Big Gates

Big Gates (born Ronell Lawrence Levatte on September 23, 1974) is the older brother of American rapper Plies. Levatte was born and raised in Fort Myers, Florida. He graduated from Fort Myers High School in 1993. 1

Big Gates Records

Levatte, started Big Gates Records in 1999. Levatte served as CEO, President, among other things, while Plies initially developed the label's artists. Big Gates Records also contracted national rap artists to perform in Southwest Florida venues.

Plies initially refused to rap,however after a demonstration for one of his artist, Ronell kept Plies on the track for "Tell Dem Krackers Dat". Levatte and Plies worked hard promoting the single and traveled many times to Miami. This eventually led to a deal for Plies on Slip-N-Slide Records.2

After the success of "Tell Dem Krackers Dat", Big Gates Records would go on to release two more Plies mixtapes, including "36 Ounces," and "100% Real [...]."

Arrest and Conviction

Levatte and another of Plies entourage members was arrested on July 2, 2006 and charged with attempted [...] after a shooting broke out at 238 West Nightclub in Gainesville, Florida. Plies and the last entourage member were also arrested and charged with illegal gun possession. Plies was performing a concert when he was informed that his show would be cut 15 minutes short in order to give time for Lil' Boosie to perform right after. Allegedly, in response, Plies' entourage opened fire on the crowd, resulting in the injury of 5 people with non-life threatening wounds. Shortly after, Plies was released after paying $10,000 bail.34

Levatte ,with his cooperation, later took a plea deal of possession of firearm by convicted felon and 1 count of shooting into an occupied building or dwelling and will serve 3 years for those charges. 5

In the meantime, Plies' star has catapulted. His current single "Shawty" has reached Number 2 on Billboard's Rap Chart. 6

On August 7, 2007, Big Gates Records, along with Slip-N-Slide Records and Atlantic Records released Plies debut Album, The Real Testament. On August 8, 2007, Plies performed alongside Florida artist T-Pain on BET's 106 and Park. 7