Maps of Music

What It Means to Be King (2022)

Where the lyrics of What It Means to Be King take you, and where it was really made.

Von's second album came out more than a year after he was shot dead, and it debuted at number 2 on the Billboard 200.

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What It Means to Be King: second studio album by American rapper King Von
Released posthumously on March 4, 2022 through Empire Distribution and Only the Family
Follow-up to his previous album, Welcome to O'Block (2020)
Guest appearances: G Herbo, 21 Savage, Fivio Foreign, Moneybagg Yo, Lil Durk, Tee Grizzley, A Boogie wit da Hoodie, Dreezy, Boss Top, DqFrmDaO, OMB Peezy
Production: 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, Raw Equity
First posthumous project of Von

Von was fatally shot on November 6, 2020 outside a hookah lounge in Atlanta, Georgia
The shooting came exactly one week after Welcome to O'Block was released
On the same day, Pooh Shiesty released the single 'Back in Blood', featuring Lil Durk
Von made his first posthumous cameo in that song's music video, released January 2, 2021, where the album title was revealed

Dayvon Daquan Bennett, known as King Von, was an American rapper from Chicago, Illinois, associated with the drill scene of the South Side.
He was signed to Lil Durk's label Only the Family in December 2017 after his release from jail.
His breakout single "Crazy Story" (2018) reached number 81 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was praised for its vivid storytelling.
His debut studio album Welcome to O'Block (2020) peaked at number five on the Billboard 200.
He was fatally shot in Atlanta, Georgia, on November 6, 2020, at age 26.
Posthumous albums What It Means to Be King (2022) and Grandson (2023) both debuted near the top of the Billboard 200.

Described as a drill artist known for narrative songwriting and sharp lyricism.
Critics noted his ability to tell coherent stories with dialogue inserted into his verses.

Number 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart
Number 2 on the Top Independent Albums chart
Number 3 on the Billboard Canadian Albums chart
Singles 'Don't Play That' and 'War' both entered the Billboard Hot 100
'Don't Play That' peaked at number 40, 'War' at number 71
Von's debut studio album, Welcome to O'Block, had earlier reached the top 10 of the Billboard 200

'Grandson for President' was released as a standalone single on April 29, 2020, and was later merged into this album as its lead single.
Von died exactly one week after the release of Welcome to O'Block.
Von's first posthumous cameo came in the music video for 'Back in Blood', released on the same day as his death.
The music video for 'Too Real' was released on March 7, 2022, shortly after the album came out.
The music video for 'Get It Done' with OMB Peezy was released on August 9, 2022, what would have been Von's 28th birthday.
'Don't Play That' was first announced by Von in an Instagram post in October 2020.