The Ceremony is the fourth studio album by American rapper Kevin Gates. It was released on January 26, 2024, via Atlantic Records and Bread Winners' Alumni. The album features guest appearances by B.G. and Sexyy Red and notable productions by CashMoneyAP, Drumma Boy, Go Grizzly and Richie Souf.

The Ceremony
Studio album by
ReleasedJanuary 26, 2024 (2024-01-26)
GenreHip hop
Length52:23
Label
Producer
  • 12Hunna
  • 3:02
  • BatGangBeats
  • BeatsByJuko
  • BJ Beatz
  • CashMoneyAP
  • Cheeze Beatz
  • Chuck Taylor
  • Daves
  • DJ Chose
  • Drum Dummie
  • Drumma Boy
  • Drumma Drama
  • Einer Bankz
  • EJ Grimes
  • Go Grizzly
  • Hardbody B-Eazy
  • Hardbody Heero
  • James Maddocks
  • Jamil "Millz" Alleyne
  • Jester Beats
  • JoeFromYO
  • JuanRa
  • Kuttabeatz
  • Macshooter
  • Mad Max
  • Melbeatz
  • Moneyxo
  • P Crisco
  • prodbyjm
  • Richie Souf
  • Starrah
  • VVS Beats
  • Wayv
  • YoungJody
  • Yung Lan
  • Zypitano
Kevin Gates chronology
Khaza
(2022)
The Ceremony
(2024)
Singles from The Ceremony
  1. "God Slippers"
    Released: October 6, 2023
  2. "Yonce Freestyle"
    Released: November 9, 2023
  3. "Birds Calling"
    Released: January 12, 2024

Background

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On October 25, 2023, Kevin Gates announced the release of his next studio album. He also revealed that the album would be called "The Ceremony".[1]

Singles

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On August 10, 2023, Kevin Gates released the debut single of the album "RUMORS".[2]

On October 6, 2023, Kevin Gates released the second single of the album "God Slippers".[3]

On November 9, 2023, he released the third single of the album "Yonce Freestyle".[4]

On January 12, 2024, he released the fourth single of the album "Birds Calling".[5]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Pitchfork6.7/10[6]

Hattie Lindert of Pitchfork wrote that "where a more polished, pop-minded sound was jet fuel for Gates" on Islah (2016), "it's quicksand on The Ceremony. The writing is all about moving forward, but the sonics keep Gates frozen in time, fused to an outdated Hot 100 sound that's incongruous with his matured, quieter stylings".[6]

Track listing

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The Ceremony track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Ceremony"
  • Millz
  • Rijhay Derrick Sampson
2:56
2."Birds Calling"
  • Gilyard
  • Laquan Hazzard
  • Brittany Talia Hazzard
  • Aaron Revelle
  • Byron Ford
  • Keenan Melvin
  • Jacob Gago
  • Daniel Celestin
  • Servando Moquette
  • Stephen Norwood
  • Taylor Ross
  • Manuel Ligo
3:08
3."Lil Yea"
  • Millz
  • CHEEZE
  • Kutta
3:24
4."Yonce Freestyle" (featuring B.G. and Sexyy Red)
  • EJ Grimes
  • Prodbyjm
  • Juko
3:44
5."Eater"
  • Gilyard
  • Norman Payne
  • Christopher Franck
  • P. Crisco
  • DJ Chose
2:46
6."Speed Dial"
  • Gilyard
  • Maximillian McFarlin
  • B. Hazzard
  • Juan Ramon Luis Melian
  • Rick Witherspoon
MadMaxx2:27
7."God Slippers"
  • Gilyard
  • Raheem Hightowe
  • Jackie Lane Plant
  • Hardbody Heero
  • Hardbody B-Eazy
3:22
8."It Won't Happen"
2:57
9."Healing"
  • Gilyard
  • Shaun Thomas
  • Joseph Zomboulias
  • Davide Cobino
  • Chuck
  • JoeFromYO
  • Dave
2:54
10."Letter 2 My Fans"
  • Gilyard
  • Milan Sunil Modi
  • James Maddocks
  • Einer Banks
  • Spencer Harris
2:32
11."Protect Children"
  • Gilyard
  • Kevin Price
Go Grizzly2:40
12."Heal You"
  • Gilyard
  • Payne
DJ Chose2:27
13."Walmart"
  • Gilyard
  • Tony Son
Richie Souf3:20
14."Do It Again"Drumma Boy3:51
15."Rumors"
  • Chris Athens
  • Mel Beats
  • YoungJody
  • Dama Drumma
  • Drum Dummie
2:36
16."I Don't Apologize"
  • Gilyard
  • Brandon Jamal Russell
  • Michael O'Brien
  • 12 Hunna
  • BJ Beatz
3:19
17."Broken Men"
  • Gilyard
  • Grimes
  • EJ Grimes
  • MoneyXO
  • Wayv
4:00
Total length:52:23

Charts

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Chart performance for The Ceremony
Chart (2024) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[7] 24
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[8] 8

References

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  1. ^ "Kevin Gates Announces New Album 'The Ceremony'; First Single 'God Slippers'". hiphop-n-more.com. 25 October 2023.
  2. ^ kevingatesTV (2023-08-10). Kevin Gates - RUMORS. Retrieved 2024-05-27 – via YouTube.
  3. ^ "Kevin Gates Gives Us A First Look At Upcoming Album "Ceremony" With "God Slippers"". hotnewhiphop.com. 25 October 2023.
  4. ^ "Kevin Gates Recruits Sexyy Red & BG on New Single 'Yonce Freestyle': Listen". hiphop-n-more.com. 9 November 2023.
  5. ^ "Kevin Gates Stays On His Grind With New Single "Birds Calling"". hotnewhiphop.com. 14 January 2024.
  6. ^ a b Lindert, Hattie (February 2, 2024). "Kevin Gates: The Ceremony Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  7. ^ "Kevin Gates Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
  8. ^ "Kevin Gates Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 6, 2024.