There is no question he can hustle when you hear him, this young wordsmith who can rap circles around most artists on the radio today. A pimp's slang, knockout punchlines and passion weave a tale so cinematic, any director would covet the film rights. Not to mention, his nasty ability to ride a rhythm like a baby on a bigwheel and the game stays on his tongue like Now & Later colors.
If a hustler is only as good as his last hustle, Gator should be king. A quick lick ago, he was known in the hood as "Hustle Man," when two-way pagers and cell phones, throwback jerseys, watches, and anything else you wanted, but wouldn't pay full price for, were only a press of his trunk remote-key away. At age 18, too ambitious to stay local, Gator took his hustle nationwide. With the drive of a mogul and a "mouthpiece" that could talk a bent penny from a gum machine, he soon had an all-star host of clients and could easily be seen hobnobbing with the elite, partying in music videos, and chillin' at award shows. But, his high profile lifestyle by less-than-legal means came at a price.
"In November '03, after pulling all kinds of white collar crimes and scandals, I got popped in New York," Gator says through his signature slippery lisp. "I was sitting in a jail cell, like, man I can't be doing this forever. Ya feel me? I gotta make a way.
"I always knew I had the talent, but I never took it serious. And that moment right there, I said, man, I'm 'bout to get it with rapping. Believe dat." Gator is a man of his word. Applying the same mind and muscle he would to any other hustle, his musical exploits became things of legend. Like the time he "strong-armed" Lil Wayne's Squad 5 mixtape two days before the release date and reburned it to include three songs of his own, then sold it to the bootleggers. Or the time he made the K. Gates vs. 50 Cent mixtape, with him and the New York rapper's pictures on the cover, and managed to get it shown on camera right before the G-Unit's BET Spring Bling performance. The dude is a brilliant, mad scientist, lunatic, master gamesman. Relentless, Unstoppable.
Raised, without a TV or a father, by a revolutionary mother with a Ph.D. who "decided to sacrifice her life to the community" and not for the betterment of the family's financial gain, and an underground hip-hop-head, older brother who exposed him to the music that would eventually save his life, Gator endured a constant tug-of-war raging within, between "truth, light, and love" and his "fetish for the lavish lifestyle." The outside forces usually won. The swagger ain't going nowhere no time soon. It's tattooed to his legs like a pair of Gucci socks.
Regardless of what Dame Dash's ill-fated reality series showed, Gates IS the Ultimate Hustler. To the shock and awe of everyone who knows him, the uber-opportunist was ousted from the show on the 3rd episode for challenging Swizz Beats to a dice game during a recording session. It was a travesty. How could this be? Throw off, who? Not Gator Gates. This man was driving a brand new Jaguar S-type Sedan before his nineteenth birthday. Who hustles harder than him? A TV show, several N.Y. radio appearances, a potential movie, and 5 mixtapes later, BET will undoubtedly grace his face again. His upcoming album, "New Orleans' Savior," virtually guarantees it. Gates loves the city that made him and he shows that love at every chance he gets. And the city shows love back. His whole album expresses, in a variety of ways, his desire to "save" New Orleans. Laid on a plate of music by Mannie Fresh, Jazze Pha, and Dani Kartel (the producer for Juvenile and Soulja Slim's "Slow Motion"), Gator's street-life monologues might lift the city up onto dry land.
His motto, "Have a million dollar day," the creed he lives by, is baller Bible verse, in a world where lesser hustlers die, trying. It dares his niggaz to realize their dreams, to hustle hard, now, and come with laughter, after. It paints a blueprint for a new New Orleans, where shaking haters is done to a soundtrack. And the "swagger" is an I.D. and Gator's "hustle" has made him mayor cuz that's the way it ought to be.
What We Do
K. Gates Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've been following blindly
I am fighting for control, and nobody seems to know
I can't breathe, I'm suffocating
I can't see, I'm at my breaking point
I don't know
Where to go
Or what to do
Or what to do
When the demons follow you
Follow you
What to do
When the demons follow you
Where to
I am fighting for control, and nobody seems to know
I can't breathe, I'm suffocating
I can't see, I'm at my breaking point
I don't know
Where to go
Or what to do
When the demons follow you
What to do
When the demons follow you
Follow you
What to do
When the demons follow you
When the demons follow you
The lyrics to K. Gates's song "What We Do" depict the internal battle of someone struggling with their inner demons. From the very beginning, the artist acknowledges the presence of a darkness within them that they have been blindly following. The struggles within are so intense that they feel suffocated and don't know what to do or where to go. They feel like they are fighting for control, but nobody seems to understand or even know what they are going through. The artist is completely lost and doesn't know how to deal with the demons that constantly plague them.
The repeated refrain "What to do when the demons follow you" highlights the ongoing and constant struggle of the artist. They are in a state of despair and feel helpless in the face of their inner demons. The artist doesn't know where to turn or what to do when the darkness is lurking in the shadows.
Overall, the song explores the complex and difficult internal struggle that many individuals face on a daily basis. It's as if the artist is using music as a way to reach out to others who may be experiencing a similar situation. The rawness and vulnerability of the lyrics are a powerful reminder that everyone, no matter how successful or accomplished they may seem, can struggle with their inner demons.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a darkness inside of me
I have negative emotions and thoughts within me
I've been following blindly
I have been acting without clear direction or purpose
I am fighting for control, and nobody seems to know
I am struggling to maintain control over myself, but others are unaware
I can't breathe, I'm suffocating
I feel overwhelmed and unable to cope
I can't see, I'm at my breaking point
I am unable to see a solution and feel near the point of giving up
I don't know
I lack understanding or clarity
Where to go
I am uncertain of what path to take
Or what to do
I have no idea what steps to take next
When the demons follow you.
I am haunted by negative thoughts and emotions
Or what to do
I have no idea what steps to take next
When the demons follow you
I am haunted by negative thoughts and emotions
Follow you
The negative thoughts and emotions are constantly present and following me
What to do
I am lost and without direction
When the demons follow you
I am haunted by negative thoughts and emotions
Where to
I am unsure of where to turn or what to do
I am fighting for control, and nobody seems to know
I am struggling to maintain control over myself, but others are unaware
I can't breathe, I'm suffocating
I feel overwhelmed and unable to cope
I can't see, I'm at my breaking point
I am unable to see a solution and feel near the point of giving up
I don't know
I lack understanding or clarity
Where to go
I am uncertain of what path to take
Or what to do
I have no idea what steps to take next
When the demons follow you
I am haunted by negative thoughts and emotions
What to do
I am lost and without direction
When the demons follow you
I am haunted by negative thoughts and emotions
Follow you
The negative thoughts and emotions are constantly present and following me
What to do
I am lost and without direction
When the demons follow you
I am haunted by negative thoughts and emotions
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Hector Israel Berriel, Sebastian Colasurdo
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TrueMobster
Awh Yeaaah! 💪🏼
@lashoncoffey1239
"Dont give up on me nigga I won't give up on you!"
My heart felt that.
@scatpack_3925
💪🏾💪🏾🙏🏾
@AyeKiing
"Been Betrayed Once Again It Happens All The Time" Ain't That The Truth 🔥💯 #FreeGates
@painturned2passion
Fa real 💯💯💰💰🔥🔥
@ronaldfontenot7008
Been betrayed one again happen all the time 🤔
@chiquitagonzales9269
King Tae ....
@KingOfBeansAndSoup
Why do you say fuuuck me?
@mayamack6539
Kevin gates is my fav rapper
@anthonycanita-nq3hw
💔
Been abused it get hard to smile, been betrayed once again, it happens all the time, heart bigger than your body love be hard to find, friendships got tainted I remained amazin IIiiiiiiiii........
Friendships got tainted I remained amazin Iiiiiiii.........💔