Kevin Gates dropped his latest mixtape, The Luca Brasi Story, a month ago. Since then, it's racked up critical raves and press lines spanning the spectrum from XXL to Pitchfork.
But Kevin Gates didn't come out of nowhere. In his native Baton Rouge, the rapper's already a massive hip-hop hero. He's been recording for several years, building a fan base through a slow-and-steady slow burn, which has included a high-profile collaboration with fellow Baton Rouge resident Lil Boosie, and more than a few mixtape releases. "All or Nuthin' had a lot of pain on it, a lot of true stories on there," he says about his 2009 tape, which also happens to be his favorite.
Since that time, he's done a few years inside. When released in 2011, his career started up again with renewed focus. With Lil Wayne's Young Money managing his career and a recently-inked deal with Atlantic, it looks like he'll be making some major moves in 2013.
Complex recently sat down with the rapper to find out what's behind the tracks, and the guy who made them. In an effort to answer what the music doesn't, we ask: Who is Kevin Gates?
As told to David Drake (@somanyshrimp)
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