Bobbi Althoff joins Kevin Gates on the road in a new episode of Not This Again, capturing a version of the rapper that rarely makes it to the public stage. The episode unfolds across Gates’ tour bus and backstage corridors, where he speaks openly about performance pressure, fasting, discipline, personal reinvention, and the rituals that shape his daily life while traveling.
Gates begins by acknowledging the anxiety he still feels before going onstage, explaining that the nerves come from caring deeply about delivering a meaningful show. His warmup process, freestyling, centering himself, and getting into character, helps him settle into performance mode, though he admits that Nashville crowds bring out an extra intensity in him. The conversation moves from stage preparation to physical transformation, as Gates reflects on dropping from over 300 pounds to fitting Zara mediums, a milestone he shares with humor as he points to the changes he has made over the past several years.
What surprises Althoff most is the intentional training behind Gates’ melodic vocal ability. He explains that he committed to vocal work around 2014, developing a tone far softer than his exterior suggests. That contrast becomes a theme throughout the episode as he reveals a mix of spiritual belief, introspection, and unconventional habits that structure his life.
Much of the discussion centers on Gates’ approach to fasting, an extreme practice he uses to clear his mind and strengthen what he describes as his connection to God. He details completing multiple 42-day liquid fasts and insists that the process increases his strength rather than weakening it. The physical discomfort of the second day, when the body enters starvation mode, is something he reframes intentionally, viewing pain and challenge as opportunities rather than burdens. That mindset extends to his philosophy on everyday setbacks; even hypothetical losses become, in his view, lessons or protection from something worse. For Gates, discipline begins with internal dialogue, and he demonstrates small physical exercises to illustrate how self-talk can make the body stronger, or weaker.
The conversation also dips into how he views responsibility, finances, and support. Gates explains his refusal to give people money, believing that removing struggle limits growth. His outlook is shaped by his own experiences and the belief that everyone knows what success requires, even if not everyone is willing to endure what it demands. That perspective blends with a surprising domestic side as he describes his love of cooking with Moroccan spices, fermented lemons, and whatever ingredients he feels inspired by. He jokes about being a world-class chef except when it comes to baking, which for him simply means putting Pillsbury dough in the oven.
Gates’ personal quirks appear throughout the episode. He names his plants, Little Baby, Big Mama, and once took his snake plants on hikes because he thought they needed a change in atmospheric pressure, a habit he admits began during a psychedelic trip. He describes his multiple homes as protected spaces where he never allows strangers to stay, emphasizing the importance of guarding his energy. Even on the road, his tour bus is designed as a moving sanctuary with blackout curtains, custom bedding, and bunks he compares to tombs, a reference to past-life memories he claims from Transylvania.
He walks Althoff through breathing exercises he uses to calm the body, focusing on lung expansion, oxygen saturation, and the ability to exit fight-or-flight mode. These routines support his belief in longevity beyond physical age, which leads to his reflections on past lives as a warrior, surgeon, and historical figure who lived alongside biblical characters. Though extraordinary, these claims illustrate the spiritual lens through which he views purpose and identity.
Althoff captures a portrait of Gates that blends toughness with vulnerability. He speaks about being comfortable in silence, protecting his energy, and recognizing when interactions drain him. He sees himself as someone who processes people deeply and likens his shows to church services where fans can express emotions they often suppress. Audience reactions, including tears, reaffirm his belief that performance is both a release and a connection point.
The episode reveals a layered version of Kevin Gates, an artist shaped by discipline, spirituality, personal transformation, and habits that challenge conventional norms. Behind the tattoos, diamonds, and onstage intensity is someone who treats life as an ongoing practice, constantly reshaped by self-reflection, physical rigor, and a desire to sharpen both body and spirit.
