Kevin Gates is having a great year. After a slew of mixtapes spread across half a decade, his debut in January, Islah, peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and expedited the transition for Gates to evolve from a mixtape rapper into a powerhouse album artist. Now, just as how the first installment was a genuine offering to his fans, Murder for Hire 2 is a victory lap for the Baton Rouge wordsmith. While the sequel may not be as engrossing as the original, this interim EP allow Gates to flex his current creative streak while the label continues to do label things and push his highly-anticipated sophomore effort back to 2017.
MFH2 mainly features in-house production and is devoid of any big names. The single, “Off Da Meter,” sees Gates working with Beat Dilla to display a balanced mix of the rapper’s proven versatility and Rad Cat provides the menacing stutter to the gritty highlight “Showin’ Up,” giving him the perfect backdrop to play with his flows with scary ease. Grand strings and heavy drums frequently provide the perfect backdrop for the anthemic aura Gates naturally possesses. There’s an urgency to every track.
Similar to Chance The Rapper’s recently documented devotion to his God, Gates, a converted Muslim, unflinchingly embraces his faith (past and present: he still bares a distinct tattoo of a cross etched on his brow). He’s got the Quran on him, “thumbin’ through the surahs,” and halfway through “The Prayer” you can hear even hear him deliver an impassioned recital of one these Islamic prayers. The selling point is his conviction. He can sing you sweet lullabies with a warm, guttural croon (he may even cover his favorite Blink-182 deep cut) as convincingly as he can berate you for not falling in line, like he’s the rap game’s Gunnery Sergeant Hartman.
Gates has always been an open book, for better or worse (remember “The Truth” on Islah?), and while a majority of this EP favors his more braggadocious raps, there are still moments of vulnerability to be found. “Great Example” is saved by his relentless confessionals. He doesn’t do visits while he’s in jail because it leaves him wanting more and he opens up the second verse claiming: “used to get high but I kicked it, shootin’ dog food in my dick.” The problem is, MFH2 frequently chooses to forgo these extremes that make Gates riveting, opting for something more middle-of-the-road (see: “Believe In Me”).
The O.T. Genasis smash hit, “Cut It,” got two high-profile remixes this past week: the first positioned Gates and Young Thug as the new-school frontrunners while the follow-up gave the spotlight to certified OGs T.I. and Lil Wayne. Despite the impressive line-up, it was Gates who stole the show. Which is why when MFH2 opens up with a full remix of the same track (entitled “Fuck It”), sans the winning verse, it’s hard not to be impressed. Despite the feeling of redundancy, Gates is still a technically impressive rapper and an animated singer.
only feeling one track on here, and that’s Great Example. even that song isn’t his greatest. dude needs to sit and make something as good as Luca Brasi 1 cause that’s still his best project to date.
I was just saying this yesterday I listen to Luca brasi 1 almost everyday, with that said seeing how labels seem to dictate which records make albums Gates did his damn thang with ISLAH , I’m still waiting on something as impressive as the first Luca brasi
I was just saying this yesterday I listen to Luca brasi 1 almost everyday, with that said seeing how labels seem to dictate which records make albums Gates did his damn thang with ISLAH , I’m still waiting on something as impressive as the first Luca brasi
Still gettin it!
Kevin gates is DA bomb
fuck this reviewer he talks outta his ass, u rly needa fire this guy
Waiting on dis new heat to drop Gates one of da best lyrically rt now!!!
love love love, especially the Arabic throughout.
redundant? thankful for our constitutional rights. to each his own. thank you kevin gates, i love the album.
Love ya playa keep doing whatchu do hottist thing bumping right now all this other new shit is wack
Best Album out
way in Toronto with it we love gates in the 6
Every where I go
Gates is being played worldwide artist that’s consistent.
Big Brudda !!! ????
words can’t explain the dude lyrical.
5 Star Album !
Give it to the Louisiana Rapper
He came a long way and still growing
I respect him if you don’t fck ya
Represent ! STAY ON TOP ..
Album is inspirational, motivational & etc ..
Louisiana bringing heat.
GET’emmmmmm GATES
Who is this Kevin Gates ?
This is my first album I listen to from this individual. I can say he’s passionate for what he do and has a high level of confidence, you can hear it. Congratulation my guy continue growing #StriveForGreatness
omg this Lebron! ?? must RESPECT!
That number 2 track – The Prayer,…. bruh sounds almost like Kevin is saying a few Islamic prayers, but very poorly. Is that cool now
whack
!!! ???? words can’t explain the dude lyrical.
BWA family
Super trash. He makes music for kids with autism. NEXT
I find his music very interesting. Kevin is a very intelligent person, his music reflects that in the lyrics he not only is not afraid to be “gangsta” or talk about his drug habits. He also gives you a story with each song he gives a peace of him in his music essentially being a artist. If you notice his songs are not all sounding the same he has something different to say and theirs meaning to it, rather you enjoy his story is up to you