You ever just sit back and realize how much Kevin Gates has actually been through? Honestly, if you look at the Louisiana rap scene over the last decade, there’s a lot of noise, but few voices carry the weight of a guy who really lived what he’s spitting. That brings us to out the mud. It’s not just a song title. For Gates, it’s a whole philosophy, a survival manual wrapped in a trap beat that surfaced during one of the most pivotal runs of his career.
Released officially as a single in 2014 and later finding its home on the legendary Luca Brasi 2 mixtape, "Out the Mud" served as a flag-planting moment.
At that time, Kevin was transition from a regional hero in Baton Rouge to a global force. But he wasn’t doing it with shiny pop hooks or fake industry posturing. He was doing it by talking about the grit. The actual mud. People use that phrase "get it out the mud" so loosely now that it’s almost lost its meaning. Gates, though? He makes you feel the grime under your fingernails.
The Raw Energy of Out The Mud
The track starts with that signature aggressive energy. You’ve got the production from The Runners and The Monarch, which provides this heavy, almost claustrophobic backdrop. It sounds like a humid night in the south where the air is thick and the stakes are high.
Gates comes in talking about the 24/7 grind. "24 hours, na, 7 days a week / Me, I don't get tired, I let you other nas sleep." This was the era where the #IDGT (I Don't Get Tired) movement was peaking. He wasn't just rapping; he was branding a lifestyle of relentless work.
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One thing that stands out about out the mud is how he describes the hustle. It’s not just about "having money." It’s about the mechanics of the street. He talks about breaking his wrist, the water whip, and the "clientele-ickity." It’s rhythmic, almost hypnotic, but the lyrics are dense with the reality of someone who was literally "across the street under a bando" before the fame hit.
Why the Lyrics Resonate So Deeply
Most rappers talk about the "trap," but Gates talks about the psychology of it.
- The isolation of the grind.
- The paranoia of the neighborhood.
- The complicated relationship with family while trying to "flip" your way out of poverty.
He mentions how his baby mothers are "sick of him" because he’s chasing paper religiously. It’s that raw, uncomfortable honesty that makes his fanbase so loyal. He’s not painting a picture of a perfect life. He’s painting a picture of a man who is "the epitome" of a self-made survivor.
The line "No one repeatedly coming and getting me out the mud" is the core of the whole track. It’s a rejection of the "handout" culture. In his mind, if you didn't help him when he was down, don't look for him when he's up.
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The Luca Brasi 2 Context
You can't talk about out the mud without mentioning Luca Brasi 2. This mixtape, hosted by DJ Drama as part of the Gangsta Grillz series, is arguably one of the best projects of the 2010s. It dropped in December 2014 and basically solidified Gates as an untouchable lyricist in the trap genre.
The project had hits like "I Don't Get Tired" with August Alsina, but "Out the Mud" was the soul of the tape. It represented the bridge between his early Luca Brasi Story days and the massive commercial success he’d eventually see with Islah.
Interestingly, the music video for the song, which has racked up over 200 million views on YouTube, is remarkably simple. It’s just Kevin. In the street. In the house. No massive CGI or fake jewelry. Just the man and his message. That’s why it stuck. It felt real because it was.
Misconceptions and Unreleased Gems
A lot of people get confused when searching for Kevin Gates and "the mud." There have been snippets on Instagram and Twitter—one specifically from November 2021—where he’s seen in the studio or in his car playing unreleased tracks that fans often label "In The Mud" or "Still In The Mud."
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That’s the thing about Gates. He records constantly. Thousands of songs.
But the 2014 classic remains the definitive version of that sentiment. Even as his style evolved—becoming more melodic and spiritual in projects like Khaza or The Ceremony—the "mud" remains his foundation. He’s a guy who talks about "healing" and "spirituality" now, but he never forgets that he had to "break his wrist" to get the platform to speak.
How to Apply the "Out The Mud" Mindset
If you're a fan, you know this isn't just music to work out to. It's a blueprint for a specific kind of resilience.
- Acknowledge the Struggle: Don't hide the "mud." Gates embraces it. Your background and your failures are what give you your edge.
- Unmatched Work Ethic: The #IDGT mantra isn't about literally never sleeping; it's about the mental refusal to give up.
- Self-Reliance: Stop waiting for a "plug" or a savior. If you want to get out of your current situation, you have to be the one to "whip it" into existence.
- Stay Authentic: Even when Gates got rich, his music stayed grounded in his real-life experiences. People can smell "fake" a mile away.
Whether you're listening to the 2014 original or hunting down those elusive unreleased snippets from his recent sessions, the message is the same. The "mud" isn't a place you just leave behind; it's the place that makes you.
Next time you're feeling stuck or like the world is pushing against you, throw on that Luca Brasi 2 track. Listen to the way he attacks the beat. It’s a reminder that no matter how deep you are in the grime, there's always a way to flip the script.
Actionable Step: If you want to really understand the evolution of this sound, go back and listen to the transition from Luca Brasi 2 to Islah. Notice how the "mud" talk moves from pure survival to building an empire. It's one of the best case studies in artist development in modern hip-hop.