The answer to the question, "Is Kevin Gates still married to Dreka Gates?" is a definitive, and dramatic, no. After a relationship that spanned nearly two decades and a marriage of nine years, the long-standing union between rapper Kevin Gates and his wife, business partner, and mother of his children, Dreka Gates, has officially ended in a legal battle. As of late July 2025, Dreka Gates has formally filed for divorce, citing the common grounds of "irreconcilable differences" and marking the formal close of one of hip-hop’s most high-profile and tumultuous marriages. The separation date listed in the court documents is reportedly July 10, 2025, confirming the split is a very recent development.
This separation comes after months of speculation and public drama surrounding Kevin Gates' personal life, including a controversial "spiritual marriage" to influencer Brittany Renner. However, the current divorce filing is not a simple separation; it is quickly escalating into a complex legal dispute. The most shocking twist? Kevin Gates is reportedly fighting the divorce filing with a counter-claim that could invalidate the entire marriage, raising serious questions about the legal status of their nine-year union and the future of their shared financial empire, Bread Winners' Association (BWA).
Kevin Gates and Dreka Gates: A Complete Biographical Profile
The relationship between Kevin Gates and Dreka Gates was one of the most enduring and public in the rap world, a partnership that predates his mainstream fame. Their journey began long before the platinum plaques and sold-out tours, making the recent legal drama all the more impactful.
- Kevin Gates (Actual Name: Kevin Jerome Gilyard)
- Born: February 5, 1986, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
- Age: 39 (as of late 2025).
- Career: Rapper, singer, and entrepreneur. Known for his introspective and often controversial lyrics, he founded the record label Bread Winners' Association (BWA).
- Marriage Date to Dreka: October 17, 2015.
- Dreka Gates (Actual Name: Shardaa "Dreka" Gates, née Haynes)
- Born: August 31, 1986, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
- Age: 39 (as of late 2025).
- Career: Entrepreneur, business manager, and social media personality. She served as Kevin's manager and co-founded BWA. She is also known for her focus on holistic health and wellness. Her estimated net worth is approximately $2 million as of 2025.
- Children (with Dreka Gates)
- Daughter: Islah Koren Gates (Born: 2012)
- Son: Khaza Kamil Gates (Born: May 10, 2014)
- Relationship Timeline Highlights
- Early 2000s: Began dating, with Dreka once stating they had been together for at least 16 years by 2016.
- 2015: Married in a public ceremony.
- July 2025: Dreka filed for divorce.
The Legal Showdown: Why Kevin Gates Claims He Was Never Legally Married
The divorce filing by Dreka Gates in late July 2025 was a major news event, but the subsequent legal response from Kevin Gates has turned the proceedings into a shocking court battle. The rapper has taken the "factually baseless position" that he and Dreka were never legally married in the first place, despite their public wedding in 2015 and nearly a decade of being recognized as husband and wife.
This claim, which his estranged wife's legal team has strongly refuted, is a direct attempt to challenge the validity of the divorce filing. If Kevin Gates were to successfully prove that no marriage license was ever filed or that the union was legally flawed, it would have profound implications. Specifically, it could strip Dreka of the right to request spousal support and potentially complicate the division of assets acquired during their long-term partnership, including the profits from BWA and his music career.
The controversy hinges on whether the 2015 ceremony was legally binding or if it was merely a symbolic, spiritual union. The Gateses have always been open about their unique and often unconventional approach to life and relationships, which may have led to a legal oversight. However, the public and legal system have long recognized them as married, and Dreka's filing for divorce confirms her legal position that a valid marriage exists and needs to be dissolved. This legal back-and-forth will be the central focus of the case moving forward, determining whether the court will treat the split as a divorce or a termination of a long-term cohabiting relationship.
The Financial Fallout: Dreka’s Demand for $70K+ in Monthly Support
Beyond the question of legal marriage, the financial demands laid out in Dreka Gates’ divorce petition reveal the deep financial rift that led to the separation. Court documents show that Dreka is seeking a significant amount in combined spousal and child support, with the total request exceeding $70,000 per month.
The breakdown of the request is substantial: over $27,000 per month for child support for their two children, Islah and Khaza, and over $46,000 per month in spousal support.
Allegations of Financial Dismantling
In her filing, Dreka Gates alleges that the financial foundation of the family began to crumble in late 2021 when the rapper allegedly started to "dismantle the financial foundation of their family" by stopping his financial support. This claim suggests a separation that began long before the formal filing date in 2025. The request for high spousal support is a direct response to this alleged financial abandonment, aiming to restore the financial stability she claims was lost due to Kevin's actions.
The total amount requested—over $70,000 monthly—underscores the high-net-worth nature of the couple's life and the substantial income disparity between the successful rapper and his former manager. The court will now have to assess Kevin Gates’ current income and assets against Dreka’s claims to determine a fair and equitable support arrangement, provided the judge rules that a legal marriage existed.
The Relationship After the Split: Brittany Renner and New Partners
The final confirmation of the divorce follows a period of public drama that significantly strained the Gates’ relationship. In 2022, Kevin Gates released the song "Bad for Me," which many fans interpreted as a public confirmation of a separation from Dreka.
The most publicized event leading to the divorce filing was Kevin’s highly controversial, albeit brief, "spiritual marriage" to model and influencer Brittany Renner. This relationship, which drew intense media scrutiny and fan backlash, was widely seen as the final straw for Dreka. However, that union also reportedly ended quickly, with one source claiming it lasted only 52 days.
Following the separation and the drama with Renner, Kevin Gates has since been linked to a new woman, Jelenny-Tejada, a 26-year-old army veteran. This new relationship, which has also generated public discussion, confirms that the rapper has fully moved on from his long-term partner, Dreka. Dreka, for her part, has maintained a relatively private life since the separation, focusing on her entrepreneurial ventures and co-parenting their two children amidst the complex legal proceedings.
In summary, while Kevin and Dreka Gates were once hip-hop's power couple, the answer to "is Kevin Gates still married" is a firm no. The relationship has dissolved into a major legal battle over whether the marriage was ever valid and the astronomical amount of support being sought by Dreka Gates.
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