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Levon James

From Wikipedia - Reading time: 10 min
Levon James
Mixtape by
King Von
ReleasedMarch 6, 2020 (2020-03-06)
Genre
Length43:27
Label
ProducerChopsquad DJ (exec.)
  • EY3ZLOWBEATZ
  • Ant Chamberlain
  • Budda Beats
  • Blue Nightmare
  • Dr. Flow
  • Mike WiLL Made-It
  • Bruce "Jaggerwerks" Billingy
  • MVAbeats
  • Mike Mvjor
  • JAYSTONBEATS
King Von chronology
Grandson, Vol. 1
(2019) 		Levon James
(2020) 		Welcome to O'Block
(2020)
Singles from Levon James
  1. "2 A.M."
    Released: November 16, 2019
  2. "Rollin"
    Released: November 29, 2019
  3. "Took Her to the O"
    Released: February 21, 2020

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.[1][2] 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.[3][4] The project peaked at number 40 on the Billboard 200.[5]

Release and promotion

[edit]

King Von started his musical career in 2018, with breakout single "Crazy Story". King Von followed that up with "Crazy Story 2.0" and "Crazy Story, Pt. 3" that were included on his first mixtape Grandson, Vol. 1 which brought in large streaming numbers and resulting on him debuting at Number 53 on the Billboard 200 chart.[3] King Von was even a supporting act on G Herbo's 2020 PTSD Tour.[6][3]

In March 2020 Von was interviewed for Billboard and talked about the fact that he had to record the project in the house, having to face the penalty of house arrest at the time, he also spoke about the fact that he acquired his storytelling skills by reading many books in prison.[7] The title of the album pays homage to LeBron James.[6][2]

On another interview for HipHopDx, Von declared that he was pursuing the motto "Practise makes perfect" and that he was basing his works like Levon James off it. He also said that his favorite songs over the project were "Block", "Trust Issues" with Yungeen Ace, "Baguette's", "3 A.M.", "Took Her to the O", and also "Broke Opps" saying that he liked the whole project overall. He finally said that he was planning to make music for just 10 more years, and speculating that he could achieve his musical goals in 5 years as well and that after that he would have no longer gave interviews and would just have enjoyed his life.[3]

Levon James was announced on February 26, 2020,[8] it was supported by three singles: the first "2 A.M" released on November 16, 2019; the second one "Rollin", was released on November 29, 2019, which featured YNW Melly; the album was finally previewed with the third and last single of the project, "Took Her to the O", released on February 21, 2020, that later will become his most famous tune.[9]

The album was released on March 6, 2020.[2]

Singles

[edit]

The first single "2 A.M." was released on November 16, 2019, with a music video associated released few hours later that was directed by DrewFilmedIt, that is ambiented in an airport where Von is with his friends.[10][11]

The second single was "Rollin" featuring Florida artist YNW Melly, friend and etiquette colleague of Von, this also accompanied by a music video still filmed by DrewFilmedIt.[12][13]

The third and last single was "Took Her to the O", a storytelling narrative based song with a very explicit and raw style where he romances a history thet deals with themes of violence, crime, and street culture; the story is based on Von riding in a car with a stripper, dealing with a man named "Duck" to whom Bennett takes his revenge for throwing a brick to his car, at the end he brings the stripper to "the O", which presumably means O'Block.[14][15] The song will later become his most famous tune.[9]

Music videos

[edit]

The official video for "On Yo Ass" was released to coincide with the album release on March 6, 2020, and directed by CrownSoHeavy, the song is a featuring with Chicago artist G Herbo, with a hyperactive production from Chopsquad DJ. The video finds an ultra-confident Von playing a student standing up to and later haunting some oppressive jocks that are meant to be his rivals.[16] Later was released an official video for "Trust Issues" song featuring Florida rapper Yungeen Ace, on March 20, 2020; in the song Von switched up his gangsta focus to show his softer side, and in the video his homie Yungeen Ace has sights on the same lady and may be more involved than King Von thinks; it is directed by DrewFilmedIt.[17][18] A video for 3 A.M. was released a month after the album release, on April 6, 2020; the video, again directed by DrewFilmedIt, paints the scenes of Von doing a robbery at 3 a.m. against a couple including his sister.[19][20][21] Another famous music video was that for drill song "Broke Opps", released on May 19, 2020, in it Von hosts a soiree in his native O-Block, donning a bejeweled face mask taking aim at all his "opps".[22][23][24] The last video extracted from the project was related to "Down Me" featuring Chicago rapper Lil Durk, in which Durk did not appear, it was directed by CrownSoHeavy.[25]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[26]

Levon James received generally positive reviews. David Crone from AllMusic platform, gave the work a votation of 3.5 stars out of 5, describing it as an album with "wide-ranging appeal" valuing the opening song "Same as Us" as other songs such as "Down Me", "See Me Make It," and "Baguette's"; he also eulogizes the mixed storytelling technique and deep-rooted introspection on song "Don't Want to Be"; finally defining the overall album as: "packed with storytelling finesse, bold vocals" and also saying that Levon James is a testament to Von's potential.[26]

Track listing

[edit]
Levon James track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Something Else"Dayvon Bennett2:08
2."Took Her to the O"Dayvon Bennett3:16
3."On Yo Ass" (featuring G Herbo)
2:37
4."2 A.M."Dayvon Bennett2:00
5."Down Me" (featuring Lil Durk)
2:02
6."Rollin" (featuring YNW Melly)
2:33
7."Same As Us"Dayvon Bennett1:52
8."Message" (featuring NLE Choppa)
2:58
9."Broke Opps"Dayvon Bennett2:37
10."Trust Issues" (featuring Yungeen Ace)
3:33
11."Don't Want to Be Me"Dayvon Bennett4:40
12."Block"Dayvon Bennett2:45
13."Str8" (featuring Tee Grizzley)
3:05
14."3 A.M."Dayvon Bennett2:06
15."Baguette's" (featuring Booka600 and Lil Durk)
2:49
16."See Me Make It"Dayvon Bennett2:17
Total length:43:27

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for Levon James
Chart (2020) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[27] 40
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[28] 21
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[29] 8

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "King Von Enters Partnership with EMPIRE, Announces 'LeVon James' Album". The Source. February 21, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c "King Von Drops Off "LeVon James" Ft. Lil Durk, G Herbo, YNW Melly & More". HotNewHipHop. March 6, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d "KING VON SAYS 'LEVON JAMES' IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF LONG & FRUITFUL CAREER". HipHopDX. March 17, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  4. ^ Ivey, Justin (March 6, 2020). "King Von Shares 'LeVon James' LP". HipHopDX. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  5. ^ "Chart History - King Von". Billboard. March 21, 2020. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  6. ^ a b "How King Von Used His Time in Jail to Become a Better Rapper". Billboard. March 6, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  7. ^ "Rising drill star King Von refines his storytelling and stunting on Levon James". Chicago Reader. April 10, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  8. ^ "King Von Reveals Cover Art and Tracklist for LeVon James, Coming March 6th via Only The Family/EMPIRE". Audibletreats.com. February 26, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  9. ^ a b "King Von Previews "LeVon James" Album With "Took Her To The O"". HotNewHipHop. February 23, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  10. ^ "King Von "2 A.M"". shibuyatyson.com. November 16, 2019. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  11. ^ "2 A.M. – King Von". wavwax.com. November 16, 2019. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  12. ^ "King Von divulga nova música "Rollin" com YNW Melly junto clipe; confira". 24 Horas. November 29, 2019. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  13. ^ "King Von - Rolling (feat. YNW Melly)". rap4all.com. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  14. ^ "King Von Breaks Down The Meaning Of "Took Her To The O"". Genius. March 17, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  15. ^ "Meaning of Took Her to the O by King Von". songtell.com. February 23, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  16. ^ "Project: King Von – LeVon James". audibletreats.com. February 23, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  17. ^ "KING VON & YUNGEEN ACE NAVIGATE AN ICY LOVE TRIANGLE IN 'TRUST ISSUES' VIDEO". HipHopDx. March 21, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  18. ^ "King Von & Yungeen Ace Connect On "Trust Issues"". kazimagazine.com. March 27, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  19. ^ "Video: King Von "3 A.M."". dirty-glove.net. August 13, 2023. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  20. ^ "King Von – 3 A.M. Video". djiceberg.com. April 6, 2020. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  21. ^ "King Von – "3 A.M."". imprintent.org. April 6, 2020. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  22. ^ "King Von Releases New Visual For "Broke Opps"". Respect. May 19, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  23. ^ "Chicago's King Von releases his latest heat 'Broke Opps': Watch". grungecake.com. May 19, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  24. ^ "KING VON RELEASES 'BROKE OPPS' VIDEO AFTER QUESTIONING MONTANA OF 300'S EXISTENCE". HipHopDx. May 19, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  25. ^ "KING VON & LIL DURK ASK HATERS TO PULL UP IN 'DOWN ME'". HipHopDx. July 13, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  26. ^ a b Crone, David. "King Von - Levon James Reviews Songs & More". AllMusic. Archived from the original on August 6, 2023. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  27. ^ "King Von Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  28. ^ "King Von Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  29. ^ "King Von Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
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