Top tracks — play these first
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Where I’m From — This opening track sets the tone for the album, highlighting King Von's roots and establishing his identity within the Chicago drill landscape.
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Grandson for President — In this track, Von uses political references to convey his aspirations and critiques of societal issues faced by his community, blending personal ambition with social commentary.
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Evil Twins — Featuring a collaboration with fellow rapper Lil Durk, this track showcases their chemistry while reflecting on loyalty and friendship amid adversity.
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Too Real — In Too Real, Von’s candid lyrics offer an introspective view of his struggles and experiences, marking a poignant moment that humanizes the tough persona he often portrayed.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
King Von's storytelling and aggressive delivery create a compelling yet uneven exploration of street life.
What we noticed
- Several tracks incorporate call-and-response elements, engaging listeners and enhancing the live performance feel.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady, consistent energy levels
- short, impactful listening sessions
- narrative-driven emotional exploration
- gradual builds and payoffs
Where this album fits
- Moods
- Dark· Introspective
- Career context
- Released on March 4, 2022, What It Means to Be King was King Von's first posthumous album following his tragic death in November 2020. At this time, he was emerging as a prominent voice in the Chicago drill scene, with his previous album, Welcome to O'Block, establishing his reputation for vivid narratives about street life.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Lil Durk· G Herbo· Fredo Bang
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Where I’m From 1:38
- 2 War 2:40
- 3 Facetime 2:36
- 4 Don’t Play That 2:13
- 5 Straight to It 2:58
- 6 Trust Nothing 3:05
- 7 Evil Twins 1:55
- 8 Too Real 1:45
- 9 Rich Gangsta 2:45
- 10 Mad 2:04
- 11 My Fault 3:11
- 12 Change My Life 2:40
- 13 Hard to Trust 3:26
- 14 Get Back 2:40
- 15 Get It Done 2:44
- 16 Chase the Bag 2:24
- 17 Go n Get Em 2:46
- 18 Grandson for President 2:17
- 19 Family Dedication Outro 2:56
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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