Took Her to the O

Last updated
"Took Her to the O"
King Von - Took Her To The O.jpg
Single by King Von
from the album Levon James
ReleasedFebruary 21, 2020
Genre
Length3:14
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Chopsquad DJ
King Von singles chronology
"Pressin"
(2020)		"Took Her to the O"
(2020)		"Grandson For President"
(2020)
Music video
"Took Her to the O" on YouTube

"Took Her to the O" is a song by American rapper King Von released on February 21, 2020, through labels Only the Family and Empire representing the third and last single extracted from his second mixtape Levon James (2020). The song was written by Von and Chopsquad DJ, with the latter solely producing the beat. [1] The song is among Von's most popular. [2] [3] The song is a drill track. The song received positive reviews from music critics, with many praising it for the detail-rich approach to storytelling. [4] [5]

Contents

The song peaked at number 44 on the Billboard Hot 100, [6] [7] On February 14, 2023, was certified triple platinum by Recording Industry Association of America having sold more than 3 million certified units since its release, [8] along with having received a silver certification by British Phonographic Industry on November 3, 2023, having sold more than two hundred thousand copies in the United Kingdom. [9]

"Took Her to the O" is one of King Von's favorite among all the songs of the project Levon James . [10] In an interview for XXL MAG, King Von revealed to have written most of the song lyrics while he was locked up in jail. [11]

Composition

The song finds King Von rapping with aggressive energy and hard-hitting flows associated with a simple but catchy and memorable hook, [3] all this over a "sinister, piano-led drill beat". [1] The lyrics are developed with a storytelling technique characterized by a very explicit and raw style. [12]

"Took Her to the O" was described as a dark and intense song that vividly portrays the harsh realities of life on the streets. The song's lyrics were defined as both graphic and disturbing, painting a bleak picture of a world where violence and aggression are a necessary part of survival. It even deals with themes of violence, crime, and street culture, portraying the same King Von as a tough and ruthless character who is willing to take matters into his own hands in order to protect himself. The lyrics also suggest a sense of loyalty and street justice. [12]

The story is romanced in detail, and Von depicted him as the protagonist in it, riding in a car and seducing a girl, "a stripper" from Kankakee that he met before at the store, [13] [4] the seduction goes wrong as Bennett has to deal with a man named "Duck" which confronts him leading the situation to become violent with the man throwing a brick to Von's car and forcing him to take his immediate revenge on "Duck" by shooting him twice and killing him. [12] The man is heavily implied to be the real life and late rapper FBG Duck, whom Von knew personally and was from his rival neighborhood. [1] Duck would end up dead after being shot by members of O'Block months after the song's release. [14] The story ends with Von taking the girl to "the O", which most likely refers to Parkway Garden Homes a.k.a. "O'Block", an apartment complex in Chicago on 6400 block of South King Drive where Bennett grew up. [13] [15]

King Von also employs a line that recalls to his most famous catchphrase "We not from 63rd" which he introduced in his breakout single Crazy Story [16] [17] but in this case he adapted it to the story with the following verse “I know you mad ’cause I smoked your mans, left him on the curb/She started laughin’, she said, “F*** that nigga, he from 63rd.” [15]

King Von explained in detail his lyrics on "Took Her to the O" song, appearing On 21 March 2020, in a YouTube video for Genius. [18] [19]

Music video

The music video was released alongside the single on February 21, 2020. It was directed by Joan Pabon [1] [20] with the collaboration of "Blanksquare Productions" for shooting the interior scenes, that were filmed in Los Angeles at "FilmstudioLA". [21] In it, King Von recounts the story to his Therapist through rapping the song, between shots of Von and his therapist getting down to DJ's beat, and with intercutting scenes from the narrative. [1]

King Von also recorded a live piano session of the song concurrently with "Why He Told" song for Audiomack, that was released with a video on August 13, 2020, on YouTube. [22]

Critical reception

Mark Braboy that wrote for Complex, defined songs like "Took Her to the O" and the "Crazy Story" series as pieces that brought back catchy narrative sing-alongs, reminiscent of what Slick Rick did with "Children's Story"; plus he defined King Von as thoughtful, skillful lyricist, and different from others Chicago drill artists as able to deliver it in a ferocious and resonating package that was unrivaled. [5] Will Schube of NPR noted that King Von's artistry is marked by his ability to craft vivid narratives, blending a stark, dead-eye nihilism with humor and empathy in his rhymes; and that this distinctive style is exemplified right in "Took Her to the O". [4]

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Took Her to the O"
Chart (2020)Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [23] 56
Global 200 ( Billboard ) [24] 94
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ) [25] 18
US Billboard Hot 100 [26] 47
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard ) [27] 14

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "Took Her to the O"
Chart (2021)Position
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard) [28] 64

Certifications

Certifications for "Took Her to the O"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [29] Silver200,000‡
United States (RIAA) [30] 3× Platinum3,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

Crunk is a subgenre of southern hip hop that emerged in the early 1990s and gained mainstream success during the early to mid 2000s. Crunk is often up-tempo and one of Southern hip hop's more nightclub-oriented subgenres. Distinguishing itself with other Southern hip hop subgenres, crunk is marked and characterized by its energetic accelerated musical tempo, club appeal, recurrent chants frequently executed in a call and response manner, multilayered synths, its pronounced reliance on resounding 808 basslines, and rudimentary musical arrangement. An archetypal crunk track frequently uses a dominant groove composed of a nuanced utilization of intricately multilayered keyboard synthesizers organized in a recurring pattern, seamlessly shifting from a lower to a higher pitch that encompasses the song's primary central rhythm, both in terms of its harmonic and melodic aspects. The main groove is then wrapped up with looped, stripped-down, and crisp 808 dance claps and manipulated snare rolls coupled and accompanied by a bassline of thumping 808 kick drums. The term "crunk" was also used throughout the 2000s as a blanket term to denote any style of Southern hip hop, a side effect of the genre's breakthrough to the mainstream. The word derives from its African-American Vernacular English past-participle form, "crunk", of the verb "to crank". It refers to being excited or high on drugs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">O.P.P. (song)</span> 1991 single by Naughty by Nature

"O.P.P." is a song by American hip hop group Naughty by Nature, released in August 1991 by Tommy Boy as the lead single from the group's self-titled second album, Naughty by Nature (1991). It was one of the first rap songs to become a pop hit when it reached No. 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 35 on the UK Singles Chart. Rodd Houston and Marcus Raboy directed the music video for the song. Its declaration, "Down wit' O.P.P." was a popular catchphrase in the US in the early 1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christmas in Hollis</span> 1987 single by Run-DMC

"Christmas in Hollis" is a single by Run-DMC that was included on two 1987 Christmas compilation albums featuring various artists: A Very Special Christmas and Christmas Rap. When Bill Adler first asked Run-DMC to contribute to A Very Special Christmas—the first in a series of various artists compilation albums produced to benefit the Special Olympics—they refused. After Bill—who was then the director of publicity for Rush Productions, which managed Run-DMC—gave the band the idea for "Christmas in Hollis", they changed their minds and agreed to be on the album. The track was produced by the group along with Rick Rubin and was originally released as a single in 1987 by A&M. In 2000, thirteen years after it was first released, it reached number 78 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The One (Mary J. Blige song)</span> 2009 single by Mary J. Blige featuring Drake

"The One" is a song by American singer Mary J. Blige featuring Canadian rapper Drake. Written alongside Ester Dean and producer Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, it was released on July 21, 2009 as the lead single from her ninth studio album Stronger with Each Tear. The song marked Blige's 5th entry on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, on which it reached number 32. Blige's sum extended her lead for most charted titles among women in the 1990s and 2000s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lil Durk</span> American rapper (born 1992)

Durk Devontay Banks, known professionally as Lil Durk, is an American rapper. Regarded as a pioneering artist in the Chicago-based hip hop subgenre drill music, he has been noted as one of the subgenre's most commericially successful rappers. He initially garnered local success with the release of his Signed to the Streets mixtape series (2013–2014), which led to him to sign with Def Jam Recordings. The label released his debut studio album, Remember My Name (2015), and its follow-up, Lil Durk 2X (2016), to moderate commercial reception before parting ways with the rapper in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calboy</span> American rapper (born 1999)

Calvin Lashon Woods, better known by his stage name Calboy, is an American rapper from Calumet City, Illinois. He is best known for his 2018 single "Envy Me", which received quintuple platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and peaked within the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100. Its success led him to sign with Polo Grounds Music, an imprint of RCA Records, who issued the song as lead single for his debut extended play (EP), Wildboy (2019). The EP peaked at number 30 on the Billboard 200, while his second, Love Live the Kings (2020), lukewarmly entered the chart.

Adam Bradley Calhoun is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and YouTube vlogger. He is active as a social media personality and has released a number of albums. His most successful album was a collaborative project with Tom MacDonald, titled The Brave, released in 2022. The same year, he released another album named Country Rap Tunes. A sequel to The Brave, entitled The Brave 2, was released the following year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King Von</span> American rapper (1994–2020)

Dayvon Daquan Bennett, known professionally as King Von, was an American rapper and gangster from Chicago, Illinois, who was affiliated with the Black Disciples gang. He was considered a preeminent figure in the drill genre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King Von discography</span> Hip hop recording artist discography

The discography of American rapper King Von includes three studio albums, two mixtapes, thirty-one singles, with ten of them being featured collaborations, and thirty-three music videos all crafted during his career. His work is known for vivid storytelling and raw narratives, which played a key role in establishing him as a prominent figure in the drill music scene.

<i>Levon James</i> 2020 mixtape by King Von

Levon James is the second and final mixtape by American rapper King Von. It was released through Only the Family Entertainment/Empire on March 6, 2020. It is a 16-track project in an assortment of drill heavy beats executive produced by Chopsquad DJ and with various others productions from Mike WiLL Made-It, EY3ZLOWBEATZ, Ant Chamberlain, Budda Beats, Blue Nightmare, Dr. Flow, Bruce "Jaggerwerks" Billingy, MVAbeats, Mike Mvjor, JAYSTONBEATS. It has guest appearances from Lil Durk, Booka600, G Herbo, NLE Choppa, Tee Grizzley, YNW Melly, and Yungeen Ace.

"Go Crazy" is a song by American singer Chris Brown and American rapper Young Thug, from their collaborative mixtape Slime & B, released on May 5, 2020. After it became the only charting song from the mixtape, it was officially released as a single on May 19, 2020. The song is a trap-infused R&B record, with production that samples the Showboys's 1986 single "Drag Rap", for which the Showboys are credited as writers. The official remix of the song was released on February 19, 2021, and features fellow American rappers Future, Lil Durk, and Latto.

<i>Welcome to OBlock</i> 2020 studio album by King Von

Welcome to O'Block is the debut studio album by American rapper King Von, and the only one to be released during his lifetime. It was released on October 30, 2020 by Only the Family and Empire Distribution. Welcome to O'Block was released a week prior to King Von's murder on November 6, 2020, after the album's official release party. The project features chief production from Chopsquad DJ, and other producers including Hitmaka, Tay Keith and Wheezy; guest appearances include Polo G, Lil Durk, Dreezy, Moneybagg Yo, Fivio Foreign and Prince Dre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crazy Story</span> 2018 single by King Von

"Crazy Story" is a song by American rapper King Von, released on December 6, 2018, as his debut single through Only the Family and Empire Distribution. The song is one of Von's most popular songs and it is considered his breakout hit. It was followed by two sequels: "Crazy Story 2.0" and "Crazy Story, Pt. 3". All three singles appear on Von's mixtape Grandson, Vol. 1 (2019), while "Crazy Story" was included on Only The Family mixtape Only The Family Involved Vol. 2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All These Niggas</span> 2020 single by King Von featuring Lil Durk

"All These Niggas" is a song by American rapper King Von featuring American rapper Lil Durk. It was released on August 5, 2020 as the second single and ninth track from Von's debut studio album Welcome to O'Block (2020). The song was produced by Chopsquad DJ.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pooh Shiesty</span> American rapper from Tennessee (born 1999)

Lontrell Donell Williams, Jr., better known by his stage name Pooh Shiesty, is an American rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. He signed with Gucci Mane's 1017 Records, an imprint of Atlantic Records in 2020, he rose to prominence following his collaborations with the label's founder and cohorts. That same year, his single "Back in Blood" peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100. It preceded the release of his debut commercial mixtape Shiesty Season (2021), which peaked at number three on the Billboard 200. His stage name was given by his late brother, who adapted his childhood nickname "Mr. Pooh" with the vernacular slang term "shiesty"—referential of his lifestyle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Backdoor (song)</span> 2020 single by Lil Durk

"Backdoor" is a song by American rapper Lil Durk, from his sixth studio album, The Voice. It was released as the third single, on December 21, 2020, three days before the album. The song is a tribute to Durk's labelmate and friend, King Von, who was shot and killed outside an Atlanta nightclub in November 2020. The video sees Durk wearing Von's signature O'Block chain, which Von approved of before his death.

<i>Grandson, Vol. 1</i> 2019 mixtape by King Von

Grandson, Vol. 1 is the debut mixtape by American rapper King Von. It was released through Only the Family Entertainment/Empire on September 20, 2019. Executively produced by Chopsquad DJ, it features guest appearances from Lil Durk and Booka600. Production was primarily handled by Chopsquad DJ, but was also produced by, Mac Fly, Murda Beatz, Kid Wond3r, Timmy Da Hitman, Young Chop, and BKH Beats. The project peaked at number 53 on the Billboard 200. The project had 5 singles, "War With Us", "Crazy Story", "Crazy Story Remix ", "What It's Like", and "Crazy Story, Pt. 3."

<i>What It Means to Be King</i> 2022 studio album by King Von

What It Means to Be King is the second studio album by American rapper King Von. It was posthumously released through Empire Distribution and Only the Family on March 4, 2022. The album features guest appearances from G Herbo, 21 Savage, Fivio Foreign, Moneybagg Yo, Lil Durk, Tee Grizzley, A Boogie wit da Hoodie, Dreezy, Boss Top, DqFrmDaO, and OMB Peezy. Production was handled by Chopsquad DJ, Hitmaka, Tee Romano, Kid Hazel, Touch of Trent, DJ Bandz, DJ FMCT, Glaazer, Diego Ave, Bankroll Got It, TM88, ATL Jacob, Geraldo Liive, CGM Beats, John Lam, and Raw Equity. The album marks Von's first posthumous project and serves as the follow-up to his previous album, Welcome to O'Block (2020).

<i>3860</i> Mixtape by Quando Rondo and YoungBoy Never Broke Again

3860 is a collaborative mixtape by American rappers Quando Rondo and YoungBoy Never Broke Again. It was released through Atlantic Records and Never Broke Again on November 25, 2022. The mixtape features a sole guest appearance from Lul Timm. Four singles supported the mixtape: "Give Me a Sign", "Cream Soda", "Keep Me Dry", and "It's On". YoungBoy's in-house producer and engineer Jason "Cheese" Goldberg and Quando's engineer, Jacoby “CxbGoCrazy” Cherry mixed, mastered, and recorded every track on the mixtape. The album also features production from many prestigious producers such as 808Melo, Bankroll Got It, Dmac, Droc, Pooh Beatz, Synco, and Yakree. The mixtape marks Quando's only project of 2022 and YoungBoy's seventh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crazy Story (Remix)</span> 2019 single by King Von

"Crazy Story (Remix)" or "Crazy Story 2.0" is a song by American rapper King Von featuring American rapper Lil Durk. It was released on May 3, 2019, as a single extracted from Von's first mixtape Grandson, Vol. 1. It represents the direct continuation of "Crazy Story" and the prelude to "Crazy Story, Pt. 3". Crazy Story 2.0 employs the same instrumental of the first piece, that was produced by Mac Fly. The song peaked at number 81 on the Billboard Hot 100.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "King Von Tells Another Crazy Story in the Tragicomic "Took Her To The O" Video". Audible Treats. 2020-02-21. Retrieved 2020-11-22.
  2. ↑ "How King Von Is Another Chicago Light Dimmed Too Soon". HipHopDx . November 7, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  3. 1 2 "5 best King Von tracks". rhymejunkie.com. June 16, 2023. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 "King Von, Emerging Chicago Rapper, Dead At 26". npr . November 6, 2020. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
  5. 1 2 "King Von, Fearless Storyteller". Complex . November 9, 2020. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  6. ↑ "King Von - CHART HISTORY". Billboard . November 21, 2020. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  7. ↑ "King Von Charts on Hot 100 for First Time After His Death, Led by 'Took Her to the O'". Billboard . November 21, 2020. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Gold & Platinum - KING VON - TOOK HER TO THE O". Recording Industry Association of America . February 14, 2023. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  9. ↑ "King Von - Took Her To The O - Only The Family Entertainment". British Phonographic Industry . November 3, 2023. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  10. ↑ "KING VON SAYS 'LEVON JAMES' IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF LONG & FRUITFUL CAREER". HipHopDx . March 17, 2020. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  11. ↑ XXL Staff, January 8, 2021 "King Von Speaks on His Come Up Two Weeks Before His Death in One of His Final Interviews", XXL MAG , That’s how I do it with the sh** I was writing. I wrote “Took Her to the O” [and] “How It Go” in jail. I wrote “Crazy Story” on the bus. I wrote [“The Code”] with Polo G. I wrote a lot.
  12. 1 2 3 "Meaning of Took Her to the O by King Von". songtell.com. February 23, 2020. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  13. 1 2 "How King Von Used His Time in Jail to Become a Better Rapper". Billboard . March 6, 2020. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  14. ↑ "6 O-Block street gang members convicted in 2020 Gold Coast shooting death of Chicago rapper FBG Duck". ABC7 Chicago. 2024-01-17. Retrieved 2024-12-29.
  15. 1 2 "King Von Previews "LeVon James" Album With "Took Her To The O"". HotNewHipHop . February 21, 2020. Retrieved 2020-11-22.
  16. ↑ "THE PITCH - The Ones: King Von's "Crazy Story"". Pitchfork . February 6, 2019. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  17. ↑ "King Von & The Art Of Storytelling". Stereogum . November 4, 2020. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  18. ↑ "King Von "Took Her To The O" Official Lyrics & Meaning - Verified". Wayback Machine . March 17, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-11-06. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  19. ↑ "King Von Breaks Down The Meaning Of "Took Her To The O"". Genius . March 17, 2020. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  20. ↑ "King Von: Took Her to the O - 2020 Music Video - Full Cast & Crew". IMDb . March 17, 2020. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  21. ↑ "King Von - Took Her To The O - Music Video @ FilmStudioLA". FilmStudioLA. 12 March 2020. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  22. ↑ "King Von "Why He Told / Took Her To The O" (Live Piano Medley) - Fine Tuned", 100kmanagement.com, August 13, 2020, retrieved November 16, 2023
  23. ↑ "King Von Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  24. ↑ "King Von Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  25. ↑ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. November 16, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  26. ↑ "King Von Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  27. ↑ "King Von Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  28. ↑ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  29. ↑ "British single certifications – King Von – Took Her to the O". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  30. ↑ "American single certifications – King Von – Took Her to the O". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved February 16, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.