Kevin Gates is an American rapper and singer. While he is known for hits like I Don’t Get Tired, Gates is known for being outspoken about his life as a Black American with a Latin background. He is also an advocate of mental health as he suffers from depression. Kevin Gates has lived a very colorful life. Born to an African American father and a Puerto Rican mother, he has experienced the life of a poor teenage boy in the slums of Baton Rouge. At the age of 13, his life was turned upside down when he was arrested for the first time. Since then, he has used such life experiences to uplift others with his music.
Anything lost, can be found again, except for time wasted.
Everything in life can be replaced. Material things that can be earned again but nothing is more regretful than time being wasted. Make sure to cherish the time we have in this life.
When you stand for something, you’ve got to stand for it all the way, not halfway.
Believe wholeheartedly. If you have to stand up for something, do it with everything that you have. Give it all and leave nothing so you will know that it is all worth it.
Without an understanding of bad…how can one truly have an appreciation of good.
One has to experience the bad things in life to fully appreciate the good things. You will begin to differentiate how extraordinarily lucky some people are that they can determine the difference. By then have you experienced the bad things will you begin to understand and cherish the good things life has to offer?
Wise men change, fools stay the same.
Wisdom has changed a lot of people. The same thing has happened with Kevin Gates. Wise men change as they accept failure and experience. Foolish are those who do not want to change.
When you come up in the slums, having nothin’ make you humble
When you come from a place where survival is a daily struggle, it begins to help you understand that life is always a struggle. This experience will humble people as it is a difficult life.
My daily conversation, it consists of hustle. Grinding from the bottom sick and tired of the struggle.
Working your way from the bottom to the top requires a lot of inner conversations. Self-reflection and a positive approach to life as well as hard work will pay off in the end.
Wealth is not of the pocket. It’s in the heart. It’s of the mind. I live like that. You could give me a fish and feed more for a day, but if you teach me to fish, you’ve fed me forever. So that’s my philosophy with it all.
Wealth does not always mean having a lot of money. It is all about the people who have come in your way. Money can be earned through hard work and dedication. Sometimes, all we need is a little push so we can be our best selves.
I don’t give anyone a reason to hate me, they create their drama out of pure jealousy. Keep ears open, mouth closed.
Learn how to close your mouth when people start talking about bad things. Listen to what they say and know that you have done nothing wrong except for making it big.
Why accept failure when success is free?
Failure is never an option if you want to be successful. Failure happens when you quit. Defeat does not always mean failure as you can still find a way to reach success one way or another – either way, it is free.
You can’t make everybody else happy and still stay on top.
You would know that you have made it in life when people start to pull you down. Never let anyone take the happiness that you have worked hard for. Learn to silence them and never let it get to your head.
I adapt and I adjust to whatever environment I’m in.
Life is a constant struggle. The more you learn to adapt to your environment the better your chances are at making it to the top. To survive, you need to adjust to the environment instead of the other way around.
It’s about really being who you are as an individual and not apologizing for it, that’s what it is. I can feel the growth from my first mixtape to now. On every song, I want to give you a piece of who I am as an individual.
Even with fame and money, never let go of who you are as a person. Be yourself and never falter. Stop apologizing to people who you are and you begin to ascend from the rest.
Coming up in the streets, I had to learn how to read people early on. I’m a very analytical person. I observe a lot of the things that people don’t notice.
As they say, action speaks louder than words and intention can be seen through body language. Learning how to determine the motivation of other people through what they say and how they act is how you can prevent bad people from taking advantage of you.
If you associate yourself with peer pressure or complacency, you’re destined for failure.
When you succumb to the opinion of others, you begin to lose your identity. Your identity is the basis of who you are as a person and when you lose it, you begin your downward trend towards failure. Never lose yourself just because others are forcing you to change.
If it matters to you, pursue it aggressively.
Do the things that truly matter to you. Never let any challenge or obstacle rob you of the chance to reach your goals. Never let your guard down as you set your sights on your dream. Pursue the things that matter and you end up learning to cherish the journey.
A vision without action is merely a dream. Action, it’s the grind, it’s the hustle, it’s the persistence.
We can dream for better things in life all we want but unless we do something about it, those things will remain dreams. Wake up, face reality, and start working on your dreams.
When you follow your heart, you always win.
What truly separates man from animals is the heart. When we open up our hearts to people, we begin to live a life without negativity. We always win when we follow our hearts.
True wealth is not of the pocket, but the heart and of the mind.
Wealth is not defined by how much money you have earned. It is defined by how much goodness is inside your heart and how much knowledge you have acquired in your mind.
I’m not afraid to make mistakes.
Never be afraid of making mistakes. Even the oldest person in the world makes mistakes. It is up to us to correct and learn from those mistakes. By accepting mistakes as part of our lives, we begin to feel human and we begin to learn in life.
I put my flaws on the front street. So the world accepted my flaws, so I don’t have any flaws.
Most of us would rather hide our flaws and our past from others out of regret or shame. Embracing your mistakes and your flaws from the beginning will not only empower you to be better, but it also lets the world know that you are human and you are not a mistake.
Don’t get mad at me for being the best of what I was created to be.
When you are at the top, people will always find ways to bring you down. Anger and jealousy will be your common enemy however, let them know that getting to the top means doing your best. It is their fault for not trying.
Never break or fold, that’s what it takes to be major.
If you wanna be good at something, never let anyone tell you otherwise. Do not let anyone tell you that you are not good enough to make you quit. Quitting will only mean that they are right all along. Hustle hard and be major.
Sometimes the best move is no move.
A lot of problems can be solved by doing something however, there are also times that all you need to do is to be quiet and not do anything. This way, you let your reputation and the people who believe in you do the work for you.
I know a lot, but there are some things I don’t know.
Learning is a constant activity. When you begin to accept that you still need to learn a lot of things, you humble yourself and open up to countless possibilities to learn new things in life. This can only lead to better things.
I live by the ten percent rule. Save one, you save a thousand.
It all starts with the first person that you help. Once you pay forward, it will return in dividends. The person you helped will help others along the way and you end up saving more people in the long run with just helping one person at a time.
You can learn from a dummy. You can watch a dummy and learn what not to do. I’ve always been an observant individual. You don’t know how much you love something until you can’t do it. That’s one thing I can say that I learned. I learned how much I love music.
Learn from other people’s mistakes. Observe what others do that will help teach you a lesson in life. Do something that you truly love and do it with a burning passion. You will never know if it is worth it until it starts to challenge you in many ways.
I’m inspired by everything that goes on around me. I’m a sponge. I’m very analytical. I notice the things that most people don’t notice.
Everything around us can be used to inspire ourselves and other people. Even a single rock can turn a small dream into a successful venture. Get yourself inspired by the things that surround you.
When trying to destroy you, they destroy themselves in the process. F*** em’ — work harder!
People who want to destroy you will always want to bring you down. Keep them working on their hate as you work harder to achieve more success. That way, they will continue to follow your every single move until they get tired of the hate.
Don’t let nobody know that you a monster. Keep it on the tuck and then surprise ’em.
Never let anyone in on your secret to success. They might use it to bring you down. It is much better to keep everything tightlipped and surprise them with your success.
Some’ll say life is a gamble, which means love is a casino. Everybody just playin’ to win.
Life is all about taking risks and if you think about it, everyone has taken risks at some point in their lives. By taking risks, you also know that everything in your life is worth it.
Music’s the most therapeutic thing for me. Because I suffer from depression, and it’s my only form of releasing it.
Music is a form of therapy especially for those who suffer from inner turmoil. Music soothes the soul and helps people cope in life.
Don’t lose your mind trying to wait for people to come to their senses!
Never lose your mind and yourself trying to let people know of their mistakes. It is best to keep yourself away from such people or else risk yourself being dragged down together with them.
I don’t pay attention to social media. So if I do something I do it from the heart. I don’t do it for any feedback, I did it cause that’s how I felt.
Today’s world, you often see a lot of drama on social media. Most people use social media to express however if there is unnecessary drama, it is best to not pay attention to it and focus on improving yourself. Never let anyone in social media tell you how to feel.
I believe that life is a journey and for me to tell you my plans; things never go according to plan.
Life is a rollercoaster. You might know where you’re heading but it will always throw a curveball. Expect the unexpected.
Whenever someone says something about you, whether it’s direct or indirect, don’t entertain this. Don’t let nobody trick you out of your position.
Never let anyone bring you down with words. Learn how to block them. These words will only discourage you but if you focus on doing your best, you will never have to worry about what others say about you.
I experience great hurt, this hurt allows me to know I’m alive.
Pain makes us feel alive. It is the painful experiences in life that allow us to be better and to feel human.
Use the things that make you angry — as fuel to make you better.
The things that bring up anger and pain are the ones that you should be looking to make yourself do better. These are the emotions that should encourage you to do more.
If you not in your lane, create one.
Most of us would find ourselves feeling lost in life. It could be a lack of opportunities. If you ever find yourself getting lost in life, create your opportunity instead.
You learn fast or you die young.
Life does not wait for you to learn all the things that you need to learn. You will need to learn fast or get left behind.
When you got wisdom and knowledge you supposed to spread the word with some Soulja love.
When you are blessed with the gifts of wisdom and knowledge, you should start spreading it to create a world full of love. This is how the world should be.
When you level up your life will change. You will come across harder opponents and situations.
When you start to see success in life, it becomes more difficult. You begin to encounter people who would want to bring you down. Success comes with a price and that could mean even more difficult challenges to face.
Everybody around you pretending that they are your partner, let you have a problem they won’t even help you out.
Success brings forth many types of people. Some would be true to you no matter what while others would feign allegiance and trust just to take you down later on. Choose the people you surround with wisely.
The struggle is real, but it doesn’t last forever.
Life is a continuous cycle of struggles and difficulties but once in a while, it lets you enjoy. The struggle may be real at this time but do know that it will not always be this way. Better times are ahead.
Don’t stress over people who couldn’t give 2 pennies about you.
Never stress over people who would never be there for you during tough times. People who have been there supporting you from the beginning are those that are worth stressing over.
Without true pain, one could never know true happiness.
Pain is a product of experience. It helps us become stronger individuals yet it is also a product of happiness. The more we begin to learn through pain, the more we realize that there is more to life and that is the source of true happiness.
Came from the bottom, we aim for the stars.
All of us will always have to start from the bottom. We aim for the stars and work our way closer to the top. While some may never get the stars that they yearn for, success is still relevant to the person.
Say what you doing and not what you finna do
Always do what you want to say instead of just saying what you want to do. Actions will always speak louder than words.
I suffer from depression. Severe cases of it. Not one case of depression, not a severe case, but severe cases of depression. Music is my only outlet, it’s therapeutic for me. It’s a release. It’s how I vent emotionally.
Depression is never easy. It eats up the soul. Most people living with depression will have difficulties coping. Music is a good outlet for people with cases of depression. It lets them express emotionally without having fear of judgment.
Marriage is the most wonderful thing ever.
Marriage has always been a sacred experience. When two souls meet and fall in love, they make a vow to fulfill the needs of each other. This is why it is one of the most intricate, satisfying, and most wonderful thing ever.
Fall in love fast, make sure I handle it delicately.
Falling in love is one of the best feelings in the world. It is also a delicate thing as it can also mean breaking your heart. Falling in love fast is a double-edge sword that can make or break you. This is why giving it to the right person is important.
I don’t like talking. I like to execute. I’m not a talking person. I’m an action person.
Actions speak louder than words. People who do what they say will always be levels above those who only speak words and not do anything.
I came in the game with a different attitude than I have now. And I had to grow. I had to mature. In that growth and in that maturity, that point of maturity I realized that ay, the people that interview me, we only had a conversation. And they not from the same walk of life that I am, so my life is super interesting to them.
When we begin to encounter life and experience the harsh realities, we start to mature and grow as a person. We are no longer the same person who started with a dream and enthusiasm in life. Some might be tired but others continue with life. These are just some of the stories that are interesting to others.
Bein’ logical gave me a reason to doubt.
Logic will always question the incoherent things. These are the times that you should be questioning yourself and the things surrounding you. This way, you get to realize that things are not what they seem to be and you begin to accept that knowledge to work for the better.
The more I grow in popularity, the lonelier it gets. Because you don’t know me. You just know this part of me. You fell in love with that. But it’s way more intricate than what meets the surface.
It is always lonely at the top. People will not realize how difficult it is to be isolated due to fame and popularity. Money makes you feel lonely and fuels your depression. There is more to fame and money.
White people, Asian people, Puerto Ricans, Mexicans, Columbians, Blacks, whatever. And I love everybody. I don’t see color.
We are all human beings. We bleed the same. Whether you have white skin, black skin, or brown, we are equally the same human beings on this Earth.
Life is about conduct and how we conduct ourselves. But two wrongs never make a right.
Life is about what we do and how we do it. Make sure to always choose the right thing to do instead of choosing the easy way. The easy way may not be always the right way.
I’m going to keep working and the universe will open up and whatever path that presents itself, then that’s which path I’m going to go.
Hard work will always lead to success. Keep on hustling until you get to be where your path leads you to.
Whatever an individual chooses to do with themselves, long as it doesn’t affect me and they’re respectful with it, I don’t care what they do. Because I’m not perfect and I have flaws, so who would I be to be judgmental?
Be respectful. Time comes when you will have different opinions or lifestyle choices. Whether or not you agree with them and as long as it does not hurt yourself or other people, let them be. They deserve respect.
There’s light at the end of the tunnel, you gotta believe in you, though.
Even though problems might be a bit difficult to solve today, do know that there will always be hope. Never lose that hope.
Adversity builds character. He who faints in adversity is not strong.
The trials in life are what make us who we are. It is in these trials that we become the person who we are meant to be. Do not quit.
Some situations in life are just for you to learn and have appreciation in learning.
Life brings about many challenges and they are there for us to learn. Appreciate the fact that life is teaching you a lesson for you to become the ultimate version of yourself.
I don’t live in reverse, I live in the present because there’s no such thing as a do-over.
Always live in the present. Learn to appreciate the things that you have right now. Cherish what’s in front of you as it could be the last time you will be able to experience it.
Take me as I am or not at all!
People should choose you for being yourself not for being someone else. If they do not choose who are you are as a person, it is better not to choose you at all.
Make your own choices, your own decisions, your thoughts, and feel your feelings.
Whatever you do in your life is all up to you. It is your own choice and the decisions you make will always be based on what you want to do. When success finally hits you, it is then you will realize that you did all on your own.
Everything has its place in the world, even randomness.
Everything in this world has its place. Even you. Everyone deserves a place on this Earth. You might feel like a random person right now but everything will fall into place.
Most epiphanies are guided through one’s solitude. Self-reflection is the best reflection.
Self-reflection is the key to mastering your thoughts and feelings. It is through introspection that will learn more about ourselves and what we can do.
Grind as if any given moment you could wake up broke.
Always remember to work hard. You might have everything that you yearn for right now but do not be complacent. Work as if you are about to go broke.
I’m always looking for something new to conquer.
Keep on searching for new highs in life. Find something new to conquer and you will keep on learning.
Watch people daily and you will see their true colors.
You will learn different things about people when you live with them. Watch people every day and you will learn something new about them.
Sometimes being different is what matters in relationships.
As they say, opposites attract. Our views in life may be different but it could be what keeps the relationship fresh and a learning experience for everyone.
Losing time is crucial because you cannot get it back.
Time is essential. It is something that you cannot go back to just to correct your mistake. Always make your time worthwhile.
Prison was the best thing that ever happened to me.
Being incarcerated and deprived of the normal freedom that people enjoy would be a learning lesson for some. It is within those walls that you will realize that only the strongest and smartest survive. However, it could also be a humbling experience for many.
Resistance builds strength. The more you try and block me from my blessing, the stronger I get towards getting it.
As you try to reach for success, there will be many obstacles including people who will try to bring you down. These people will help make you stronger.
I’ve had good times and I’ve had bad times and I reminisce, maybe when I lay down, but throughout my day I keep myself engulfed in whatever moment I’m in because it could steer me into a depressed state.
Always remember the good and bad times in life. They serve as your memory to help remind you of the things that you have worked for in the present.
I don’t have a religion. I ain’t nothing wrong with the church as long as they selling chicken. Cause I read the Quran, I read the Kabalah, I read the Bible. They all got the same three basic principles: Love God, love your neighbor as yourself, and…As far as me being, I live by those principles.
There is nothing wrong with having no religion. It is how we treat each other that is important.
Out of my window. I see everything I dream about and wished I had.
When you look out the window, all you see is an endless sky. Just like your dreams, you will always be looking out your window if you do not start today.
The things that are most difficult for me to put into words and speak about, I put into my music. I’m just super passionate about my craft and super passionate about what I do.
There are things that we simply cannot put into words. Emotions that are hard to explain. This is why music is such an important way to express how we feel.
Being in the neighborhood and the poverty-stricken environment that I grew up in, I took a detour. I gravitated towards some of the individuals that did a lot of the wrong things with the right intentions.
Growing up poor can be tough for many. There will be instances that you can get yourself in trouble but this should serve as an encouragement to try and do better in life.
I’ve always stood on my toe. I don’t need a team. don’t do the entourage thing, 30 people. Just not do that. That’s just not me.
When working towards your dream, you do not need a team of people to reach it. You only need yourself. Learn how to lean on yourself in times of trouble and you can always rely on yourself to solve it.
Love is a battlefield, It ain’t a one night stand
Love is an intricate emotion. It is very complex. There will be times that you will have to fight for it. It will take time to achieve it but when it does, it will be a sweet victory.
When people say my name, I want them to feel a certain way, everybody walks around so numb. They’re not in touch. In the technological age, we become cold-hearted. I’m going to provoke you to feel. That’s what Islah does.
In today’s modern world, we have become so accustomed to technology that we forget to connect with people. Never forget to feel.
I can’t say any artist inspired me because I’m inspired by the things that go on around me.
Inspiration will come from different things. Some might be inspired by the works of others but other people get inspired by the things or people that surround them.
It was so crazy for me at that time, I never felt more alone or betrayed, but I had to realize the people who love me stuck with me through that. The world kicked me when I was down, but they couldn’t destroy me. I had to address what happened. I told the truth. No disrespect, I don’t see color when it comes to people. There are only two types of people—real and fake. All I have is music, so I have to do this. It made me look at things from a different perspective.
When life brings you down, always remember that the people who are true to you will always stick by your side. The real people who have your loyalty will always have your back in times of trouble. This is a perspective that many others tend to forget.
My grandmother was an English teacher for a while. And she stressed to me the importance of reading, being able to articulate well.
Reading is an important aspect of learning. If you want to learn how to speak and articulate, you will need to learn how to read first.
Or help them get to the root of the problem. Or help them find out what the problem is. Because the problem lies with self, and a lot of times we don’t look inward as individuals. We always look for something else as a substitute, like a pacifier. You have to look at self first.
People are good at blamaing when things do not go our way. What we tend to forget is to look within ourselves and see if the problem is the person you see in the reflection.
While Kevin Gates has lived a very tumultuous life, he has also gained popularity with his hard work mantra that is frequently highlighted in his music. Through his words of wisdom and strength, we will always see Kevin Gates as a man to look up to.
