Unlike some of the first things you may learn as a child in this world it is all about survival. Through survival you may run in to obstacles whether it is mentally or physically. Despite being thrown into the infestation of the street life without a father figure and being sucked into the Mississippi crime wave, the future still looked bright for Sean Gates. Sean Gates, born Dashon Felder 27 years ago, is the epitome of the south. He is a man that bears a stone face, familiar with the severity of street violence and culture, but still, Gates, a very reserved and intelligent man, lets off a presence of a well traveled person who adapts to his surroundings without notice. Born and raised in Moss Point MS in the late 70's, Gates acquired a taste for hip hop at an early age. Some of his favorites including Scarface, Nas, Ice-T, KRS-One and some of the local talent from his area. The oldest of three sons, Gates took on a role of man of the household and help provide for his mother and two younger brothers. Looking up to the young hustlers and pimps, his hunger for the finer things would increase. His desire for school decreased as his appetite for illegal activities had grew. Gates was always noticed as excellent freestyler and song writer. After having close friends killed or either sentenced to jail, Gates decided to pursue rap seriously. He started recording songs in the bedroom of a high school neighbor, who would teach him to count bars, develop concepts and compose songs from scratch. In February of 96, Gates left Mississippi upon joining the United States Air Force. He spent time in Texas and California. Gates resided in Florida in the summer of 97. Still deeply rooted with hip hop, he and two other military companions started a hip hop group on Macdill Air Force Base called M.I.A(Money Infiltration Association). For the next two years they worked strenuously on their debut album at Dimensional Sound Productions in Tampa Florida. Like any other thing in life, good things don't last long and the group split up the following year. Beginning work on his solo album Gates attracted a buzz from producer/engineer, Anwar Joemmankhan, who was about to start a record label. In the fall of 2001 Gates signed with Survival Records and fell right into place. He made contributions to mixtapes, local artist projects and developed songs for the labels first full length album, Perfect Position. After the release of Perfect Position, Gates fan based increased and the demand for a solo album was established. Ready for the opportunity to shine, Gates and Survival Records released two compilation mixtapes regionally. Soon to follow, Gates released, Cut the Check, his solo mixtape to the underground music scene in Tampa. The response was phenomenal and expectations of a solo album grew. Gates started appearing on local mixtapes, receiving features on albums and was raising the stock of his name. Gates and producer Anwar Joemmankhan began work on his first full length album entitled Durty Slang and 485 days later, a rotation of members and clashing of egos, it was ready for the world. The product is his interpretation of the struggle, good times and poverty of the southern culture. With his strong country drawl and cocky-this-is-my-world attitude, there is no doubt Sean Gates will introduce a New South to the world.