Duluth, GA – Kevin Gates has made headlines for a number of obscure antics since dropping his new album Khaza last month. That trend continued on Wednesday (July 20) when the Baton Rouge rapper pulled up to All Elite Wrestling (AEW)’s Dynamite event at Gas South Arena in Georgia and got involved in a storyline with the AEW Tag Team Champions, Swerve Strickland and Keith Lee.
Following the champs match, Strickland and Lee gave Gates a shout-out ringside before being interrupted by Tony Nese and manager “Smart Mark” Sterling. Sterling grabbed the microphone and began dissing Gates while mistakingly mixing him up with Young MA.
“Just like Swerve Strickland, you’re untrustworthy and your music sucks!” Sterling yelled while pointing in Gates’ face. The “2 Phones” rapper left his ringside seat and approached the barricade while coming face-to-face with Sterling, who then retreated behind Tony Nese.
“Don’t touch me, I’ll sue you for all your money,” Sterling continued. Kevin Gates then stepped up and uncorked a vicious left hook to knock down Nese after grabbing him by his chain.
Kevin Gates knocks out Tony Nese ?
(via @AEW)pic.twitter.com/xTLNCwk4JG
— B/R Wrestling (@BRWrestling) July 21, 2022
Hip Hop was definitely in the building inside the Gas South Arena as Jermaine Dupri was also in attendance. The So So Def CEO even escorted Stokely Hathaway, Kiera Hogan and TBS Champion Jade Cargill to the ring for their match.
Ya know. Just chillin’ at ringside with Jermaine Dupri. SO SO DEF, BABY. pic.twitter.com/ZXi9Ko2qdR
— BIG STOKE (@StokelyHathaway) July 21, 2022
JD went viral earlier on Wednesday after posting a text message conversation with JAY-Z, where he received Hov’s blessing for a sample clearance for DVSN’s upcoming “If I Get Caught” single, which Dupri co-produced.
Gates is far from the only wrestling fan in Hip Hop. Smoke DZA and Wale are just a couple of notable WWE fans gracing the mic, while Westside Gunn honored the late Scott Hall with a tattoo portrait.