For better or worse, the best way for an artist to directly connect with their fan-base is to make music that is a true representation of their character and lifestyle. Over the past several years, Kevin Gates has morphed from regional sensation to nationally respected artist with a long list of consistently dependable mixtapes under his belt, all grounded in authenticity. And while album delays are a common occurrence with major label releases, one wouldn’t easily surmise the Louisiana rapper as an Atlantic signed artist because Gates doesn’t rely on anything besides representing his strengths and his flaws as honestly as possible. The roots of this artistic identity remain at the forefront of Gates’ recently released debut album Islah (named after his daughter). A lengthy collection with raw tales of street life as well unfiltered love songs capable of both reaching the masses and satisfying the day 1 Gates followers, Islah is a pure display of conflictingly realistic emotions, resulting in an impressive culmination of his previous work.
Kevin Gates specializes in crafting absurdly catchy hooks, but he showcases much more than a knack for stuck-in-your-head choruses on intro “Not The Only One”, a barrage of bars pushing his ability as an emcee to the forefront, focusing on the transition from the streets to becoming a well-known artist and how Gates cannot be the same person he once was. Wasting no time in taking his talents to the next level, “Really Really” and “2 Phones” arrive early on in the album and represent Gates’ officially marking his territory in the top 40 charts. Each single brings validity to the image Gates portrays in his music and as an underrated influencer within the genre, qualities that make him a rare breed amongst many rappers who misrepresent their past lifestyles.
Those who follow Kevin Gates beyond listening to his music know he is by no means perfect, but thankfully there is no hesitation in discussing his dirty secrets that have already found him guilty in the court of public opinion. The best example of ‘realness’ existing as more than a cliché term to describe entertaining hip-hop arrives on “The Truth”, a candid offering which sheds light on an unfortunate incident in Florida involving Gates kicking a female fan during a performance. By delivering lines such as ‘Wrong you should have respect for yourself, you a queen and you wasn’t respecting yourself’ and ‘I’m a real n*gga really made mistakes, never ran away I am not pretending’, Gates presents an interesting sociological case study by simultaneously being apologetic for certain actions while also defending himself and confidently assuring people he will always overcome the odds set against him. Profound self-examination plays a large role not only on “The Truth”, but throughout the majority of Islah, making for a thought-provoking and entertaining listening experience.
The ultimate ‘critique’ moment of Islah reveals itself upon the realization of how versatile Gates is as a songwriter. Bouncing back and forth between explicitly sentimental romance records such as “Pride”, “Time For That”, and the especially radio-friendly “Kno One” as well as potent trap-driven tracks like “La Familia”, Gates admirably covers a lot of ground on the LP. However, these twists and turns in both subject matter and production style bring about a lack of cohesiveness and a bit of filler as Islah winds down. There is a lot to take in throughout the 17 songs and with Kevin Gates being a complicated soul, it is only fitting we experience the ups and downs of his life experiences exactly how he wants to present them to the people.
Despite the density of Islah, the album is triumphant as Gates’ major label debut after years of hard work with the hopes of one day receiving universal acclaim. A commanding voice, unconventional personality, and intuitive flair for melody are all viable reasons for Gates’ ascension, but perhaps the most important quality of all is his fearlessness in taking risks. Backed by an acoustic guitar and a soft-rock groove on “Hard For”, Gates airs out feelings of mistrusted love and a desire to leave the hustle behind him by polarizing the listener with lines such as ‘You the only one that my dick could get hard for, I’ve been misused what the fuck you want my heart for’. Heartfelt moments featuring Gates peeling off layers to his half-tormented (see “Told Me”), half-assertive soul make up the essence of Islah and drive the body of work as one of more compelling rap releases of the year thus far. No unnecessary features. No gimmicks from outside influences. Islah is a lesson in staying true to yourself and Kevin Gates deserves the utmost praise for painting vivid portraits of sincerity without censoring the trials and tribulations that define the complexities of his character.
Repeatable: “2 Phones”, “The Truth”
Skippable: “Ain’t Too Hard”