Killings was born in Atlanta but grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina. His family struggled to make ends meet as a result of low-paying jobs and periods of unemployment, and his father supplemented the family income by selling cannabis. While Killings occasionally helped his father, he aspired to become a musician. After moving to Charlotte, Killings became enamored with hip hop music and breakdancing.
Throughout his high school career, Killings was a successful track runner and football player. He was on the same football team as MLB player Ray Durham at Harding High School. He was offered college scholarships, but turned them down in order to pursue a career in music. By the time he left school at the age of sixteen, Killings had met rappers such as Tupac Shakur and Eazy-E and was determined to become a rapper himself. He joined a talent agency named Ice Productions and became an opening act for performers such as MC Lyte and 3rd Bass. In order to fund his burgeoning career, Killings became a drug dealer. He spent three years dealing, earning enough in the process to pay for a recording studio, and began working on a debut album. After he heard that there was interest in his album, Killings decided to take part in one last drug deal in order to earn the necessary capital to finish his album. He, however, was arrested after one of his friends tipped-off the police. Killings spent 13 months in jail and became determined to stop dealing drugs and to obtain a legitimate job.
Killings was released from prison into a halfway house, where he met Jackie Crockett, an employee of the National Wrestling Alliance. Crockett tried to convince Killings to become a professional wrestler, but he was determined to focus on his music career. Killings spent two years working on his music career, this time funding his career by robbing drug dealers, before becoming disillusioned by his lifestyle. He contacted Crockett once more and expressed an interest in becoming a wrestler.
Respect
Ron Killings Lyrics
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Only table talk when I get the check
New tax bracket this a different flex
Draped in all designer now Iโฒm dripping wet
So What did you expect
What did you expect
Got a hundred thousand reasons
That you won't forget
You better show respect
Ima show you how to get it
If you aint got it yet
What did you expect
Remember when I was hustling
All these niggas come round with it
Down with em
You gone sink or swim
If you donโฒt drown with em
Probably come up on a check
And now they proud of me
How Im gone stack money
If you steady want it outta me
Big dog really been here
And started from the bottom
All the work I put in
Gone show you how to turn a profit
You want something typical
Never have I been down with that
Problem is my day one woulda
Never let me come around this shit
Like yeah
Are you wit me yet
So much envy, they be tripping
When I hit the set
If you really want your money
You gone place your bet
Cuz I been betting on the team
And I aint lost yet
No negotiating with respect
Only table talk
When I get the check
New tax bracket this a different flex
Draped in all designer now
I'm dripping wet
So What did you expect
What did you expect
Got a hundred thousand reasons
That you won't forget
We gone come around this bitch
You better show respect
Ima show you how to get it
If you aint got it yet
What did you expect
Ainโฒt no ceiling to the plan
We go as high as we want
Before ya step up in the kitchen
Better act like you know
I make it look so simple
You ballin in a rental
Your money on a pre load
You better go and re up
Im takin 19 when I went down
See I been there and I did it
Now Iโฒm playin in a new game
With a whole whole lotta digits
Its time for me to clean up
I been here way long enough
Im bout to turn this bitch up
So much you can't get enough
Give me a uhh
Said it aint no reason
They gone stop me from the money
Will not be defeated
Ima work till these niggas say
They canโฒt believe it
Then we gone charge it to the game
And we gone just repeat it
No negotiating with respect
Only table talk when I get the check
New tax bracket this a different flex
Draped in all designer now I'm dripping wet
So What did you expect
What did you expect
Got a hundred thousand reasons
That you wonโฒt forget
We gone come around this bitch
You better show respect
Ima show you how to get it
If you aint got it yet
What did you expect
In Ron Killings's song Respect, the lyrics speak to the importance of earning respect through hard work and dedication. The opening lines state that there is no negotiating with respect, implying that it must be earned, not given freely. As the song progresses, Killings highlights his success and newfound wealth, emphasizing that it was not handed to him but earned through hustle and determination. The line "what did you expect" is a rhetorical question directed at those who may doubt his success or question how he attained it.
Additionally, the lyrics speak to Killings's journey from humble beginnings to achieving success. He mentions a time when he was hustling, and many people did not believe in him. However, he persevered and climbed the ladder of success, ultimately earning the respect he deserved.
The overall message of the song is that through hard work and determination, you can change your life and command respect from others. It is a message of hope and motivation for listeners who may be facing their own struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
No negotiating with respect
Respect is non-negotiable.
Only table talk when I get the check
Money talks, and I'll only discuss it at the table.
New tax bracket this a different flex
I'm making more money and flaunting it in a different way.
Draped in all designer now I'm dripping wet
I'm covered in expensive designer clothing and I'm living a lavish lifestyle.
So what did you expect?
Why are you surprised by my success?
Got a hundred thousand reasons that you won't forget
I have many reasons for my success that you'll never forget.
We gone come around this bitch you better show respect
We'll be back, and you better show some respect next time.
Ima show you how to get it if you ain't got it yet
I'll teach you how to make money if you don't know how to yet.
Remember when I was hustling all these niggas come round with it Down with em you gone sink or swim if you donโฒt drown with em
I remember when I worked hard with others and they either succeeded or failed with me.
Probably come up on a check and now they proud of me
Now that I'm successful, they're proud of me for making it.
How Im gone stack money if you steady want it outta me
I can't save money if you keep taking it from me.
Big dog really been here and started from the bottom
I've been here for a while and started from the bottom.
All the work I put in gone show you how to turn a profit
The hard work I've done can teach you how to make money.
You want something typical never have I been down with that
I don't settle for something predictable.
Problem is my day one wouldn't never let me come around this shit
My closest friend wouldn't let me into this world.
So much envy, they be tripping when I hit the set
They're so jealous that they stumble when they see me succeed.
If you really want your money you gone place your bet
If you want to make money, you'll have to take a risk.
Cuz I been betting on the team and I ain't lost yet
I've been betting on myself and my team, and we haven't lost yet.
Ain't no ceiling to the plan we go as high as we want
There are no limits to our success, we can go as high as we want.
Before ya step up in the kitchen better act like you know
Before you join us, you better know your place and behave accordingly.
I make it look so simple, you ballin' in a rental
I make success seem easy, while you're pretending to be successful with a rented car.
Your money on a pre load you better go and re up
You need to reload your money before it runs out.
Im takin 19 when I went down see I been there and I did it
I made it through tough times in the past, and I can do it again.
Now I'm playin in a new game with a whole whole lotta digits
I'm now successful in a game with a lot of money at stake.
It's time for me to clean up, I been here way long enough
I'm now cleaning up and ending my time here, after being here for a long time.
So much you can't get enough, give me a uhh
I'm so successful that people can't get enough of me, give me a shoutout.
Said it ain't no reason they gone stop me from the money
There's no reason for anyone to stop me from making money.
Will not be defeated, Ima work till these niggas say they can't believe it
I won't give up and I'll keep working until people can't believe my success.
Then we gone charge it to the game and we gone just repeat it
We'll take our losses and move on, learning from our mistakes.
Writer(s): J-trx, Ron Killings
Contributed by Hunter S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.