intelligent conversation. No, I want to see. Hey, I want to see how you act when you know you wanted to have sex. I put about two. You keep saying, I want to lay dick. I lay. I don't do all that.

[Interviewer]

But, Kev, you know, we a family show.

[Kevin Gates]

We is. But I drop, though, and I'm about to drop on my wife and create a family. Big old family. I want five children.

[Interviewer]

Five?

[Kevin Gates]

Yeah. I'll take three.

[Interviewer]

You how old you about to be 40, right?

[Kevin Gates]

Yes, sir.

[Interviewer]

Well, consider she's probably substantially younger than you.

[Kevin Gates]

Yeah, she 26.

[Interviewer]

Okay.

[Kevin Gates]

She'll be 27 in March.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, okay. That's doable. I was like, you gotta get on the ball if she close to your age, bro.

[Kevin Gates]

5. Well, I can't say that. I can't say that. You don't know what God could do. Cause the strangest things happen for me. And I ain't trying to sound like a spook or some weird believer, but good shit just always happened for me. Like, for real. Like, good shit just always happened for me.

[Interviewer]

You always wanted a big family.

[Kevin Gates]

I come from a big family.

[Interviewer]

Did you want one?

[Kevin Gates]

Mm, yeah. I used to watch my grandmother and my grandfather. Like, they was married. They died married. That's beautiful.

[Interviewer]

And that's what you want?

[Kevin Gates]

Yeah, I want that.

[Interviewer]

I pray for that for you.

[Kevin Gates]

And if I'm fortunate, I'mma had it. And I ain't trying to Just salute her. Cause she here. But like, I love that woman.

[Interviewer]

I believe you.

[Kevin Gates]

It's evident. Like, everybody tell me that they like, I ain't seen this part of you before. Kevin is beautiful. You calm. And I'm like, I guess, yeah, I can go for that.

[Interviewer]

How do you feel? Like when the Internet gives you a title.

[Kevin Gates]

You want me to be honest?

[Interviewer]

I want you to be honest.

[Kevin Gates]

They could eat my.

[Interviewer]

Okay.

[Kevin Gates]

What they eat don't make me shit. And what I eat don't make them. They can eat my. That's a nerd. Or somebody miserable. It don't be. Number ain't number. Black people on there got the worst shit to say about me. That's all it be. It be your own people. Number miserable.

[Interviewer]

Do you believe in soul ties?

[Kevin Gates]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Like when you have. Cause somebody. I was talking. I forget who it was they were talking about. Like when they have sex and they don't want somebody's bad juju. So you gotta be careful who you lay down with because you don't want their bad spirit.

[Kevin Gates]

You could just shaking hands with somebody. You can form a spiritual agreement. Cause you don't know what their intentions were when they shook your hand. You have to pray to be protected from all of that type of shit. If you believe in that. You know what I'm saying? But I just. It's. Certain people come to your house, they leave. You can feel they energy still in the house. My grandmother used to say, baby, be careful who you let in the house. Mm. Bring evil in your house.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, you right. You right. Now, the old people, but, you know, but like, when old, my grandmother and grandfather would say things being young, you.

[Kevin Gates]

Didn'T understand it ain't make sense till you had your own. Till you grown, till you had your own.

[Interviewer]

And then you understood everything that they were saying. And I was like, why didn't you just say this? Why you gotta put everything in a parable? Why you gotta put everything in a. Yeah.

[Kevin Gates]

Talking in riddle.

[Interviewer]

Working out. You've done. You changed your body. I mean, you weighed almost 300 over 300 pounds.

[Kevin Gates]

3:15. 315. How. 315.

[Interviewer]

How you let yourself get that big.

[Kevin Gates]

Ken jail sitting in that bitch, eating all day.

[Interviewer]

You ain't do no push ups, no sit ups, no squats.

[Kevin Gates]

I was just eating that little bit.

[Interviewer]

Of food they give you. How you gain weight into eating that little bit of food?

[Kevin Gates]

I don't go to childhood.

[Interviewer]

Oh, you had this stuff in the common center.

[Kevin Gates]

You had your stuff in penitentiary rich. How penitentiary rich.

[Interviewer]

So you cooking so you cooking yourself in the microwave and on the hot plate.

[Kevin Gates]

I gotta add a private chef. Personal chef, huh? Yeah, he cooked for me. It wasn't like he was just under my administration, but he was cooking for me. That was my partner and I made sure he was straight. Anybody in there that was indigent? I made sure they was straight. Hey, look, check it out. You got people out there that love you? No. You indigent?

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Kevin Gates]

Check it out. I'm gonna put $100 on your books. I want a. To keep the 20 for yourself. Somebody send you a list?

[Interviewer]

Wow. Have you always been like that? Have you always had a good heart?

[Kevin Gates]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Do you feel people take advantage of people with good hearts or try to, or attempt to.

[Kevin Gates]

Yeah, they try. But see, I don't run game. I just recognize them game being ran.

[Interviewer]

Right.

[Kevin Gates]

And then people get mad at you. Once you recognize the game they running and you don't let them run it on you no more, they get upset with you. I'm like, wow.

[Interviewer]

So you lost the weight down 100 pounds, you say you 215, 220.

[Kevin Gates]

I don't know. You said that.

[Interviewer]

I mean you, I mean you. I mean, I would say, honestly, I would say. I would say 2, 205.

[Kevin Gates]

205, yeah. Think so.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Kevin Gates]

I got big bones though. Yeah. You know better than me.

[Interviewer]

But I mean to, to get down to that, that's a. That's a lot of discipline to lose that kind of weight if you didn't. If you didn't use no Ozempic or anything like that. No gm.

[Kevin Gates]

I'm addicted to self improvement though.

[Interviewer]

Yeah. Okay.

[Kevin Gates]

It make me feel better.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Kevin Gates]

Like, you know, everything I ever wanted in life, I would. Had to earn it anyway.

[Interviewer]

Yes.

[Kevin Gates]

It was never easy for me. And I know God did that for a reason because most people that get it easy, they don't really appreciate it.

[Interviewer]

Appreciate it.

[Kevin Gates]

You know, adversity is what built this character. You looking at?

[Interviewer]

So what, what, what's. Why was it so important for you for self improvement? Because you say you've always been a guy about self improvement.

[Kevin Gates]

Who want to be a fat slob with titties who think that don't. Who want to be that.

[Interviewer]

I mean, some women like dad bod, you know why? Why?

[Kevin Gates]

Because somebody like that, that don't have no self worth and self discipline, he's easy to manipulate. He don't care about himself. One of the first things my woman fell in love with about me was my discipline. She know got up at 3am in the morning I'm gone. Where you going? To the gym. You do this every morning? Every morning. I don't miss.

[Interviewer]

Does she have to be as disciplined and instructed as you? She probably is because she's in the military and that's.

[Kevin Gates]

She ain't in the military no more.

[Interviewer]

But I'm serious. It's hard to break that habit, though, when you do something for an.

[Kevin Gates]

You know, I wouldn't have a woman that's not disciplined. She even said she like, baby, when I get pregnant, I'm gonna work out every day. I'm gonna work out till my water break. I say, I'm gonna be right there with you. Yeah, that's intimate. It's beautiful. Like to get up in the morning with your woman and pray. Then we go to the gym together. Almighty God, let us have a beautiful workout. Give us your whole of divine discipline, your whole of divine focus. No distractions. Let us go in there. Let this be upliftment. That's the greatest act of self love. When you get up and work out.

[Interviewer]

Couple that work out together, stay together, huh?

[Kevin Gates]

The couple that pray together stay together. The couple that work out together, work out forever. Cause we doing the hard part every day, right? The hardest part was getting up and going to the gym and honoring the commitments that we make to ourself as a unit.

[Interviewer]

Yes.

[Kevin Gates]

I be trying to leave her in bed sometime. I be trying to sneak.

[Interviewer]

Sneak out.

[Kevin Gates]

And I beat and got dressed here. Babe, where you going? I'm coming. I say, babe, you asleep? You were supposed to wake me up. I say, babe, you be so peaceful, though. I don't be wanna. I say, you sleep like a little angel, babe.

[Interviewer]

Done it. Will you see? Hey, when you could, like, feel him breathe, you, like. I don't wanna wake you up. I'm just gonna go, hey, I'm going.

[Kevin Gates]

I kiss her forehead. She always just jump up and grab me. But she told me that she say that at my home. The first time she ever spent the night. She said, this is the most peaceful I ever slept in my life.

[Interviewer]

Really.

[Kevin Gates]

It's just the way my home set up. Very peaceful. That house wasn't even on the market when I found it. I was looking for houses for, like, two, three months. I couldn't find anything. But I accidentally went to the neighborhood by accident looking for another property. He was like, I was like, I'm gonna move in this neighborhood. The guard was like, I love your music, but there's no houses for sale back here. I said, I'mma move in this neighborhood. He said, I really hope you do like I say, but there's no housing back here. I told my realtor, I say, see if they got something. He said, I just took one off the market. And then when I got there, it was everything that I wanted. I went in the backyard and just prayed. I said, God, if you give me this home, I'll make it a healing place, a sanctuary for me and my children, my family that you bless me with. And I got the host. Wow. So, like, it's. It's a sacred home. It's very sacred. That's when my healing journey really started, like, the end of 2022. Like, my. I've been on my healing journey, but my. My rebuilding journey started, like, the end of 2022. 2023. And it just. It. I could see it going up because, you know, it had to crumble first.

[Interviewer]

Yes.

[Kevin Gates]

So I was coming out the end of that crumble, like, 2022.

[Interviewer]

Right.

[Kevin Gates]

And then the rebuilding phase went on. It was like. God was like, I'm gonna break you all the way down and build you back up. I'm gonna build you back up. I'm gonna turn you into something you ain't never seen before.

[Interviewer]

But I'm gonna build you better than what you were.

[Kevin Gates]

Way better. Yes, sir.

[Interviewer]

So what's your diet? So. So what is the Kevin. What is the Kevin Gates diet? Now, you were £300. Now you're down to. You lost £100. So what is. What is a. What is a typical day of food for Kevin Gates?

[Kevin Gates]

Typical day? Well, after we work out, we go get smoothies, and she cook a lot.

[Interviewer]

Okay.

[Kevin Gates]

And then after she cook me a little meal, you know, sometimes she be my little meal, you know? Okay. You asked me, you diet. She my diet?

[Interviewer]

Yes, Lord. What old foods do you miss? What if. Because obviously you. Like you said you was overthinking.

[Kevin Gates]

I don't miss no food.

[Interviewer]

You don't miss anything that you used to eat?

[Kevin Gates]

I still go eat that once a day. Once a week. Okay. And then the cheeseburger tastes better when you have it on your cheat day. Well, excuse me. Treat day?

[Interviewer]

Yes.

[Kevin Gates]

I got to treat myself. I can't cheat myself.

[Interviewer]

So you get one meal. I take two.

[Kevin Gates]

No, I eat the whole day. Treat day?

[Interviewer]

No, I get meals. I get two meals a week.

[Kevin Gates]

Treat day. Once a week. I only eat once a day anyway.

[Interviewer]

Once a day?

[Kevin Gates]

Yes, sir.

[Interviewer]

You intermittent fast?

[Kevin Gates]

No, I just don't be hungry till after, later on. I ain't eating nothing today. And whatever I ate the night before, I'M gonna use the energy for that at the gym. Wow.

[Interviewer]

I raised you drink hot water, lime, to clean out your digestive sense every morning.

[Kevin Gates]

Beet juice, black coffee. Don't judge. Obviously. People be so critical of coffee. Like, yeah, the. I don't drink coffee.

[Interviewer]

How much weight do you lose during Ramadan? Because like, you mentioned, you can't eat anything from sun up to sundown, so that's about 12 hours.

[Kevin Gates]

I don't know. I feel good after Ramadan, though.

[Interviewer]

Really?

[Kevin Gates]

During Ramadan. Like after about the third or fourth day.

[Interviewer]

Because Ramadan is what, 30? How long is Ramadan? 30 days. Right. Okay.

[Kevin Gates]

I feel good. You had that mental clarity. You just could think you could just. You don't be tired. You have so much energy. It's like once you eat, you get tired of me. Once we break the fast, you don't. You be thinking you so hungry. Then you break the fast and you can't eat nothing because your stomach then shrunk the body, right? Yes, sir.

[Interviewer]

Do you fast outside of Ramadan?

[Kevin Gates]

Yes, sir. My body tell me sometimes just don't eat. I be needing clarity. When you got too much food, you can't really hear God talking.

[Interviewer]

Okay.

[Kevin Gates]

When you feeding your body a lot of food that be. I can't speak for other people. I'm gonna say I feel like I be feeding my ego, right? But when I do stuff like working out and do stuff for my soul, that's fulfillment to my soul, I be so full of love. I really don't be hungry like that, Right.

[Interviewer]

What's the longest you fasted?

[Kevin Gates]

42 days.

[Interviewer]

So when I say so, like, Ramadan, no food, just water, liquids.

[Kevin Gates]

Wow. I did that three times. It was just ugly.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, boy, you drop like wet polyester.

[Kevin Gates]

Mm. Mm. I don't. I don't.

[Interviewer]

You don't lose no weight when you fast that long.

[Kevin Gates]

You lose waste. You don't lose weight, you lose waste, you lose impurities. That's the best thing you could do for your body. It's fasting. People be telling me your skin just be glowing. I say that cause I ain't been eating. They be looking at me like that all. Why you be looking nervous? Say if I can tell you something. Yeah, man. I love you, bro.

[Interviewer]

I appreciate it.

[Kevin Gates]

You everything. You everything. More than I thought you would be in person, like. Cause I already fucked with you, but then like, I love you, bro. Then when I got your DM and said this stupid shit, then you got my number. We talked on the pod. Like, man, it's just like Cause I already tell people I'm about to go fuck with them, but it just. Like, I've been knowing. It just seemed like I've been knowing you forever, I swear to God.

[Interviewer]

I appreciate that, man.

[Kevin Gates]

I just had to throw that in there. Like, I really. Like, I really. With you, I already loved you.

[Interviewer]

Right.

[Kevin Gates]

But, like, you everything and more than I thought you would be in person.

[Interviewer]

I appreciate that, bro. Let me ask you a question. Help me out with this.

[Kevin Gates]

Anything.

[Interviewer]

Obviously, you know, you being Muslim into what you eat and how you eat and how you take care of your body now.

[Kevin Gates]

That's crazy.

[Interviewer]

That.

[Kevin Gates]

I just don't get it. I won't eat no pork but eat booty.

[Interviewer]

That's me, that's up.

[Kevin Gates]

I don't eat no pork, but eat booty. Yeah, that.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Kevin Gates]

We.

[Interviewer]

No, no, no, no, no. I eat pork.

[Kevin Gates]

That what I'm saying.

[Interviewer]

I eat pork. I ain't eating no feet. I eat pig feet.

[Kevin Gates]

Yeah, that what I'm saying.

[Interviewer]

Chicken feet.

[Kevin Gates]

I don't eat pork, but I eat booty. So it's like. I know I ain't got no room to judge nobody.

[Interviewer]

I don't judge either. God, but they be judging me, though.

[Kevin Gates]

Help me, Lord.

[Interviewer]

They talking about you got dogs in the bed, but you won't do that.

[Kevin Gates]

You got a dog in the bed.

[Interviewer]

I got two dogs. Have all my. I got three dogs. Yes, they be in the bed. I be sleep. One sleep on me, one sleep in front of me and the other one's running around.

[Kevin Gates]

They ain't never changed on you?

[Interviewer]

Nope.

[Kevin Gates]

Humans is what I'm scared of. Yeah, I was looking for the monsters. I used to be scared of the monsters under the bed and in the closet. But the people was the monsters. Yes, the people was the monsters. We was always looking under the bed and looking in the closet and down the dark. You know what I'm saying? But the people was the monsters in my life.

[Interviewer]

And it wasn't even dark. It was broad daylight. How do we get better help in the black community?

[Kevin Gates]

Hold on, I gotta say this.

[Interviewer]

Say this. Say it.

[Kevin Gates]

When you say you sleep with three dogs in a bed, I mean, during.

[Interviewer]

The day, not this many people.

[Kevin Gates]

Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on. That. So you like me, then? I trust animals more than humans.

[Interviewer]

Oh, yeah, for sure. Absolutely.

[Kevin Gates]

1,000. Hey, I'm gonna say this. I know this off topic. I hate that you've been through what you've been through, and I love you.

[Interviewer]

I appreciate that.

[Kevin Gates]

I appreciate that you say how we get help in the black community.

[Interviewer]

Yeah. How we eat? How do. How do we. Because, like, a lot of. Like a lot of the stuff that I ate when I was growing up, I don't have to eat now. God has blessed me, put me in a situation. I don't have to eat now.

[Kevin Gates]

I can't say that. I can't say that. I can't say that about eating pork and all that. I can't say that. I don't eat it now because I learned. Right.

[Interviewer]

But you used to eat it, right?

[Kevin Gates]

I done ate bacon before, I think.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Kevin Gates]

I done ate bacon before. But you gotta think we are only the face of our circumstances. If we knew better, we'll do better.

[Interviewer]

Correct.

[Kevin Gates]

We ain't no better. We come from slavery. We come from slavery. I'm talking about our mind and been so up just through everything that we've been through as a people, we up. You know what I'm saying? We up. You know what I'm saying? I know. Trust me. So I don't judge nobody for what they dietary issue is or nothing like that. And then when I have good, good days or something, I go. Me and my wife, we go bake cookies. And sometimes I do that on our treat day. We'll bake Pillsbury cookies. That's something I used to eat as a child. So, you know, you never know. You know what I'm saying? All that come from, you know, that's nostalgia to where you was, what you grew up around.

[Interviewer]

Right.

[Kevin Gates]

You know, Big Mama cook, all that at the house. You know what I'm saying?

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Kevin Gates]

You know, as you know, I just want it better for myself. And I noticed my body different now that I don't put, you know, impurities on my body. But I was just at Napa. Nah, I don't drink, but I just was at Napa. Yeah. With my white voice and everything. Wine tasting. Oh, yeah. They brought the sommelier out, getting the Parmesan. Yeah. At the vineyard. Okay.

[Interviewer]

You had the truth, reward and everything.

[Kevin Gates]

That always been my dream. I was out there wine tasting, me and my wife. That was my dream. I tell her thank you. Probably two, three times a day. How many times I tell you thank you, babe? Yeah. Like three times a day. Every day or just some days. I just tell her thank you. Ain't nobody never. Ain't nobody never treat me like this.

[Interviewer]

Have you ever treated anyone like you treat her?

[Kevin Gates]

I hate to say what I'm about to say. I always gave my all. I always gave my all. I always got taken advantage of. My heart.

[Interviewer]

But you harbor no resentment for those that took advantage of you?

[Kevin Gates]

No, not. No. I used to. Not no, Moto. I used to harbor resentment. But when I look at the conditions that they in now, it's sad. I used to think, like, oh, when I get my bread up, I'mma shit on you. I'mma show you. But when I do run across people that I done dealt with in the past, it's sad. God ain't play with your. Ooh. God ain't play with your little dirty, nasty pussy ass.

[Interviewer]

Oh, Lord God.

[Kevin Gates]

God done punished your little funk ass. It's so sad. Like, I thought I wanted to see you like that, but I don't.

[Interviewer]

Right?

[Kevin Gates]

My heart still love you. It's sad to see you like that. You ain't nothing like what you used to be. You washed up now. Poor thing.

[Interviewer]

Has there ever been a situation where.

[Kevin Gates]

And I don't want. And I want to help, but I don't want to interfere with what God doing in your life.

[Interviewer]

God plan. I don't want to interfere with God plan.

[Kevin Gates]

Your soul needs this. Your soul needs this right now.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, I don't want to interfere with God now, brother Kev. Let me ask you this, Kev. Have you ever been in a situation, you've been with someone and it didn't work out, and maybe you thought it should have worked out? Do you ever miss anybody from a past relationship?

[Kevin Gates]

I got the pussy. I didn't get the pussy.

[Interviewer]

Either one. You had sex or you didn't have sex?

[Kevin Gates]

Okay. Was it like I was courting somebody and it didn't work out?

[Interviewer]

No, you was with this person, and maybe it didn't go to the. Maybe you dated for a month or two, five, six months, but I got the pussy. Yes, you had sex.

[Kevin Gates]

Cause that got a lot to do with it.

[Interviewer]

Okay, yes, you had.

[Kevin Gates]

Cause I done been in a relationship with this crazy. But this. This bitch got some good ass pussy. But this toxic.

[Interviewer]

Okay, yes, the sex. The sex was amazing. Okay, but you was with this person for a period of time, and you look back like, man, you know what? Now obviously you don't. I'm saying, before you met your wife, did you ever look back on a.

[Kevin Gates]

Past relationship with my wife or not my wife? Go ahead.

[Interviewer]

Yes. Someone that you look. That you look like.

[Kevin Gates]

I see it was a woman that I really. We had great chemistry, and she's a great person. But I asked her one question, and I just wanted to see if she'd lie to me. And I never dealt with her. I never even called her and talked to her again.

[Interviewer]

What'd you ask her?

[Kevin Gates]

Just something. Cause we. We had. We tell each other everything. And I just ain't wanna. I just ain't wanna put myself in that predicament. I asked her, I say, hey, look, check this out. I got a question. And she was like, no, I never. I ain't never with. I ain't never, dude. Da, da, da, da. I bet I said, I just wanted to hear myself ask you that. I love you.

[Interviewer]

But you know, she mess with him.

[Kevin Gates]

I know for sure for a fact.

[Interviewer]

He told you.

[Kevin Gates]

I really be the streets.

[Interviewer]

Were you there to see him?

[Kevin Gates]

I really be the streets. I managed by the facts.

[Interviewer]

Why you care? That was before you.

[Kevin Gates]

Nah, it's. It's. It's. You still be around this person. Oh, oh, oh. It's like, yeah, he still be around this person. And I ain't wanna put myself in that predicament. You know what I'm saying? And I ain't wanna put myself in that situation and pull you away from that. Cause you and this person do business together. Oh, okay. And that's like, they're asking for trouble. If you could have told me the truth.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Kevin Gates]

Then we could have figured a way to, like. Cause if you would've told me to. See, the power is in the secret. The power is in the lie. The truth ain't worth shit. Why you pay a lawyer to lie? You got something over my head. But see, once I tell the truth, that, hey, no manipulation. That why I said that in that song. We tell each other everything. No manipulation. Because I done been manipulated before. We all have.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, of course.

[Kevin Gates]

So when you. When you in your. When you live, in your authenticity and you and your partner authentic with one another, y' all can recognize the spirit of manipulation when it come around. You recognize it like that. No manipulation. Like, we just had a situation where a old girl had texted me and I called and put on FaceTime. Yeah, this is my wife right here. I just wanted y' all to, you know. Yeah, she know how you. Yeah, she know how. Yeah, the shit out you made. You piss all on that. She know what's up. Ain't no secrets that kill all that. That kill all that. That kill all that playing.

[Interviewer]

Your wife is a very strong woman.

[Kevin Gates]

Ain't no very strong woman. Ain't no very strong woman to do with it. It's the truth of the truth. It's the truth of the truth. I'm not about to never lie to my wife by nothing. Cause it hurt me to lie to that woman. It hurt me to tell that woman a lie.

[Interviewer]

It's hard for me to believe, Kev, you felt like this about any other woman. The way you feel about your what?

[Kevin Gates]

And I know you give your all, man. Hey, I know one thing that I do different in this relationship.

[Interviewer]

What? You do different?

[Kevin Gates]

The finance is separate. I done been in a relationship where a woman control all of the finances. I'm the sacrificial lamb, Control everything. He'll just take it. I know you're gonna do the right thing with it.

[Interviewer]

But then they get mad and don't do the right thing.

[Kevin Gates]

I don't want to get into all that, but I've committed. What did my business manager at the time, he said, this is financial suicide. I said, yeah, I done committed financial suicide. Yeah. Cause it's like, I come from that era where you in the streets and everything you making in the street, you. You giving it, you know? And then I took that ghetto street mentality into the legitimate business and, you know, I woke. Once I woke up, you know, I got myself together. You know what I'm saying? I started putting some safeguards in place once I woke up. But then once you put those safeguards in place, you start noticing the shift in the way people act. So was it me? Was it my. When you gave me your intimate embrace Was it my heart that you pulled close or was it my crown? I'm not trying to speak in parables.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, I'm.

[Kevin Gates]

But you picking up what I'm putting down. I.

[Interviewer]

Am I picking it up?

[Kevin Gates]

But I felt like that was how it was supposed to go, right? You know? You know, they make it feel like he's a great man, he's heroic in nature. And I like, man, I'm a sucker. I'm so glad I woke up and God woke me up. World full of lollipops I can't be just another sucker but it's beautiful because players fuck up, too. Players fuck up, too. That was a learning experience you have.

[Interviewer]

We have to.

[Kevin Gates]

Never again.

[Interviewer]

I read that you were on drugs really, really bad.

[Kevin Gates]

Ooh, God, yes.

[Interviewer]

Did you feel. I mean, heavy drugs, like coke, heroin, marijuana? What were your pills?

[Kevin Gates]

Opioids. That's H. Heroin.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Kevin Gates]

I was sipping lean. I was smoking weed.

[Interviewer]

Did you feel like you needed that to function, to do music? I mean, how did you get.

[Kevin Gates]

I was so depressed. I just needed something to cope. I ain't wanna live, Unc. I done shot myself in the head before. I got a bullet in my head, Unc. Unc. I Ain't wanna live. I was up. I can show you a video. I showed it to my wife. I met my. I'm holding my ba. My child. She'll tell you, baby, what I was doing while I was holding my child. Tears coming down my face. I'm knowing I'm about to go push my shit out. I'm about to go push my shit out. Yeah, I'm about to push my shit. I ain't nobody gonna miss me anyway. That's how I felt. And that wasn't that long ago. Wow. That wasn't that long ago. That was what, 20? 20? Yeah, 2020. I'm holding my child. I'm like, man, this is gonna be the last time they see me. Cause I don't feel like it's real when you. I'm about to go kill myself. Nah, you supposed to just go do it. That's how I. You know what I'm saying, right? Y' all gonna find me stretched out somewhere, stinking. I don't do all that. That's horse playing, talking about, I'm about to go kill me. That's. You want attention. I'm about to push my shit out. And everybody that know me know one thing. I don't bluff. I don't do no bluffing. What I utter with my mouth, my actions must prove. And that's what made me really start speaking up for men. I was suffering in silence. When you go back to jail, the only person gonna be there for, Damn. Like, shit. Nothing I do right. I can't do nothing right. So, hey, guess what? You know what? Y' all could just have this shit. I push my shit out. I push my shit out. My baby's young. Get over me. They get a new daddy. Somebody. That's great. That's. That's. That's greater than me. Cool. That's how I felt.

[Interviewer]

Was that the drugs talking?

[Kevin Gates]

I wasn't on drugs then in 2020, wow. I stopped doing drugs, and I came home, and once I got on my fitness journey, like, 2019, I wasn't doing no drugs. And it's just like, I'm doing all this working out. I done got myself together. I'm doing all this, and I'm still seem. Like I'm just being tolerated. I ain't being celebrated. Like. And the reality hit even harder when you ain't inoculating yourself, like, damn, I'm just only as good as what I could provide. That's how I felt, right? I'm only as good as what I could do. You posted you know you post it. What the. I'm on stage every night an hour. I'm not even enjoying the shit I'm doing nothing. I'm just. I'm living, but I'm not alive. That's how I felt. I'm going to the gym. Like I'm going to the gym, working out. I'm taking all this pre workout Adderalls and everything. Going to the gym two, two, three times a day. Sometimes killing myself. Like, dang. Can't nobody. I'm crying for help. Can't nobody see nothing wrong. Shit, I guess I heard your tears silent I cried now. Like I'm all cried out now though. But probably since 2020 when I really. When I left and went to Puerto Rico, that's when the true like releasing began. I talked about all that, you know, when I recorded the song, the feds, all that. That's when the releasing began and the rebuilding phase got to happen. But before that, nah. I cried every day from like 2020 to about every now and then. A tip might fall. But I'm all cried out now. I'm cried out now. But people need to know this though. Cause there's somebody out there watching this. A man that feel like he only as good as his ability to do. And he's suffering in silence. He don't feel appreciated. And when you don't feel appreciated, what's the point of even living? Point. So now I got something. It's crazy. It's called couples therapy. Where I go in the studio and I record and my wife sit there and listen like a counselor. Like on the song Dangerous, she like, thank you for not giving up when it got hard. Baby, you got this. And then I come back on the song. I'm elevated and ranked. They say I'm playing with paid enforcers, you know, and it just, it's like. It's a song of triumph. It's a song of triumph.

[Interviewer]

I read that you had you suffered from ED at the age of 23 because of drugs. What would you say?

[Kevin Gates]

Lean make your don't get hard.

[Interviewer]

Really?

[Kevin Gates]

Yes.

[Interviewer]

Why the hell would you do that?

[Kevin Gates]

Cause it was the feeling. You be so in there.

[Interviewer]

It ain't better than the other feeling.

[Kevin Gates]

Man, when you in that depressed lane and all that. I'm be honest. You don't be able to be giving a about no, you just want to get loaded. I didn't want to get loaded. Go to the studio, get loaded.

[Interviewer]

Now you've been talking about for like an hour and a half, two hours. We've been Talking about how you want like love piping people down. And now you.

[Kevin Gates]

I mean, I mean every now and then you might, you know, but you gotta think I was. Couldn't really move like I wanted to, you know, I was in bondage then.

[Interviewer]

No.

[Kevin Gates]

Yeah. I wasn't in no happy situation the way I could have been doing all that. Come on, man.

[Interviewer]

You speak about mental health. Why is mental health so important to you?

[Kevin Gates]

Everything I just told you one of the greatest artists in the world say he wanted to kill himself. That's why mental health important.

[Interviewer]

But did you go to therapy? Did you go to seek to a counselor? Or you just figured this out on your own? Or you just sat down and had a conversation with Kevin Gates himself?

[Kevin Gates]

Yeah, I did a lot of inner work. But you gotta wanna change.

[Interviewer]

Yes.

[Kevin Gates]

You can't go off what people tell you about what you need to change. You need to have that honest conversation for yourself.

[Interviewer]

Correct.

[Kevin Gates]

What? Give me fulfillment. I know what gave me fulfillment.

[Interviewer]

What was it? What was your purpose when Kevin Gates realized that he had a purpose? We all have a purpose.

[Kevin Gates]

What I'm doing right now, I'm showing the world, but mostly men, how to turn their pain into passion. Turn your pain and turn it take your pain and turn it into purpose. You don't know who you touching when.

[Interviewer]

You do this, right?

[Kevin Gates]

Like, if somebody gonna come to me and tell me, thank you. Keep shining your light. People see through the bullshit. That's just the Internet. They like to be miserable. When we get on that black top, I'm still him. People walk up to me. Children walk up to me every day. Kevin Gaga. I'm like Muhammad Ali. If I go running through one of these neighborhoods, they'll probably follow me. Ali, Boomaye Ali. Probably ain't no telling. Cause everybody just love me, right? Cause I put it all on the table. I put it all on the line every time. I don't got no skeletons. If I did it, I did it. If I didn't do it, I didn't do it. But if I did it and you feel some kind of way about it, you, I did it. I can't change it. I'm not sorry. I don't even tell nobody. I apologize. For what? Cause they told me as a child, if you were sorry, you wouldn't have did it.

[Interviewer]

So you're like, okay, I did it. Okay. And what, I'm moving on.

[Kevin Gates]

You gotta take what come behind. Ain't gonna be easy just cause you did it. You gotta. You make sure you ready to accept what come behind what you doing, right? I accept it. I accept it. How it come am I gonna be disappointed sometimes?

[Interviewer]

Yep.

[Kevin Gates]

Shit. Damn near. 99.99% of the time I'm gonna be disappointed. Like, damn.

[Interviewer]

Ouch.

[Kevin Gates]

I should have did that. Well, that man. Keep it going.

[Interviewer]

You take a cuddly break from social media? Do you feel we've become addicted to our phone and social media?

[Kevin Gates]

I take a break every day when I go to the gym. Oh, I got this one little bitty phone with no social media apps, just my music. It's more like an ipod. But my children could get in touch with me if they need me. And I go in the gym and zone, that's my me time.

[Interviewer]

That's your time.

[Kevin Gates]

If I don't have time for me, then I'm not gonna be productive.

[Interviewer]

Give me your number one key for self love.

[Kevin Gates]

Self love. We ain't talking about going to get your hands and feet dead. We talking about doing what? Serve you.

[Interviewer]

What?

[Kevin Gates]

Leave your soul feeling fulfilled? That's a question you gotta answer me. Raising my frequency makes my soul feel fulfilled. Talking to you make my soul feel fulfilled. Like this. This healing for me.

[Interviewer]

Is it true, man? You say you stopped getting sick after you stopped lying and you don't get sick no more?

[Kevin Gates]

It wasn't that. It wasn't that I was lying. I wouldn't speak my truth. And when I wasn't speaking my. And when I wasn't speaking my truth, it would affect my throat chakra. Your body know when you lying. Your body know. Everybody else know too. Baby, where you been? You forgive me, huh? She already know. Women have intuition. You just lying to yourself. Babe, where you been? I was around the corner. You called you she. But if you're a street kind of. Babe, what you doing, man? Babe, I'm gonna call you right back. I'm gambling, I'm shooting dice and I hang the phone up quick. No, I ain't shooting. No. I don't even gamble. I'm in here slinging that. I'm talking about freestyling with that dick, man. Tripping. And I got a good woman at the house busting this bitch, just giving blessing this hoe for no reason. This ain't about to make my life better, man. I got a good woman at the house.

[Interviewer]

Young lady ain't gonna help you out in no way, huh?

[Kevin Gates]

I mean, she.

[Interviewer]

She fulfilling your soul at that moment. No, she fulfilling a need.

[Kevin Gates]

She not your soul. She not fulfilling my soul.

[Interviewer]

A need.

[Kevin Gates]

I'm just letting off. I'm letting off pressure Letting off pressure and a lot. I think. I think what came, like, when I had my semen retention journey really showed me the power of not releasing semen and how sacred I was and how valuable my life force was. My semen retention journey showed me that. Cause the way I feel, when you go, like, a long period of time, right, and you take your sexual energy and you transmutate, you transmute that sexual energy into your workouts or your craft or whatever you focus on, you feel more fulfilled afterwards, right? You start feeling fulfilled after you accomplish something. And then I noticed that. And then I noticed, like, when I did try to go back and just fuck with something right quick, bust something up right quick, you be feeling empty. Like, I ain't even had that to do.

[Interviewer]

Wow. Kev, when you was in the pen, were you in G Pop?

[Kevin Gates]

Yeah. Every time.

[Interviewer]

You ain't want to be segregated?

[Kevin Gates]

No.

[Interviewer]

Why?

[Kevin Gates]

For what? Not have been administratively segregated in Florida. I tried everything to get in general population.

[Interviewer]

Boy, they didn't put you in G Pop in Florida.

[Kevin Gates]

They ain't want no lawsuits. They felt like I was gonna push that ink pen, like, press charges.

[Interviewer]

Mm.

[Kevin Gates]

But when I got to Illinois, I was in general population. You sign a waiver. Once you sign that waiver, you go straight to general population.

[Interviewer]

But if you a celebrity, you probably want to be in Seg.

[Kevin Gates]

No, you can sign a waiver.

[Interviewer]

Why would you want to do that? They know who you are now.

[Kevin Gates]

What that mean? Men greet men. Men respect.

[Interviewer]

So who would go to. Who would go to Seg?

[Kevin Gates]

Somebody who want to go to Seg.

[Interviewer]

Somebody famous. Somebody that's.

[Kevin Gates]

I don't know. Like, I don't want to speak on nobody else but me. Yeah, you sign. I signed a waiver.

[Interviewer]

See? I want to be in Seg. I want to be in gpaw.

[Kevin Gates]

I'm a walk the yard, and where I land, that's where I'm going to stand. Yes, sir. Wow. No surrender, no retreat.

[Interviewer]

Let me ask you a question.

[Kevin Gates]

What's that?

[Interviewer]

Is it celebrated?

[Kevin Gates]

Why?

[Interviewer]

What is prison? Because it seemed like in the rap game, prison is celebrated.

[Kevin Gates]

I ain't gonna say in the rap game, but in the private and strict community, it seemed like you celebrated when you came home from going to bed. So it was in turn. Like if you ever saw the movie 300 with the Spartans.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Kevin Gates]

How they sent the boys out in the wilderness. It was like a rite of passage, so to say. But it ain't got to be the right of pass, Right. The rite of passage could be you taking your son Hunting for the first time. Taking them fishing. I like to do.

[Interviewer]

Right. I'm looking at your little. Your 2014 XXL freshman class Dirk I.

[Kevin Gates]

Just had came home Rich Homie Quan.

[Interviewer]

I mean, you got a class. I mean, chance to rap a big mess a little bit.

[Kevin Gates]

God bless the dig.

[Interviewer]

Yeah. Todd Dollar Signs, Troy, John Connor. Bro, you had a nice little group there.

[Kevin Gates]

I've been doing it a long time and we ain't even scratched the surface yet.

[Interviewer]

You mentioned Rich Homie Quan have suffered an accident. Overdose. When you hear stories like that, what goes through your mind? Say it.

[Kevin Gates]

That's somebody father, that's somebody child. Yeah, it said. I hate that for him.

[Interviewer]

Now there is this movement. We've had several movements. The movement is up the streets. You hear Savage couple of other rappers say f the streets. But then you hear somebody like, hold on, wait a minute. But bro, that's how you. That's what we know you for.

[Kevin Gates]

With all due respect.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Kevin Gates]

To those other people.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Kevin Gates]

They have the right to feel however they want to feel.

[Interviewer]

Right?

[Kevin Gates]

I don't feel like that.

[Interviewer]

You don't f the street.

[Kevin Gates]

The streets made me. Streets made me. God bless the dead and all the junkers that took care of me.

[Interviewer]

Right.

[Kevin Gates]

The God know my heart I got so much love to give but he who try got to die. Put on murder gloves for him. That's a rap song. Yeah. I figure I made that. I made that up.

[Interviewer]

Guy, you've been. You've been shot.

[Kevin Gates]

I've been shot, I've been stabbed Head like cheap liquor I done slipped and got back on my feet like C billows I done lost my money gambling Loud mouth rambling did a lot of lying to my women Couldn't stand it, killed my brother so I took him from his family Then I got some tears in my face Now I'm branded All I ever wanted was some money like Sandy Louis Vuitton shades for my dame like fancy sweet face But I eat a pussy like nasty But I ain't like a boyfriend if you was just asking they might say I'm reckless when the stainless but this was ever since you came around Trying to keep my cars covered while the chips are down Hoping I could turn the game around.

[Interviewer]

If you had not turned your life around. Am I sitting here having a conversation?

[Kevin Gates]

Hey, that was so fly that I just did. Hey, that was so.

[Interviewer]

Hey, that was a historical moment. You try to figure out why was that? Why was. I mean you. I mean, that's right off the top of your head.

[Kevin Gates]

No, that's no, that's. That come from Kevin Gates. That's the scripture. That's the law. Anything, any question you could ask me, I can answer it with a song. Yeah, it's that scripture.

[Interviewer]

Scripture, yes. Lord, if you're not in the scripture, if Kevin Gates doesn't change, if he doesn't make like you said self here I'm having this conversation with Kevin Gates.

[Kevin Gates]

So this is a. This is a. This is in a. This is a major show of growth for me.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Kevin Gates]

So thank you.

[Interviewer]

I love it. Because I couldn't. I mean, this was, this was meant to happen. I'm going to get you out here. I'm going to get you out of here. On your journey. You made a trip to Mecca.

[Kevin Gates]

Yes, sir.

[Interviewer]

How did that change your life? What was it about that trip? What did you see? What was the epiphany that was revealed to you?

[Kevin Gates]

I didn't, I didn't have any epiphanies though. I was so in the moment. The epiphanies came once I came back home.

[Interviewer]

Okay.

[Kevin Gates]

And then like once I came home, I was like home a month and I went straight to jail and went and did the months. 33 months.

[Interviewer]

So you went to Mecca before you did the bid?

[Kevin Gates]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Was that by choice? You like, I gotta.

[Kevin Gates]

No, I just went like that's. As a Muslim, that's everybody. Like, that's your dream to go. And I was blessed to be able to go and I want to go again with my wife. I'm looking forward to going again with her. That's the most beautiful thing. Like you and your children, everybody, our relationship centered around God. Like that's. I don't know. That's just beautiful to me.

[Interviewer]

What's your kid's relationship like with your wife now? Current wife?

[Kevin Gates]

My children, yes. Daughter ain't met her yet.

[Interviewer]

Oh, okay.

[Kevin Gates]

They done been on the phone when she was around, but they ain't met her. They gonna with her though. They like. Cause they young adults, right? Like I never baby talk with my children. We talk regular. Like my 13 year old daughter, sometimes she be my therapist. I just talk to her about anything. Say, yeah, baby. And then she told me something one time she was sitting in the car and my partner was like, you just talked about everything. I said, yeah. And she was like, dad, you know, I really see the importance of having a father figure. I said, why you say that? She said, cause I got friends that. Cause you know, I'm big on that. You got shorts on up under there. You know, if somebody put pants on you Know, I'm big on that type of shit. So anyway, she was like, dad, you know, like, my other friends, they dress provocatively, seeking male validation. And I'm telling my friends, hey, dude, you're getting groomed. She was like, I see the importance of having a father figure. And it, like, you don't think that they be listening, and you don't think that you mean that much. You don't think you that significant as a father, because that's just dad being dead, right? But then for to hear her say that, it was like, Dana made me want to cry because I'm like, when she got up, period, I cried. My baby done grew up, man. And then when I seen the tampons in her room, I was gonna get somebody to take the trash out. Yeah, I seen the tampons, and, oh, God, I broke down again. I cried. I was like, my baby grown man. They get big so fast. You know what I'm saying? And it's kind of up because she was a baby. When I went to jail. I used to take baths and shit with her and everything. And then when I went to jail, well, this was like another time I went to jail. This was like when she was first born. She was an infant. She wasn't even walking. I used to have her in the tub, bathing her and shit. You know, put her on a little thing, and then it was like she had got older. And I'm like, I never had them moments again.

[Interviewer]

Nope.

[Kevin Gates]

Like, I never had them moments again. I don't get sad about it. I smile. I'm like, I'm gonna do it with my new babies. I'll water bird.

[Interviewer]

Shit. When you see people impersonate you on ig, have you seen some of the people that be. Yeah, you smile.

[Kevin Gates]

I'm something that won't be like. I'm something that won't be like.

[Interviewer]

But I did see you smack that prankster, though, on YouTube.

[Kevin Gates]

I never touched that dude.

[Interviewer]

You ain't hit him?

[Kevin Gates]

No, that was a sound effect. Oh, I never touched him. Talking about when I was with my oldest daughter. Hey, come on, man. I never touched him. I just told him, say, well, stop playing with me. Find you somebody to play with. I ain't playing.

[Interviewer]

I'm gonna get you out on this one. What are your goals for yourself? Mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally? What's Kevin. Five years. When I come back and you sit down in that chair again, I have a conversation with Kevin Gates. What's he gonna tell me? Different this time?

[Kevin Gates]

I'm gonna be. I'm probably gonna just be telling you a bunch of experiences. Cause I'm not gonna change who I am, but I'm gonna have different, greater experiences. Yeah, I'm gonna be a greater version of what I am right now. So whatever that entails.

[Interviewer]

Couple of kids.

[Kevin Gates]

Lord willing. I don't wanna do that right now. I'm still enjoying my wife like we enjoying each other. I don't wanna just rush in the children right now. I'm gonna miss her. Cause we already got a dog. We got a little puppy. And she be buying them clothes. And the dog in training school right now, she be calling somebody. I just mailed him some clothes. I don't want him to get cold. I say BAE is a dog. No, that's her son. Yeah. I'm like, oh, my God. Oh, my God. I just know how you gonna be with kids, so. I know that makes you feel good, doesn't it? It make me feel good. But then I'm gonna miss you. Cause I'm gonna have to share you.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, for sure.

[Kevin Gates]

I'm gonna have to share you. So I. I wanna have children with you. But I know we gonna have some pretty baby. But I just don't wa.

[Interviewer]

Right. So you holding off?

[Kevin Gates]

You're for me? I just got you. You're mine. On.

[Interviewer]

Man. Kev. Thank you for stopping by Club Sh. I appreciate it was a long time. We meant to be. Appreciate you, bro.

[Kevin Gates]

Hey, thank you for having me.

[Interviewer]

No, thank you for coming. Appreciate you, man.

[Kevin Gates]

Yes, sir.

[Interviewer]

Kevin Gates.

[Kevin Gates]

All my life been grinding all my life Sacrifice, hustle, paid the price wanna slice, got to roll a dice, that's why all my life I've been grinding all my life all my life Been grinding all my life Sacrifice, hustle, paid the price wanna slice, got the roll of dice that's why all my life I've been grinding.