Kevin Gates -- Kicks Fan in Chest ... Don't Touch My Shorts!! (VIDEO)

Kevin Gates doesn't like to be touched when he's on stage and one female fan learned that quickly ... with a boot to the chest.

Gates was performing at a club in Lakeland, FL Friday night -- you can see a woman in the front row reach out and touch Gates' shorts ... that's when he loses it.

It's unclear what happened to the woman after the kick but she seems to stick around.