Kevin Gates – Real N***a Holiday (Album Review)

A Christmas Eve drop full of love songs, chaos, and unfiltered Gates energy.

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TOP 3 SONGS

3. Love Me Not

I can tell Kevin Gates is one of those dudes who gives his girl crazy bear hugs.

I don’t know — I just feel like this song could’ve been a little better. Am I impressed by the vocal performance Kevin Gates delivers, with his passionate singing? Absolutely. I also like the pace he sings at and the smooth R&B production behind him. I just wish the execution was a bit cleaner and the production hit harder with more punch. Still, despite those minor issues, the track is very impressive overall.

2. We Don’t Care (Ft. Jeremih)

I f**king love when rappers talk about loving freely and without hesitation.

I don’t think I’ve ever heard Kevin Gates venture into island-flavored territory before, but he actually makes it work. The track rides on spicy, tropical-inspired production that would probably make Tyla twitch like one of the dancers from the “Thriller” video. Gates leans into surprisingly smooth harmonies, pairing them with that deep, gravelly voice that makes him sound like a monster who accidentally fell in love. Jeremih slides in with a brief verse that balances things out, adding a lighter, silkier touch. Overall, the song’s chorus is insanely catchy, and the lyrics — built around loving someone regardless of outside opinions — land cleanly. This one’s an easy recommendation.

1. ooh ooh

This is the one from this album.

“ooh ooh” is probably the most serious track on this project. “ooh ooh” features smooth, sensual trap production that has a nice little knock, what I think is the perfect combination of soulful singing and gritty raps from Gates, an outstanding chorus with a bunch of oohs tossed in, and lyrics that mix money talk and street confidence with moments of emotional attachment and messy vulnerability. I will definitely add this track to my library and run it the hell up.

SONG BY SONG RATING

1. GRWM (3/5)

2. Come My Way (3.5/5)

3. Tipsy Luv (3/5)

4. ooh ooh (4.5/5)

5. Real Nigga Tendencies (3/5)

6. We Don’t Care (Ft. Jeremih) (4/5)

7. We Try (3/5)

8. Love Me Not (3.5/5)

RGM RATING

(69%)

I’ll be real — I had no idea Kevin Gates dropped an album on Christmas Eve. To be fair, on that day, I was busy buying some dusty-ass gifts for my son, so I get a pass. Either way, whenever Kevin drops, you kind of have to check it out.

Real Nigga Holiday is very much a project where Gates is just having fun. Most of it is dedicated to his fiancée, which puts him in full Prince Charming mode, though he still sneaks in a few bars about getting people jammed up early on.

A lot of the album leans into old-school, baby-making R&B production, with Gates fully committing to his crooner bag — singing like his life depends on it, occasionally sounding like Shrek off a tusi. There’s even some island-flavored stuff on “We Don’t Care,” which is random as hell. Is this album something you’re playing in the bando? Probably not. But if you’re in love, it might hit.

All in all, the project isn’t meant to be taken too seriously. A couple of tracks stand out, but some features fall flat (Ray J sounds especially ashy on “Real Nigga Tendencies”), and the production can feel a little cheap. Still, the passion is real, which keeps it from being a total throwaway.

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