Took Her To The O

"Took Her To The O" is a quintessential example of King Von's narrative-driven drill music, offering a raw and unflinching look into the realities of street life in Chicago. The song's meaning is layered, functioning as both a detailed, cinematic story and a symbolic representation of Von's identity and environment. At its core, the track narrates a tense encounter that spirals from a casual meeting into a violent confrontation and murder. The "O" in the title refers to Parkway Garden Homes, also known as O Block, a notorious neighborhood on Chicago's South Side where King Von grew up. Taking the woman "to the O" signifies bringing her into his world, a territory defined by specific codes of conduct, danger, and loyalty.

The lyrics explore themes of trust, betrayal, and survival. Von's suspicion is aroused when he sees missed calls from "Duck" on the woman's phone, heavily implying she might be setting him up. This reflects the constant paranoia and lack of trust inherent in his environment. The subsequent violence is portrayed not as a choice but as a necessary reaction to a direct threat, a form of street justice. The woman's laughter after the shooting and her dismissal of the victim because he's from "63rd" (a rival gang territory) highlights the deep-seated and deadly neighborhood rivalries that are central to the Chicago drill scene. The song ultimately serves as a testament to King Von's identity as a product of O Block, showcasing his storytelling prowess and his role as a narrator of the grim realities that shaped him.

The narrative begins with the protagonist, King Von, detailing a casual and transactional encounter with a stripper from Kankakee. He establishes his readiness for conflict from the outset, mentioning he has just acquired a Glock with an extended magazine. The story unfolds as he agrees to take the woman to her place, ostensibly so she can retrieve her forgotten purse. The initial mundane setup quickly shifts when he notices her phone, which she left in his car. He discovers multiple missed calls from someone named “Duck,” immediately raising his suspicion and introducing a palpable sense of tension and potential betrayal.

As the woman exits her house, a confrontation ensues. A man, presumed to be "Duck," aggressively approaches and assaults her. Von initially considers leaving, asserting that it's not his problem. However, the situation escalates when the man, in a fit of rage, throws a brick at Von's car. This act of aggression directly involves Von, who reacts instantaneously. He exits his vehicle and shoots the man twice, neutralizing the threat. The narrative takes another turn as the woman, instead of being horrified, seems relieved and even pleased by the outcome. She reveals the man’s affiliation with a rival neighborhood, "63rd," a place King Von has disdain for, which reframes the entire incident as an unexpected, but beneficial, elimination of an enemy.

The song concludes with Von and the woman driving away from the scene. He takes her to "the O," which is a direct reference to his home territory, O Block in Chicago. The journey there is filled with a strange sense of calm after the storm of violence. The woman is not just a witness but now an accomplice of sorts, sharing in the dark reality of his world. The final lines underscore the grim loyalty and street justice that govern their environment, solidifying the song as a stark, cinematic portrayal of a dangerous life where survival often depends on swift, violent decisions.

"Took Her to the O" was released on February 21, 2020, as the third and final single from King Von's second mixtape, Levon James. The song was written by King Von (Dayvon Bennett) and the producer, Chopsquad DJ (Darrel Jackson). King Von revealed in an interview that he wrote most of the lyrics while he was incarcerated, a practice he developed because he had no access to beats in jail. He would formulate the flow and lyrics first and later collaborate with a producer. For this track, he rapped his pre-written lyrics to Chopsquad DJ over the phone, who then crafted the beat around Von's vocals. This collaborative method was characteristic of their working relationship.

The song was recorded for his mixtape Levon James, which dropped on March 6, 2020. The music video, directed by Joan Pabon, was released concurrently with the single. It features a narrative framework where Von recounts the song's story to a therapist, with the lyrical events depicted in cutaway scenes. The song is considered one of Von's favorites from the project and a spiritual successor to his famed "Crazy Story" series due to its narrative style.

"Took Her To The O" features a driving rhythm and a compelling rhyme scheme that enhances its narrative momentum.

• Rhythm and Tempo: The song has a fast tempo, around 160 BPM, which is characteristic of the drill genre and contributes to its energetic and aggressive feel. King Von's rhythmic delivery is relentless, often slightly ahead of or right on top of the beat, creating a sense of urgency that pushes the story forward. The interplay between his vocal rhythm and the syncopated patterns of the drill beat is a key element of the track's propulsive energy.
• Rhyme Scheme: The rhyme scheme is predominantly composed of couplets (AABB), particularly in the chorus (Kankakee/me, store/goes, dope/O). This simple, effective scheme makes the hook memorable and impactful. Within the verses, Von employs a mix of couplets and internal rhymes to maintain a fluid yet intricate lyrical structure. For example, in the line "I bust a U, pulled up to her spot, she live by the park / It's gettin' dark, my Glock on my lap, I'm just thinkin' smart," the end rhymes (park/dark/smart) are straightforward, but the assonance and internal rhymes create a cohesive flow. The structure is conversational yet carefully crafted to feel like a continuous, unfolding story.

King Von was widely praised for his storytelling, and "Took Her To The O" is a prime example of his narrative and stylistic prowess.

• Narrative Structure: The song follows a clear, cinematic arc with a distinct beginning, rising action, climax, and resolution, much like his "Crazy Story" series. This structure turns the song into a short, intense film told through lyrics.
• Vivid Imagery and Detail: Von uses specific, raw details to ground the story in reality. Phrases like "stripper bitch, she from Kankakee," "Glock with a ruler clip," and the brick thrown through the car window create a vivid, believable scene.
• Aggressive Vocal Delivery: His delivery is energetic, ferocious, and direct, which complements the urgency and violence of the narrative. The flow is hard-hitting and remains compelling throughout the story.
• Musical Production: The beat, produced by Chopsquad DJ, is described as a "sinister, piano-led drill beat." The ominous piano melody creates a tense, suspenseful atmosphere that perfectly underscores the dark lyrical content. The producer's tag, "DJ on the beat, so it's a banger," immediately sets an expectation for high energy.
• Slang and Colloquialisms: The use of Chicago street slang like "the O," "top" (oral sex), and references to specific locations grounds the song in its cultural context, adding to its authenticity.

"Took Her to the O" had a significant cultural impact, cementing King Von's status as a master storyteller in the drill scene and becoming one of his most popular and recognizable songs. It peaked at number 44 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking a major mainstream achievement for Von and showcasing drill's ability to cross over to a national audience. The song has been certified triple platinum by the RIAA in the United States and silver in the UK, reflecting its widespread commercial success.

The song is deeply rooted in Chicago's street culture, and its title and lyrics brought the term "O Block"—a name for the Parkway Garden Homes housing project—into the mainstream consciousness. The narrative, which alludes to a real-life rivalry with rapper FBG Duck, sparked countless discussions and analyses among fans and commentators, blurring the lines between music and street reality. The song and its music video were so intertwined with real events that they were reportedly used as evidence by prosecutors in the murder trial of FBG Duck, highlighting the controversial and impactful nature of Von's art. Critics praised the track for its vivid narrative, comparing Von's storytelling abilities to legendary rappers like Slick Rick. It remains a cornerstone of King Von's legacy and a definitive track of the modern drill era.

The primary symbolism in "Took Her To The O" revolves around the place itself: "The O."

• The O (O Block): This is not merely a physical destination but a powerful symbol of King Von's identity, territory, and the brutal reality of his life. O Block (Parkway Garden Homes) is a real and notoriously violent area in Chicago, named after the deceased gang member Odee Perry. Bringing the woman to "The O" is a symbolic act of immersing her in his dangerous world, a place where he holds power and where violence is a norm. It represents the endpoint of a journey that tests loyalty and ends in a grim acceptance of his lifestyle.
• The Glock with a "ruler clip": This refers to a pistol with an extended magazine. It symbolizes constant readiness for lethal conflict. Mentioning it in the opening lines establishes the ever-present threat of violence that frames the entire narrative.
• "Duck" and "63rd": These are direct references to real-life Chicago gang rivalries. "Duck" is widely interpreted as a reference to rival rapper FBG Duck, who was from the Tookaville gang faction associated with 63rd Street. FBG Duck was murdered months after the song's release. The casual, dismissive way the woman says "F*** that nigga, he from 63rd" symbolizes the deep-seated, dehumanizing nature of these street beefs, where a person's worth is judged solely by their affiliation. It transforms a murder into a justifiable act within the song's grim logic.

The most significant recurring element in the song is its chorus, which also contains the title phrase.

• The Chorus: The hook, "Just got some top from this stripper bitch, she from Kankakee / Just bought a Glock with a ruler clip, boy, don't play with me / This bitch a ho, met her at the store, you know how it go / She wanna smoke, so I bought some dope and took her to the O," is repeated multiple times. Its repetition serves to anchor the narrative, summarizing the events that set the story in motion. It acts as a refrain that brings the listener back to the core of the encounter before each new development in the verses.
• "You know how it go": This recurring phrase within the chorus is a subtle but important motif. It suggests that the events described—the transactional relationship, the casual escalation—are routine and almost mundane in Von's world. It creates a sense of shared understanding with a certain audience while simultaneously highlighting the starkly different reality of his life for others.
• "Von": King Von's signature ad-lib, often repeated at the beginning of the track, immediately establishes his presence and authorship. It's a stamp of authenticity, signaling that the story to follow is from his direct perspective.
• "63rd": The reference to "63rd" is a recurring motif not just in this song but in Von's broader work. It represents a rival territory, and its mention is always linked to conflict and animosity, reinforcing the theme of deadly gang rivalries.