Marriage certainly seems to suit Kevin Gates. The 30-year-old New Orleans-born rapper, real name Kevin Gilyard, tied the knot with his wife Dreka last October and describes his marriage as “the best thing in the world.”
“I’m so lucky to have married my best friend,” he smiled. “It just so happened that my best friend was a girl.
“We do everything together. We run our Breadwinners Association record label together. It’s the same with our clothing line and our energy drink company. We enjoy the same kind of cars, books, music and general interests. Even down to visiting strip clubs. Dreka is the one who more often suggests we go.”
Kevin’s career is matching the success of his personal life. Living then in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, his first mixtape, “Pick Of Da Litter,” was released in 2007. More mixtapes followed before his output was interrupted by a spell in prison.
“I realised music was the way forward for me. I didn’t want to go to jail again so I was determined to make the most of my ability to write songs and rap.”
A string of mixtapes and singles were issued over the following few years. He also made numerous guest appearances on tracks by other artists.
“Everything I did helped to raise my profile. My real breakthrough came three years ago with ‘The Luca Brasi Story’ mixtape. This didn’t make the official Billboard chart but the download numbers were massive and paved the way for ‘By Any Means’ to become my first entry on the Billboard 200 in 2014.”
“Luca Brasi 2” was another Billboard 200 hit nine months later. But Kevin’s success was all based around mixtapes rather than a true studio album. That situation changed earlier this year with the phenomenal response to “Islah.”
“The album title is the name of my daughter. Most of the songs are totally personal so I wanted a title to match. I couldn’t imagine anything more personal or more important to me.
“Islah has had a profound impact on every part of my life. If you listen to my early mixtapes, you can hear I was wild and out of control. As a kid, I was introverted and had low self-esteem. Much of what I repressed in everyday life came out in my songs. But my daughter has helped me to grow and become better both as a person and an artist.
“The things she says to me have changed my life. They’ve made me look at myself in a different way. Having her also made me realise the importance of being able to provide for my family and the people I love.”
Kevin’s album attracted rave reviews and dynamic sales figures which saw “Islah” debut at number two on the Billboard 200. It was preceded by five singles the most successful of which is 2 Phones. The track has peaked at number 18 on Billboard’s Hot 100 becoming by far his biggest hit single to date.
“I’m grateful for the love people have shown for my music. 2 Phones is still climbing the chart so I hope the song might reach the top ten.
“I give listeners a piece of who I am as an individual on every song. This kind of reality is why I don’t have any guests on the album. This is almost unheard of on rap albums nowadays. But I didn’t want sales because some people buy everything which features their favourite artists. I wanted the album to succeed or fail because people liked or disliked my songs.”


in
brief

David Bowie

A previously unreleased demo recorded by David Bowie in 1970 can now be heard and downloaded for free.
To Be Love is an airy, lightweight song which David recorded at the Roxbury Road Studios in Los Angeles during his first visit to America. The track was not written by David. It was penned by recording engineer Ron de Strulle and it is he who has made the demo available.
The free download can be accessed at (no www.) mindbodynetwork.com/david-bowie There is also a link on this webpage to an article on the Huffington Post website which tells the full story of David’s time in America some 46 years ago.
In other Bowie news, Lambeth council in London are considering the possibility of naming an area of Brixton after David. They are also locally listing the mural created in his honour.
The mural quickly became a shrine to Bowie after his death in January. It was effectively a centrepiece around which fans laid flowers and messages.
The mural may well be joined by a David Bowie statue. This is among several possible memorials suggested by the council. They have been in contact with David’s family who will make the final decision as to what they believe is most appropriate.

Slow Riot

Irish post-punk trio Slow Riot have been attracting critical acclaim and an ever growing following since their formation in 2013.
They joined forces during the worst recession for decades in their native land. The irony of their home town, Limerick, being named as Ireland’s inaugural City of Culture a few months later was not lost on Niall, Paul and Aaron.
Their feelings were clearly expressed in the trio’s first single, City of Culture. It is one of the four tracks on their debut EP, “Cathedral.”
The EP can be heard in full at (no www.) soundcloud.com/slowriot-theband
Also posted here is their new single, Trophy Wife. Anyone who enjoys the song might like to see the accompanying video which can be found at www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJoBdRmek0o
Videos have also been made for three more Slow Riot songs. Access to these can be gained from www.youtube.com/channel/UCeEsoZxCcQN-IhixKnVtryQ

Rosie Carney

Also emerging from Ireland’s thriving music scene, though originally born in England, is 19-year-old singer/songwriter Rosie Carney.
Like Slow Riot, Rosie has been attracting immense critical acclaim. One reviewer described her to readers as an artist who performs like Adele, only better.
She has just returned home from playing five shows at the star-studded SXSW festival in Austin, Texas. Rosie also performed an extra concert for homeless people at a local soup kitchen.
Rosie’s first video, for her song What You’ve Been Looking For, was posted on YouTube three years ago. Since then, videos for several more of her own songs, plus some covers, have also been uploaded to the website.
The official video for Rosie’s recently released debut single, Winter, is posted at www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0iPdCLWiAM
An official video has also been made for another of her songs, Better Man. This is at www.youtube.com/watch?v=hy32Kn3q-B0
More of her own songs, and some collaborative tracks, can be heard at (no www.) soundcloud.com/rosiecarney
There is a promise on the webpage that she will soon upload all of her songs here.

Sulk

“No Illusions” is the forthcoming second album from English psychedelic rock / shoegaze quintet Sulk. It will be issued on April 15, exactly three years after the release of their debut album, “Graceless.”
Black Infinity (Upside Down) was issued as the lead single late last year. The official video is posted at www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnWQWHLlrpI
Second single, The Tape of You, has just been released. The accompanying video can be found at www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1CUEDauFwI
It was created by rhythm guitarist Andrew Needle who augmented studio footage of the band with shots from his home movies.
Every track from “Graceless” can be heard online. Sulk have posted the entire album at www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrMT6eWkOFg&list=PLtb5QoaVOdS3ItXsnIhfS6QFLwYndg_pB

Denzel Curry

Florida rapper Denzel Curry has just released either his second studio album or his latest mixtape. The ten-track offering has been described as both but mixtape appears to be the most appropriate as “Imperial” can be heard and downloaded for free.
Critics and fans have been effusive in their praise for Denzel’s new songs. Check them out for yourself at www.datpiff.com/Denzel-Curry-Imperial-mixtape.771698.html