Like fellow Chicago rapper and childhood friend Chief Keef, Von was originally from Parkway Gardens the same apartment that, popularly known as “O'Block”, which is deemed as the most dangerous neighborhood in Chicago, but moved to Atlanta following his rapid music success. A respected figure in the Chicago gangland, he declared himself as “Grandson” of David Barksdale, the founder of the Black Disciples of which King Von was allegedly a member.
On November 6, 2020, Von was shot and killed by armed individuals in downtown Atlanta after a clash between two groups outside a nightclub. It is believed that he was not shot and killed by Atlanta Police Department officers but rather by associates of fellow rapper Quando Rondo. He was 26.
What It's Like
King Von Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Von, Von (huh? What? Huh? Huh? Huh?)
(Dj on the beat so its a banger)
Let me tell you what it's like
Let me tell you what it's like (what it's like)
Let me tell you what it's like
Let me tell you what it's like (yeah)
Let me tell you what it's
Let me tell you what it's like (what it's like)
When you fightin' for your life (damn)
Let me tell you what it's
Let me tell you what it's like (what it's like)
I'm finna tell you what it's like (what it's like)
Let me tell you what
Let me tell you what is life (what)
Fightin' forty-five to life (damn)
In the room with a hype boy, nigga, you don't like (what)
When you seen your homie
First thing that he gave you was a mic (damn)
Tryna tell you that it's real (yeah)
You don't know how it feel (damn)
When you lose that plea, it's like speedin' down a hill (vroom)
And your brakes don't work, pray to God that he take that wheel
You don't know how it go (plea)
You hope the witness don't show (shit)
Court date's comin' slow
Baby mama, she a ho' (bitch)
And the opps still slidin' tryna find out who killed fo' (boom, boom, boom)
Boy this shit ain't no joke (nah), and I know this fo'sho
'Cause the judge first offer fifty-four (damn)
Bro he think you a ho' (who?)
Tell your lawyer let's go
Suit up nigga it's time for war
Let me tell you what it's like
Let me tell you what it's like (what it's like)
Let me tell you what it's like
Let me tell you what it's like (yeah)
Let me tell you what it's like (what it's like)
Let me tell you what it's
Let me tell you what it's like (what it's like)
When you fightin' for your life (damn)
Let me tell you what it's
Let me tell you what it's like (what it's like)
I'm finna tell you what it's like (what it's like) (what?)
Let me tell you what it's
Let me tell you what it's like
Process go slow (go slow)
I can't sleep it's too cold (it's too cold)
My bond no ho'
First stop state bail 'cause I'm still on parole (damn, damn)
See I was probably somewhere in the hole
Caught a opp that killed bro
Beat his ass, boy, you know how it go (what? What?)
And I was in the cell with D Rose
When they gave him that time, on O, shit hurt my soul (damn, damn)
Don't quit gotta fight 'em (gotta fight 'em)
You young, you black, they don't like you (they don't like you)
You got a son on the way, if they take you away
He could fuck around and be just like you (just like you)
Got his hands on the Glock and the rifle (and the rifle)
Tryna put some hot in a rival (boom, boom)
Lookin' up time flyin' right by you (damn)
Time's hard gotta lean on the bible
Let me tell you what it's like
Let me tell you what it's like (what it's like)
Let me tell you what it's like
Let me tell you what it's like (yeah)
Let me tell you what it's like (what it's like)
Let me tell you what it's
Let me tell you what it's like (what it's like)
When you fightin' for your life (damn)
Let me tell you what it's
Let me tell you what it's like (what it's like)
I'm finna tell you what it's like (what it's like)
Let me tell you wha (ha, ha, ha, ha)
Let me tell you what it's like
Let me tell you what it's like (what it's like)
Let me tell you what it's like
Let me tell you what it's like (yeah)
Let me tell you what it's like (what it's like)
Let me tell you what it's
Let me tell you what it's like (what it's like)
When you fightin' for your life (damn)
Let me tell you what it's
Let me tell you what it's like (what it's like)
I'm finna tell you what it's like (what it's like)
Let me tell you what
Aye on this is no joke, like on some for real shit
These people ain't fuckin' playin' with us man
Aye when I got booked back in 2014 for that shit
And my arresting officer (DJ on the beat so it's a banger)
He brought me downstairs to get processed in
Three other detectives, they came out
One of 'em get that
Yeah Nine, that's my work
Now the other officer get that D Rose, yeah that's my work
Other officer that with that, C-Dai that's my work
And what they mean by when they say that's they work (DJ on the beat so it's a banger)
Is they the ones that charged them and put them away
That's their work you know?
So they playin' this shit like a game like givin' us time
Like a game see what I'm sayin'?
This shit ain't no joke
(DJ on the beat so it's a banger)
In King Von's song "What It's Like," he portrays the harsh reality of fighting for one's life. The lyrics focus on the struggles of being a Black man facing a possible 45-year sentence in prison. Von explains how it feels to be in a room with a man who is irrationally angry, watching your homie get killed, losing a plea, and hoping witnesses don't show up in court. He talks about how hard it can be to deal with resisting arrest and the court process when you have an unsupportive partner that is unsympathetic to a situation that is very trying. He also brings up the fact that the opposition is still coming after him and his friends even after they've killed one of their own, showing that the cycle of violence is endless. In summary, the song is an eye-opening account of the challenges and consequences that come with being part of ghetto life.
Line by Line Meaning
Let me tell you what it's like
King Von is about to describe his experiences in detail
When you fightin' for your life (damn)
When you're facing serious criminal charges and risk being incarcerated for a long time
Let me tell you what
King Von wants to continue to describe his life experiences
Fightin' forty-five to life (damn)
Facing a 45-year or life sentence for criminal charges
In the room with a hype boy, nigga, you don't like (what)
Being in a jail cell with an aggressive and dangerous cellmate who you do not get along with
When you seen your homie
When you saw your friend or associate
First thing that he gave you was a mic (damn)
Your friend or associate handed you a microphone, implying that you are now being recorded by law enforcement
Tryna tell you that it's real (yeah)
Your friend or associate is warning you that the legal charges against you are serious and not to be taken lightly
You don't know how it feel (damn)
King Von is saying that you cannot understand the pressure and stress of facing serious criminal charges unless you have experienced it yourself
When you lose that plea, it's like speedin' down a hill (vroom)
If you plead guilty but then lose your case, it feels like you are careening out of control down a steep hill
And your brakes don't work, pray to God that he take that wheel
When you are facing serious criminal charges and everything feels out of control, all you can do is pray for some form of intervention or help from a higher power
You don't know how it go (plea)
King Von is saying that you cannot fully understand the court process and what it feels like to be on trial unless you have experienced it for yourself
You hope the witness don't show (shit)
There is always a sense of fear and uncertainty when it comes to witnesses and whether or not they will show up to testify against you in court
Court date's comin' slow
The wait for your court date can feel agonizingly slow and drawn-out
Baby mama, she a ho' (bitch)
King Von is venting about relationship problems and calling his former partner a derogatory name
And the opps still slidin' tryna find out who killed fo' (boom, boom, boom)
King Von's rivals are searching for the person responsible for killing one of their own, and are willing to use violence to get revenge
Boy this shit ain't no joke (nah), and I know this fo'sho
King Von knows from personal experience that being involved in criminal activity is serious and has dangerous consequences
'Cause the judge first offer fifty-four (damn)
King Von was offered a 54-year sentence as part of a plea deal, which he turned down
Bro he think you a ho' (who?)
King Von is talking about a judge who has little regard for his case or personal circumstances
Tell your lawyer let's go
King Von wants to take aggressive legal action to try and improve his situation
Suit up nigga it's time for war
King Von is getting ready for a legal battle and wants to metaphorically prepare for it like going into a warzone
Process go slow (go slow)
King Von is frustrated with how slow the legal process is moving for his case
I can't sleep it's too cold (it's too cold)
King Von is in jail and feels physically uncomfortable, which is making it difficult for him to get restful sleep
My bond no ho'
King Von's bail is set at a high amount and he needs to pay a large sum of money to get out of jail
First stop state bail 'cause I'm still on parole (damn, damn)
King Von is currently on parole and needs to navigate multiple legal systems to secure bail
See I was probably somewhere in the hole
King Von is reminiscing about the time he spent in solitary confinement in jail
Caught a opp that killed bro
King Von is getting revenge on someone who was responsible for the death of someone close to him
Beat his ass, boy, you know how it go (what? What?)
King Von is advocating for using violent means to retaliate against those who have wronged you or your community
And I was in the cell with D Rose
King Von was in jail with fellow Chicago rapper Derrick Rose, who was also facing legal charges at the time
When they gave him that time, on O, shit hurt my soul (damn, damn)
King Von was emotionally affected by seeing someone he knew receive a lengthy prison sentence for a crime
Don't quit gotta fight 'em (gotta fight 'em)
King Von is optimistic about his chances of winning his legal battle and is determined to keep fighting
You young, you black, they don't like you (they don't like you)
King Von believes that there is systemic bias and discrimination against black people in the criminal justice system
You got a son on the way, if they take you away
King Von is concerned about what will happen to his child if he is incarcerated for a long period of time
He could fuck around and be just like you (just like you)
King Von is worried that his son will follow in his footsteps and become involved in criminal activity
Got his hands on the Glock and the rifle (and the rifle)
King Von is surrounded by people who have access to guns and other weapons
Tryna put some hot in a rival (boom, boom)
King Von is involved in a violent feud with rival gangs and is attempting to retaliate with gunfire
Lookin' up time flyin' right by you (damn)
King Von is reflecting on how quickly time passes while you are incarcerated and how much of your life is put on hold in jail
Time's hard gotta lean on the bible
King Von turns to religion and spirituality to find comfort and guidance during difficult times
Aye on this is no joke, like on some for real shit
King Von is emphasizing how serious and potentially life-altering his experiences are
These people ain't fuckin' playin' with us man
King Von believes that the legal system and law enforcement officials are actively trying to punish him and others like him
Aye when I got booked back in 2014 for that shit
King Von is referencing a specific incident in his past that led to legal charges
And my arresting officer (DJ on the beat so it's a banger)
King Von is recalling the moment when he was arrested and the officer who apprehended him
He brought me downstairs to get processed in
King Von vividly remembers the process of being brought into the jail system for the first time
Three other detectives, they came out
King Von had multiple law enforcement officials questioning him and processing him when he was first arrested
One of 'em get that
One of the detectives was able to link King Von to a specific crime or incident
Yeah Nine, that's my work
King Von is acknowledging that the detective who linked him to the crime worked hard to build a case against him
Now the other officer get that D Rose, yeah that's my work
King Von is explaining how other officers contributed to the legal case against him and Derrick Rose
Other officer that with that, C-Dai that's my work
King Von is referencing another officer who was involved in investigating and prosecuting his case
And what they mean by when they say that's they work (DJ on the beat so it's a banger)
King Von is explaining to the listener what it means when law enforcement officials refer to a case as their 'work'
Is they the ones that charged them and put them away
These officers were responsible for investigating and charging King Von and his associates with crimes
That's their work you know?
King Von is emphasizing that these officers take their jobs seriously and actively try to put people like him in jail
So they playin' this shit like a game like givin' us time
King Von believes that the legal system is treating his and others' lives and freedom as something to be wagered or betted on
Like a game see what I'm sayin'?
King Von is frustrated with the way the criminal justice system operates and how it can appear arbitrary or unfair
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Darrel Jackson, Dayvon Bennett
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@YourPlug1
Bro only got to live a good 2 years out of his life the rest was spent in cages and the jungle. Rip the fallen soldier he went out like a g.
@kweefsweat5628
That’s crazy when you put it like that smh rip
@Serze69
Thats that hood product, he was there doing lives telling lil ass kids to yell fuck tooka and bang with fake weapon, he got raised the same way and the circle just keeps repeating itself
@miketwarozek2105
Frfr shits crazy
@trendyboyray5524
Facts tho 😔💯 this shit hurt bro
@shmoney6464
Real shit I remember watching the breakfast club interview wit durk and he was tryna put them on von
@502kingpaul
“Got a son on the way if they take u away he’ll be just like u” I felt dat bro. Keep goin
@TURBOGOTBANDZ
502 KINGPAUL 2K20 I’m going Krazz Y’all Time In To My shii🐍📲
@SoMindless111
realest shit outta the whole song
@aureitykenny
That part hit different for a nigga