Kevin Gates first began rapping in 2007, when he began making music with fellow Louisiana natives such as Webbie and Lil Boosie. Gates first received attention with his 2008 single "Get in the Way" featuring Lil Boosie. Soon after, he and Boosie would be incarcerated in separate cases. Gates would then be released in 2011 and immediately returned to recording music. He would soon earn the attention of Lil' Wayne. In early 2013, Gates released a mixtape, The Luca Brasi Story which was called "easily the best rap-related thing" in February 2013 by Spin Magazine. The Luca Brasi Story has been downloaded from popular mixtape sharing site, DatPiff, over 130,000 times.
On February 15, 2013, it was announced that Kevin Gates signed to Atlantic Records. Gates was also featured on Pusha T's 2013 mixtape as well as on Gudda Gudda's mixtape. On July 16, 2013 Gates released a street album titled Stranger Than Fiction, the street album was supported by the single "4:30".
He released his latest project By Any Means in 2014, and from there exploded in even more popularity. Mid-year made his way onto the cover of the 2014 XXL Freshman list.
Attention
Kevin Gates Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Killers in New York in the clink, they know enough
My celly spit in the sink, one blink, I'm sheddin' blood
If we was in the street, one squeeze would wet him up
Acceptin' no disrespect, wait, who am I to budge?
Quarter million dollar mouth, who am I? The plug?
Nothin' that can save you, your life is now above
I wouldn't even give a fuck if you and I were blood
Rappers in the industry see me and give me hugs
Then they gossip with their partners in private, I've seen it done
Fat boy you a bitch, you know how I come
MAC 11 rangin', slangin', cuddles with the drum
Keep my name out your fuckin' mouth, endin' off your tongue
Double 0, 17, my BGs sellin' drugs
Drought 'round Hollygrove, key need me to flood
Attention, you are in the presence of a gangsta
Please don't be alarmed, for the money I'm impatient
Attention, you are in the presence of a gangsta
Goin' hard or you starve, I don't see no sense in waitin'
A gangsta, all this pain, it get rough
No retreat, we don't sleep, when it's beef we gon' hunt
And I'm lookin' for some niggas with some bitch ways
I ain't shit, shaved or bathed in like six days
King Leonidas at his finest, no witness so who assaulted you?
Talk to God, go to war, think, consult with the oracle
Kevin Gates' face front page in the article
Lawyer paid, dismissed the whole case, they'll slaughter you
Run and I observe, ain't no sense in bein' audible
Quarterback call the audibles, switch the play on the blitz
Harlem at the Rucker, dick suckers watchin' the kid
Rust color Timbs with a gun up under my gear
Thump through the slums and slump me somethin' forreal
Cut off one of your fingers and puncture one of your ribs
Youngin' really thuggin', guerilla hustlin' for real
Body tatted, DJ Drama, that gangsta shit in my grill
Lay loose with a Llama or stank a bitch if he squeal
Set outside the store that my gangsta bitch just went in
At the pharmacy poppin' 'scripts, my prescriptions is gettin' filled
I love her, took her name and encrypted it in my ear
Attention, you are in the presence of a gangsta
Please don't be alarmed, for the money I'm impatient
Attention, you are in the presence of a gangsta
Goin' hard or you starve, I don't see no sense in waitin'
A gangsta, all this pain, it get rough
No retreat, we don't sleep, when it's beef we gon' hunt
And I'm lookin' for some niggas with some bitch ways
I ain't shit, shaved or bathed in like six days
Appreciate the help that's been comin' on nothin' will I depend
When asked about the pen, if I'm goin' back that depends
Faucet water brought me to places to say I ventured
Older I can cope with soda, pull off in the grey Avenger
I want her, she pushin' kids in the stroller, who? For her sister
The purchase skrrts with some purses but couldn't flirt with her friendship
Jewels, DVD, Raheem murdered by Bishop
Paid in full, no disappearance, dealers be switchin'
[?] clip rich then snitch, tellin' the business
I see this every day, deceit, failure to mention
Ten toes deep, want my money on fleek
Section 8 voucher and public housin', we livin'
Mama callin' Meals on Wheels, they won't deliver
Came up quick in the trenches when we was little
Call a pizza man and rob him when they deiver
I should write a book entitled, I Promise I Really Did It
Attention, you are in the presence of a gangsta
Please don't be alarmed, for the money I'm impatient
Attention, you are in the presence of a gangsta
Goin' hard or you starve, I don't see no sense in waitin'
A gangsta, all this pain, it get rough
No retreat, we don't sleep, when it's beef we gon' hunt
And I'm lookin' for some niggas with some bitch ways
I ain't shit, shaved or bathed in like six days
The lyrics to Kevin Gates's song "Attention" depict his gangsta persona and his tough experiences growing up in the streets. He talks about walking alone without an entourage, implying his self-sufficiency and fearlessness. He also boasts about having a quarter-million-dollar mouth, which shows his wealth and power.
Gates mentions killers he knows who are incarcerated in New York and suggests that they are aware of a lot of information. He mentions his cellmate spitting in the sink and his willingness to shed blood at the slightest provocation. Furthermore, he mentions that he wouldn't care even if the person he had to hurt was a blood relative.
The chorus repeats the phrase "Attention, you are in the presence of a gangsta," which serves to reinforce Gates's tough persona. The song's verses emphasize his willingness to confront anyone who disrespects him, his love for his gangsta lifestyle, and his lack of patience when it comes to getting money.
Line by Line Meaning
Walk without an entourage in which I won't discuss
I walk alone and won't talk about my associations
Killers in New York in the clink, they know enough
Fellow inmates in New York's prison system are aware of dangerous individuals
My celly spit in the sink, one blink, I'm sheddin' blood
My cellmate showed aggression towards me, and I'm ready to defend myself at any moment
If we was in the street, one squeeze would wet him up
If we were in public, one move from me could be fatal for him
Acceptin' no disrespect, wait, who am I to budge?
I don't tolerate disrespect, but who am I to back down?
Quarter million dollar mouth, who am I? The plug?
I have an expensive mouth, meaning that my words carry weight and I'm a person of influence
Nothin' that can save you, your life is now above
You have no options left, and your life is in danger
I wouldn't even give a fuck if you and I were blood
I wouldn't care if we were family, I'll still harm you if necessary
No one lent their helpin' hand, got it out the mud
I had to work hard and do it all on my own without any help
Rappers in the industry see me and give me hugs
Fellow musicians in the industry show me love and respect
Then they gossip with their partners in private, I've seen it done
They may act supportive to my face, but I've witnessed them gossiping about me in private
Fat boy you a bitch, you know how I come
Don't underestimate me because of my size, you know my capabilities
MAC 11 rangin', slangin', cuddles with the drum
I carry a MAC 11 machine gun and am not afraid to use it
Keep my name out your fuckin' mouth, endin' off your tongue
Don't speak my name negatively, or you'll face the consequences
Double 0, 17, my BGs sellin' drugs
My associates are selling drugs and have connections
Drought 'round Hollygrove, key need me to flood
The area is lacking drugs, and my contacts need me to supply them
Appreciate the help that's been comin' on nothin' will I depend
I am grateful for the assistance I've received, but I won't rely on it
When asked about the pen, if I'm goin' back that depends
If I'll return to prison depends on the situation
Faucet water brought me to places to say I ventured
I've had to make the most of what I have to succeed
Older I can cope with soda, pull off in the grey Avenger
I'm content with simple things like soda and my car, the grey Avenger
Jewels, DVD, Raheem murdered by Bishop
I have jewelry and movies, but I also understand the reality of violence
Paid in full, no disappearance, dealers be switchin'
I was paid in full and didn't disappear like some drug dealers do
[?] clip rich then snitch, tellin' the business
People will try to frame others to benefit themselves and will betray those they work with
Ten toes deep, want my money on fleek
I'm all in for my business and want to increase my income
Section 8 voucher and public housin', we livin'
I'm living in public housing and on a government voucher program
Mama callin' Meals on Wheels, they won't deliver
My family is struggling, and we can't even get basic necessities met
Came up quick in the trenches when we was little
We got out of poverty quickly, but it wasn't easy
Call a pizza man and rob him when they deliver
We resort to crime to get by, such as robbing a pizza delivery person
I should write a book entitled, I Promise I Really Did It
My life experiences are so unbelievable that I could write a book about them
Lyrics Β© Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Kevin Gilyard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@yasminehunt9255
If you been down with Gates since "The Streets of BR" then you a true mf'n fan #FreeBrasi
@n2a5s16
Yasmine Hunt On God
@yasminehunt9255
N2A5S1 π―π―π―
@mobbinkorrectly
Dangerous , bars, grown man music , she don't wanna these new gates fans don't know
@donavanbabineaux5128
Yasmine Hunt pick of the litter ma nigga the very first album. I see you been on this real ass shit..... True fan most people don't even know about those songs
@yasminehunt9255
Donavan Babineaux Real Shit! If you ain't fuck with Gates when he had dreads you ain't a true fan πππ they don't know nun bout that
@docdabble9671
"Appreciate the help that's been coming on nothing will I depend. When asked about the pin if I'm going back that depend." So damn slick man, underappreciated.
@fernandolinares4113
Bro just came back to listen to just that part. π₯π₯
@eliwoods7409
Dreka you came through π€¦π½ββοΈfree that nigga gates
@LuxeVizions
Eli Woods So much activity yesterday shit had me Geekin!! #FreeGates