The Luca Brasi Saga Returns: Everything You Need To Know About Kevin Gates' New 'Luca Brasi 4' Album

The wait is finally over: After years of speculation and anticipation from the Bread Winners Association faithful, Kevin Gates has officially released the fourth installment in his career-defining mixtape series, Luca Brasi 4, making it one of the most significant rap drops of the current year, December 2025. The project marks a highly-anticipated return to the raw, introspective street narratives that first propelled the Baton Rouge rapper to national stardom, following his 2022 studio album, Khaza.

This latest project, which officially hit streaming services in the summer of 2025 (with some sources citing an August 13, 2025, release date), revives the beloved 'Luca Brasi' persona—a character Gates identifies with for his role as a protector and silent enforcer, inspired by the figure from The Godfather. The new album has immediately sparked intense discussion among fans and critics, who are dissecting whether it lives up to the legendary status of its predecessors.

Kevin Gates: Biography and Discography Essentials

Kevin Gates, born Kevin Jerome Gilyard on February 5, 1986, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has cultivated one of the most unique and compelling careers in modern hip-hop. Known for his raw, emotional honesty, melodic delivery, and complex lyrical themes that blend street life with deep introspection, his journey is marked by both critical acclaim and personal turbulence.

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• Full Name: Kevin Jerome Gilyard
• Born: February 5, 1986 (Age 39 as of late 2025)
• Hometown: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
• Record Labels: Bread Winners Association (BWA), Artist Partner Group (APG), Atlantic Records (formerly)
• Nickname/Persona: Luca Brasi (after the character in The Godfather)
• Breakthrough Project: The Luca Brasi Story (Mixtape, 2013)
• Major Mixtape Series: The Luca Brasi Trilogy (*The Luca Brasi Story*, *Luca Brasi 2*, *Luca Brasi 3*)
• Studio Albums: Islah (2016), I’m Him (2019), Khaza (2022)
• Latest Project: Luca Brasi 4 (2025)

The Official Luca Brasi 4 Tracklist and Major Collaborations

The release of Luca Brasi 4 has been a major event, not only for the return of the series but also for its high-profile collaborations. The album features 19 songs, packing a full 53 minutes of new material. The tracklist indicates a return to the powerful, narrative-driven content that defined the early installments, with titles that hint at personal struggle and street grit.

Key Features and Standout Tracks

One of the biggest talking points surrounding the album is the selection of features, which includes a trio of powerhouse rappers. The collaborations on Luca Brasi 4 are designed to create buzz and bridge different regional sounds in Southern Rap.

• NBA YoungBoy: The fellow Baton Rouge native and rap superstar is featured on the project, a collaboration long desired by fans of Louisiana Rap.
• G Herbo: The Chicago drill veteran appears on the track "Thuggin," a song title that immediately suggests a classic, gritty Gates sound.
• NoCap: The Mobile, Alabama artist adds another layer of Southern introspection, featuring on the track "Dying Is Easy."

While the full tracklist is extensive, several titles have caught the attention of listeners and reviewers, suggesting a strong thematic focus:

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• "Intro"
• "Thuggin" (feat. G Herbo)
• "Stutter"
• "Dying Is Easy" (feat. NoCap)
• "Disappoint Me"
• "Stir The Pot"
• "Factory Reset"
• "Satellites 2" (A sequel to a track from his 2013 tape, a major nod to his core fanbase)

Why Fans Are Divided: The Luca Brasi 4 Album Review and Reception

When a beloved mixtape series is revived after a long hiatus (Luca Brasi 3 was released in 2018), expectations are astronomically high. This has led to a mixed but passionate reception for Luca Brasi 4, with fans and critics debating its place in the Kevin Gates catalog.

The "Worthy Fourth Part" Argument

Many reviewers have praised the album for featuring Kevin Gates "in his element," delivering the powerful blend of emotional storytelling and street grit that made the original The Luca Brasi Story a pivotal project in his career. Gates’ animated delivery and unpredictable lyrical turns are still present, offering the kind of raw, unfiltered music that his core audience craves. For many, the project successfully revives the trilogy and is a worthy continuation of the narrative.

The Disappointment and Feature Critique

On the other side of the spectrum, some long-time listeners have expressed significant disappointment. The criticism often centers on the production and the quality of the features. Some have noted that the album contains "some underwhelming beats" and that the collaborations are "horrible," with one Reddit user calling a particular feature "embarrassing." This group of fans feels that the quality of the new material does not match the standard set by the first two installments, leading to a sense that Gates is "falling off" after his last critically acclaimed projects like Khaza.

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The debate highlights a crucial point: the 'Luca Brasi' moniker represents a specific sound and era for Kevin Gates—a time of intense focus on his personal struggles and rise from the regional scene. The new album attempts to capture that lightning in a bottle while incorporating his growth and current mainstream appeal. The inclusion of "Satellites 2" is a clear attempt to connect the new work with his foundational tracks, but whether it fully succeeds is a matter of ongoing discussion among the hip-hop community.

The Legacy of the Luca Brasi Mixtape Series

The Luca Brasi series is more than just a collection of mixtapes; it's a foundational pillar of Kevin Gates' career and a benchmark for Southern Rap. The first installment, The Luca Brasi Story (2013), is widely considered the project that transitioned him from a regional favorite to a national star, showcasing his unique ability to mix hardcore rap with deeply vulnerable melodies.

The character of Luca Brasi, which Gates has stated is a nickname he identifies with rather than an alter ego, is the silent, loyal muscle of the Corleone family in The Godfather. Gates adopted this persona to represent his own role as a fierce protector of his loved ones and a man of unwavering, though often misunderstood, principles. This thematic consistency across the series is what gives it such topical authority and longevity among his fans.

With Luca Brasi 4 now streaming, the focus shifts from the 'release date' to the 'legacy'—the project serves as the latest chapter in a compelling, decade-long narrative. Whether you are a fan of the raw, earlier mixtapes or the more polished studio albums like Islah, the new album is essential listening for anyone tracking the evolution of one of rap's most complex and enduring artists. The mixed initial reception only adds to the intrigue, guaranteeing that Luca Brasi 4 will be discussed well into 2026 and beyond.