If you were outside in 2017, you remember the "Free Gates" movement wasn't just a hashtag. It was a whole mood in the hip-hop community. Kevin Gates was sitting behind bars while his project By Any Means 2 dropped, and right in the middle of that tracklist sat Kevin Gates Imagine That. It wasn't just another song. Honestly, it felt like a recorded prison collect call turned into a melody.
Most rappers talk about the "struggle" like it's a costume they put on for the booth. Gates? He makes you feel the coldness of the concrete. Kevin Gates Imagine That isn't about the jewelry or the cars. It’s a raw, unfiltered look at what happens when the lights go out and you're left with nothing but your own thoughts and a daughter who’s growing up without you.
The Heartbreak Behind the Lyrics
The song opens up with a melody that feels kinda haunting. It’s produced by J-Mike and Mad Max, and they captured this somber, reflective energy that perfectly matches Kevin’s headspace at the time. He was dealing with a 30-month sentence in Illinois for a gun charge, which came right on the heels of a different sentence in Florida. Imagine being on top of the world with hits like "2 Phones" and then suddenly being erased from the public eye.
In the track, Gates isn't just rapping; he’s venting.
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He talks about the pain of losing people who are still alive. That’s a specific kind of grief. You’ve probably felt it—that moment when you realize the person you love is still breathing, but they aren’t "yours" anymore. Or worse, they’ve stopped holding it down for you while you’re "away," whether that "away" is prison, a depression hole, or just a bad season in life.
Key Themes in Imagine That:
- Parental Guilt: He mentions his daughter Islah and the pain of missing her milestones.
- Loyalty (or lack thereof): The realization that "day ones" often disappear when the money stops flowing.
- Self-Reflection: Gates has always been big on accountability, even when it hurts.
Why the Music Video Broke the Internet (Slowly)
The video for Kevin Gates Imagine That is actually what cemented the song's legacy. Since Kevin was incarcerated during the shoot, he couldn’t be in it. Instead, the director, Pasqual Gutierrez, focused on Kevin's real-life family.
Seeing his wife, Dreka Gates, and their children, Islah and Khaza, navigating life without him was heavy. It turned a rap song into a documentary of a family’s resilience. It currently has over 100 million views on YouTube, and if you read the comments, they aren't just "fire emojis." They are stories from people who have had fathers, brothers, or sons locked away. It’s a community of shared trauma.
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What Most People Get Wrong About This Era
People think By Any Means 2 was just a throwaway mixtape to keep his name hot. That’s wrong. If you really listen to Kevin Gates Imagine That, you hear the bridge between the "old Kevin" and the more spiritual, "General" version of Gates we see today.
He was transitioning.
He was moving away from the pure "trap" narrative and leaning into this philosopher-thug persona that has made him a cult icon. He wasn't just imagining a better life; he was manifesting it through the pain.
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The Technical Side of the Track
For the music nerds out there, the song’s structure is actually pretty complex for a "street" record. It relies heavily on a melodic flow—Gates is more of a singer-songwriter here than a traditional emcee.
- The Hook: It’s repetitive because it’s meant to feel like a cycle. The "Imagine That" refrain acts like a mantra.
- The Verses: They aren't perfectly timed. He goes off-beat slightly, which adds to the conversational, "I’m talking to you from a cell" vibe.
- The Production: No heavy 808s. It’s airy. It leaves room for his voice to crack, which sounds intentional and authentic.
Why We Are Still Talking About It in 2026
It’s been years since he came home, but Kevin Gates Imagine That remains a staple in his live sets. Why? Because the "imagination" he talks about is universal. We’ve all had to imagine a version of ourselves that was happier, more successful, or just... free.
Gates didn't just write a song; he wrote a blueprint for how to handle isolation. He showed that you can be at your absolute lowest point—literally in a cage—and still create something that touches millions.
If you're going through a period of "waiting," whether it's for a job, a person, or just a better version of yourself, go back and listen to this track. Pay attention to the line where he talks about "making it out." He wasn't just talking about the physical gates of the prison; he was talking about the mental ones.
To truly appreciate the depth of this track, watch the official music video with the sound off first. Look at the expressions on his children's faces. Then, listen to the lyrics. The disconnect between the two—the father who wants to be there and the man who is physically absent—is where the real power of the song lies. Check out his later projects like Khaza or The Ceremony to see how the seeds planted in "Imagine That" eventually bloomed into the artist he is today.