The Ceremony (album)

The Ceremony
The Ceremony
Studio album by Kevin Gates
Released	January 26, 2024
Genre	Hip hop
Length	52:23
Label	Atlantic; Bread Winners' Alumni;
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
Singles from The Ceremony
	"God Slippers"; Released: October 6, 2023; "Yonce Freestyle"; Released: November 9, 2023; "Birds Calling"; Released: January 12, 2024;

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.

Background

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

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

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Pitchfork	6.7/10^[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 The writing is all about moving forward, but the sonics keep Gates frozen in time, fused to an outdated Hot 100 sound that's incongruous with his matured, quieter stylings".^[6]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

*The Ceremony* track listing
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Ceremony"	Kevin Jerome Gilyard Jamil Alleyne Rijhay Derrick Sampson	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	3:02 Starrah	3:08
3.	"Lil Yea"	Gilyard Alleyne Zachary Mullett Christopher James Gholson Jermaine Dupri Mauldin Manuel L. Seal, Jr. Brian Casey Eduardo Gutiérrez del Barrio Algenord Lanier Washington Faheem Rashad Najm Usher Raymond IV Maurice White Paul Philips Verdine Adam White Ferrell Wayne Miles	Millz CHEEZE Kutta	3:24
4.	"Yonce Freestyle" (featuring B.G. and Sexyy Red)	Gilyard Christopher Noel Dorsey Janae Nierah Wherry Eric Grimes Jesse Morris Jacob Sclaver Carlo Savina	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	MadMaxx	2:27
7.	"God Slippers"	Gilyard Raheem Hightowe Jackie Lane Plant	Hardbody Heero Hardbody B-Eazy	3:22
8.	"It Won't Happen"	Gilyard Anthony Petit Marvyn Houllier Alex Christian Jean Petit	VVS Beats Batgang beats CashMoneyAP	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	Jester Beats Yung Lan James Maddocks Einer Bankz	2:32
11.	"Protect Children"	Gilyard Kevin Price	Go Grizzly	2:40
12.	"Heal You"	Gilyard Payne	DJ Chose	2:27
13.	"Walmart"	Gilyard Tony Son	Richie Souf	3:20
14.	"Do It Again"	Gilyard Christopher James Gholson	Drumma Boy	3:51
15.	"Rumors"	Gilyard Melvin Stubbs James Anthony Ellison Jonathan Michael Tempesta Tevin Revell	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

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

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

[1] "Kevin Gates Announces New Album 'The Ceremony'; First Single 'God Slippers'". hiphop-n-more.com. 25 October 2023.

[2] vingatesTV (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.

[PF-6] Lindert, Hattie (February 2, 2024). "Kevin Gates: The Ceremony Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 2, 2024.

[ac_Billboard200_Kevin_Gates-7] "Kevin Gates Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 6, 2024.

[ac_BillboardRandBHipHop_Kevin_Gates-8] "Kevin Gates Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 6, 2024.

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