Khaza

On January 28, 2022, via Instagram, Gates reported the culmination of Khaza while also previewing and teasing an unreleased R&B album.{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CZQqTUWBGGx/|title=Khaza album finished…. 50 thousand comments if I should finish this RnB album to drop next? 💪🦅#DaBiggestEagle}} Weeks later, on February 23, 2022, Gates indicated that he'd tease the release date to the best comment on his Instagram post; nevertheless, it was never officially revealed.{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CaT4k0pOvJj/|title=Best Caption - I'm a DM my Album release date 💪#Khaza}}

On May 16, 2022, Gates announced the Big Lyfe Tour, which will commence on August 18, 2022, in Dallas, Texas, and will conclude on October 14, 2022, in Pensacola, Florida.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/iamkevingates/status/1526236519559835649|title=#BigLyfeTour this summer 💪🦅Presale and VIP tomorrow at 10am local. General on sale Friday at 10am. #Khaza|via=Twitter|access-date=May 16, 2022}} On the same day, while promoting his single, "Bad for Me",{{cite web|url=https://www.revolt.tv/article/2022-05-17/169394/kevin-gates-bad-for-me-video/|title=Kevin Gates drops off new single "Bad For Me"|via=Revolt|access-date=May 17, 2022}} Gates announced the album, its release date, and its cover art while also setting it for pre-sale.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/iamkevingates/status/1526223185645035523|title=My new album #Khaza is finally droppin June 17th. Pre-order now and stream my new song #BadForMe|via=Twitter|access-date=May 16, 2022}}

On June 11, 2022, without previewing the tracklist on his social media, the tracklist was unveiled via Apple Music, and Tidal.{{cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/kevin-gates-khaza-album-tracklist-unveiled-news.153413.html|title=Kevin Gates' "Khaza" Album Tracklist Unveiled|date=June 11, 2022 |via=HotNewHipHop|access-date=June 11, 2022}}

The album's first single, "Thinking with My Dick" featuring Juicy J was released on July 16, 2013, however, the track had gone viral on the video-sharing platform TikTok, therefore, Gates decided to add it to the album's tracklist to increase sales as it had peaked at #37 on the Billboard Hot 100 after nine years.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMDVmV-nFIA|title=Kevin Gates - Thinkin' With My Dick Feat. Juicy J|via=YouTube|access-date=July 16, 2013}}{{cite web|url=https://thesource.com/2022/03/24/kevin-gates-single-from-9-years-ago-hits-billboard-hot-100-for-the-first-time-thanks-to-tik-tok/|title=Kevin Gates Single From 9 Years Ago Hits Billboard Hot 100 For the First Time Thanks to TikTok|via=The Source|access-date=March 24, 2013}}

The lead single "Big Lyfe" was released on April 28, 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.thefader.com/2022/04/28/kevin-gates-big-lyfe-video|title=Kevin Gates shares "Big Lyfe" with video|via=The Fader|access-date=April 28, 2022}} The music video was released the same day.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noh6BYgtTxQ|title=Kevin Gates - Big Lyfe (Official Music Video)|via=YouTube|access-date=April 28, 2022}}

The third single, "Bad For Me", was released on May 16, 2022.

A week prior to the release of the album, on June 9, 2022, Gates released a YouTube exclusive promotional single that remixed Kodak Black's "Super Gremlin", titled "Super General (Freestyle)",{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpAVV9-CnMw|title=Kevin Gates - Super General (Freestyle)|via=YouTube|access-date=June 9, 2022}} the song reached #1 trending in just one day. In the song, Gates revealed facts about his seven-year-long relationship with his wife Dreka Gates, and described how they have split apart. Just a day later from the viral single, on June 10, 2022, Gates released the final single from the album, "Intro" {{cite web|url=https://www.thefader.com/2022/06/10/kevin-gates-intro-khaza-music-video|title=Kevin Gates addresses a few things on "Intro"|via=The Fader|access-date=June 10, 2022}} alongside its official music video.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyEbAhP2rtQ|title=Kevin Gates - Intro (Official Music Video)|via=YouTube|access-date=June 10, 2022}}

Just two days prior to the release of "Intro", and three days prior to the release of "Super General (Freestyle)", on June 12, 2022, Gates released another YouTube exclusive promotional single titled "Metro"{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZN_wQpZRwI|title=Kevin Gates - Metro|via=YouTube|access-date=June 12, 2022}} which is heavily reminiscent of his November 2009 track, "Grown Man Music".{{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/track/6yueiFGZuS7Ien55UQbLPU|title=Grown Man Music|via=Spotify|access-date=November 28, 2009}}

{{Music ratings

|rev1 = Allmusic

|rev1score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/khaza-mw0003736876|title=Khaza Review by TiVo Staff|date= June 17, 2022|website=allmusic.com|accessdate=June 17, 2022}}

| rev2 = HipHopDX

| rev2score = 3.0/5{{cite web|url=https://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.3879/title.kevin-gates-khaza-trades-intensity-for-vulnerability-with-mixed-results|title=Kevin Gates 'Khaza' Trades Intensity For Vulnerability With Mixed Results|website=HipHopDX|last=Lewis|first=Dash|date=June 16, 2022|access-date=July 7, 2022}}

}}

Aron from HotNewHipHop was positive, writing, "The unflinching honesty, aggressive delivery, and bold melodies are a return to form for one of Louisiana's most consistent artists of the past decade."{{cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/kevin-gates-khaza-review-news.154031.html|title=Kevin Gates "Khaza" Review|website=HotNewHipHop|date=June 25, 2022|access-date=July 7, 2022}} HipHopDX was more mixed, however, writing, "Even though a lot of the choices he makes throughout Khaza don't really work, there are moments when he lands an emotional gut punch. ... If [his latest freestyle] 'Super General' is any indication, Gates has figured out what he was trying to say, is processing his feelings and has proven he can come back more focused." AllMusic stated that "Third studio album Khaza amplifies the emotional intensity that marks Gates' best work as he explores the complex feelings of his long-term relationship ending. Heartbreak, vulnerability, and a conflicted mix of anger and longing run through much of Khaza."

On July 2, 2022, Khaza debuted at number eight on the US Billboard 200 with 40,000 album-equivalent units (including 3,000 pure album sales) in its first week, which became Kevin Gates' fifth US top-10 album debut. The album also debuted at number four on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and at number two on the US Top Rap Albums chart, which also became his twelfth and eleventh top-10 albums on both charts overall. The album also accumulated a total of 47.05 million on-demand audio streams for its songs in its debut week.

{{Track listing

| headline = Khaza track listing

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = Intro

| writer1 = {{hlist|Kevin Jerome Gilyard|Nick Seeley|Reuben Proctor}}

| extra1 = {{hlist|Nick Seeley|2Much}}

| length1 = 3:30

| title2 = Big Lyfe

| writer2 = {{hlist|Gilyard|Tyler Williams}}

| extra2 = T-Minus

| length2 = 4:00

| title3 = I'm in Love

| writer3 = {{hlist|Gilyard|Gregory Sanders Jr.|Thomas Horton}}

| extra3 = {{hlist|HitmanAudio|TnTXD}}

| length3 = 2:49

| title4 = PTOE

| writer4 = {{hlist|Gilyard|Gerail Harvey}}

| extra4 = RellyMade

| length4 = 3:25

| title5 = Steppin'

| writer5 = {{hlist|Gilyard|Samuel David Jimenez|Westen Broek Weiss|Aubrey Robinson}}

| extra5 = {{hlist|Smash David|Westen Weiss|boobie}}

| length5 = 2:16

| title6 = Bad for Me

| writer6 = {{hlist|Gilyard|Christopher Dotson|Christopher Frank|Norman Payne}}

| extra6 = {{hlist|Chrishan|P Crisco|DJ Chose}}

| length6 = 2:24

| title7 = Body

| writer7 = {{hlist|Gilyard|Nicholas Mira}}

| extra7 = Nick Mira

| length7 = 2:37

| title8 = Scars

| writer8 = {{hlist|Gilyard|Kevin Andre Price|Norman Payne}}

| extra8 = {{hlist|DJ Chose|Go Grizzly}}

| length8 = 3:18

| title9 = Mine

| writer9 = {{hlist|Gilyard|Payne}}

| extra9 = DJ Chose

| length9 = 2:33

| title10 = Shoot My Shot

| writer10 = {{hlist|Gilyard|Djordje Stojanovic}}

| extra10 = Dzo Beatz

| length10 = 2:54

| title11 = One Day

| writer11 = {{hlist|Gilyard|Neil Kiran Muglurmath}}

| extra11 = Neil Muglurmath

| length11 = 3:21

| title12 = Ups and Downs

| writer12 = {{hlist|Gilyard|Denontae Xavier Wilson}}

| extra12 = Ghana 1k

| length12 = 3:06

| title13 = Truth Be Told

| writer13 = {{hlist|Gilyard|Mira}}

| extra13 = Nick Mira

| length13 = 3:38

| title14 = Free at Last

| writer14 = {{hlist|Gilyard|Gene Hixon|Matthew Edward Robinson|Cozy From Earth}}

| extra14 = {{hlist|Al Geno|Mattazik Muzik|Cozy From Earth}}

| length14 = 3:50

| title15 = Hard to Sleep

| writer15 = {{hlist|Gilyard|Malachi Haden|James Leonard Price}}

| extra15 = {{hlist|Aye YB|Sheffmade}}

| length15 = 2:24

| title16 = You

| writer16 = {{hlist|Gilyard|Evan Clauseille}}

| extra16 = ThatBossEvan

| length16 = 2:43

| title17 = Black Clouds

| writer17 = {{hlist|Gilyard|Kevin Andre Price|Charles Eric Driggers|Michael Tyrone Johnson}}

| extra17 = {{hlist|Go Grizzly|BricksDaMane}}

| length17 = 4:16

| title18 = Plug Cry

| writer18 = {{hlist|Gilyard|Matthew Paisley-Mallia}}

| extra18 = Patrick Carmelo

| length18 = 2:35

| title19 = Thinking with My Dick

| note19 = featuring Juicy J

| writer19 = {{hlist|Gilyard|Jordan Michael Houston III|Arthur McArthur|Tevin Keari Thompson}}

| extra19 = Arthur McArthur

| length19 = 2:45

| total_length = 59:22

}}

• Colin Leonard – mastering (1–18)
• John Will – mixing (1–10, 12–18)

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{{Kevin Gates}}

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Category:2022 albums

Category:Kevin Gates albums