It’s been nearly three years since Kevin Gates signed to Atlantic Records, but he has remained in blog and news headlines the whole time – though it seems rare that it’s been for his music. The N’Awlins native is arguably best known for admitting that he continued to sleep with a woman after finding out she was his cousin, assaulting female fans at shows in Florida and Michigan, and social media antics like uploading a photo of his dead grandmother while covering her mouth with his hand. But he has been making music since 2007 when he came in alongside fellow Louisiana rhymers Webbie and Boosie, and his fans swear by his authenticity. And to his credit, he backs up the controversy with music: he’s released more than a dozen mixtapes since 2006, with five of them since 2013. His studio debut Islah, named after his daughter, will satisfy fans who have been waiting and show new listeners that he’s more than timeline fodder.
Kevin Gates is at his best when infusing specific names, images and situations that make his tales one of a kind. “The Truth” revisits the aforementioned attack in Florida with his idea of compromise: he chastises the fan for ignoring his warnings to stop reaching for his crotch (“you a queen and you wasn’t respecting yourself”), but kicks himself for putting himself at risk to be separated from his daughter. The refusal to empathize for his victim is frustrating, but his vocal inflections – rising to the point of an angry tremble as he revisits details and imagines worst-case scenarios – make his investment palpable. He also shows emotional depth on his songs about romantic relationships. “Pride” wistfully hopes the one who got away is still within reach, while “Ain’t Too Hard” admits a cause behind his stubborn exterior. “My mother died when I was young, I’m commitment shy, so when feelings get involved I tend to run,” he reveals. He contemplates suicide and drowns his sorrows in painkillers on “Told Me” while lamenting friends lost through killings or disloyalty. He says “I’m just the realest you done met” on “Ain’t Too Hard,” and he shows it.
Islah also flaunts the versatility that most major label hopefuls aspire for with their debuts. Machismo and vulnerability, scrapping and boning, rapping and singing: Gates uses his diverse arsenal of ideas, emotions and tools almost all equally well. Just in case cursory fans know him more for his social media antics, foreboding album opener “Not The Only One” sees Gates cutting off untrustworthy women and street partners, switching mid-bar between his brawny, visual rhymes and distressed singing to send the message. Singles “2 Phones” and “Really Really” succeed with sticky, melodic choruses dedicated to hustling, flossing and sincerity, and “Ask for More” celebrates the fruits of success. “Jam,” the only song with any features, gives a taste of the several cuts aimed at women. Ty Dolla $ign, Trey Songz and Jamie Foxx all team up on the radio-ready hook, while Gates seduces with comically lewd rhymes that may need an alternative version to ever succeed on the airwaves. The songs cover predictable topics, but he succeeds with his varied skill set and distinctive drawl.
The production is also consistent, despite a crew of lesser known names with only one name appearing more than once. The album manages to flow with a cohesive trap sound. “La Familia” and “The Truth” are appropriately haunting, while songs like “Pride” coyly integrate trap elements without sacrificing Gates’ sentimentality.
The 17 tracks and 63 minutes of Islah flow surprisingly well; even though there’s room to cut the fat, it doesn’t drag on the way many albums with that many songs do. Kevin Gates will probably remain in the headlines for the rest of 2016, but it’s clear that he’ll make the most of the spotlight as one of rap’s more promising young voices.
I have liked every other project by Kevin Gates and I was looking forward to this album but it was trash and made me want to stop listening to him.
So he shot 7/8 from the field (or however many joints he got) and you’re ready to send him to the bench?
Damn, homie. You’s a heartless coach.
U know he’s hating dis album so far is his best, shit maybe best album so far until I hear others still wayyy early but KG gots some bangers on Islah 4 sure 4 sure…just da way he stays in pocket in all his song not 2 many can do dat…not ur regular trap or dab rapper my nigga can spit…
I’m partial to “Murder For Hire” but this one is definitely up there.
#Islah #bwa forever
Someone needs to slap this dude and tell him hes not 2pac
shit is fire. album of the year so far for me. all track go in hard. fuck y’all
Rite ppl sleeping on him!!
Year just started though! What else would you put in the conversation?
Solid. this dude is fearless in his topics. how many people in his lane sings their own hooks and have so little features? dude is dope.
Best album 2016 his lyrics punchlines and stylish unorthodox delivery is crazy sings his own hooks dnt need help from features its fire ????????????
album was hit and miss for me, i prefer Luca Brasi 1 & 2. even his album By Any Means might be a little better. this album was more for radio.
FIre
The album I bought on Goggle Play only has 12 songs… WTF you guys mean 17 songs?? The album is ok. I thought it would be better production. But I listen to it… Its got some good tracks and lyrics on it.
I just downloaded album..17 tracks fam
*15 songs on mine
You never have to rewind his music or google his lyrics to hear what he is saying….no gibberish delivery.
Liar
Definitely want Mac Wilds to collab with some of these artists! Jam and Love In The 90z is all I’ve been listening to lately
word, I feel like Fab should remix that since he’s on the 90s tip rn
miss NY rap so badly
I was not big fan of, but… now I am! I would be surprised if it would not stay in top of 2016. Excellent album! I give 4.5/5 (I voted 5 as it is closer to 5 that 4).
Didn’t really like this one, but I still listen to his older work almost weekly.
Garbage. This guy is a punk
Gates is the realest since pac
I’m a Gates fan, but I don’t really like the sound of this one. Bit too glitzy and glamorous. The one track where I think the glitzy stuff works is Really, Really, but most of it just makes me long for more bangers like The Truth and less of the pop-y romance tracks on here. His lyrical work and rapping is technically as impressive as ever. He can fit a ridiculous amount of words into one sentence and can rattle them off in double time. He also has a pretty fun and wide vocabulary. But I feel like there is less substance or anything interesting behind his lyrics that usual. Gates is an emotive, evocative story teller at his best but he doesn’t really showcase any of that here. Shame.
From Stranger than fiction to islah this man been creating good music.. respect
Huge Gates fan but this album is a bit too polished and pop sounding for me. We lose a lot of Kevin Gates’ depth as a rapper, his switching of voices, deep storytelling songs, intense lyricism are all mitigated in this album. It’s simplified for the public’s tastes, I think, but I’d prefer something closer to his classic Luca Brasi 2.
He should not be allowed to release any solo work, or any work for that matter.
He is from Baton Rouge, not that awful spelling of New Orleans
You could definitely tell he got married while making this one. I still give it 4/5. And as a huge fan Gates I still think LB2 is better.
5/5
Hooks are too long.