On Being Considered A “Ghetto Reporter” In His Music:

Kevin Gates: “Yeah, I would say that … the things I see, the things that go on, the things that would be news to me. I used to say I make quality street music but I prefer to call it “reality rap” now. It’s just from the observation standpoint and it’s also speaking from the hands-on standpoint. And that’s just what I do.

“I’m honest in my music. I don’t exaggerate. I make very honest music. They can hear it in my tone of voice; they can hear when I’m stressed. They can just hear it and feel the emotion in every song. So riding around and listening to a Kevin Gates CD is almost like having me in the passenger seat with a cup of syrup, smokin’ something and just talking to you. Jamming to my experiences. That’s all. I’m not a gangster. I’m not a thug. Because the people that call themselves that, I don’t act like those people and I don’t look like those people that call them that. So I’m just me at the end of the day. I’m Kevin. I’m plain old Kevin. I don’t have one of those stigmatized names. I’m just sharing my experiences through my music. I provide insight for what’s going on in my realm through my music.”