Dayvon Daquan Bennet, also known as King Von, a notorious Chicago based rapper, is known for his explicit and often detailed rap style songs singing about his adventures as a gangster in the South Chicago area. This song, “Crazy Story”, is connected to two future songs, “Crazy Story Pt. 3” and “Took Her to The O”. This song is a perfect example of poetry in music as the entire series of songs are connected, telling about an experience from Von’s upbringing. Von uses deep imagery, similes, metaphors, and allusions as well as a conversation like syntax to portray the experience of being a gangster in Chicago to an audience of people who may relate to him or may want to relate to him or others like him.

In the first verse, Von talks about meeting a girl who is connected to a rival gang member who he wants to rob. In exchange for information, Von gives her expensive gifts like shoes or handbags.

I had a thot she be with the shits, she told me where he be
I said for sure, baby let me know if you wanna eat
She like, “Von, you already know, just put your girl on fleek”
I’m like, “Cool, I can do that, boo, what you want some shoes
Jimmy Choo? With a handbag, too?”

This first verse is a perfect example of Von’s skilled story telling through imagery and conversation. He recalls this conversation with the girl to give the audience background knowledge of where he gained the information that eventually leads to the robbery and murder of the rival gang member.

In the next verse, Von uses allusions and imagery to describe his preparations for the robbery as well as how this will affect the rival gang members.

I grab my Glock, it been through a lot, but it still shoot like new
We at the top, yeah, we lost a lot, but that just how it go
But check the score, if y’all lose one more, that’s six to twenty-four

In the first line, Von alludes to his extensive experience in murder, saying that his gun has “been through a lot”, almost personifying the weapon to convey his immense knowledge of this type of crime. Then, in the third line, he alludes to the already extensive damage done by the gangs battling, saying that the “score”, referring to the death toll, is 6-24, meaning that his gang has lost 6 members to this violence while the rival gang has lost 24 members. These allusions help reinforce the story and Von’s reputation as a notorious gangster to make the audience feel more connected to the song.

In the third and final verse, Von describes the crime, saying that the rival gang member drives up in a push-to-start Porsche, meets the girl that Von previously explained he is connected to, where Von then runs up and attempts to rob the individual. While the robbery is in progress, more members of the rival gang show up so Von shoots the original gang member and runs away.

…he pull’in up now

He double parked, he ain’t getting out, he in that push to start
That new Porsche, it’s built like a hors,e colors like the fourth

…Now I sneak up, crouching like a tiger, like Snoop off The Wire
The block on fire, so I take precaution, mask on, Michael Myers

…I was lacking ’cause there go the opps, yell’in out, “What’s crackin’?”
I’m like, “What?”, I’m like “*****, who?” I was born to shoot
I got aim, I’m like Johnny Dang when it comes to chains
So I rise, hit one in his arm, hit one in his thigh”

Throughout this entire verse, Von uses heavy metaphors and similes. For example, Von compares himself to a tiger when going up to the man, stalking his prey and pouncing on the unsuspecting victim. He also uses a metaphor to Michael Myers, a famous horror movie character. Not only does this metaphor become literal, explaining that he has a mask on like Michael Myers, but also explains his intentions, similar to Michael Myers, of wanting to harm the victim. Finally, he also uses the simile of comparing himself to Johnny Dang, a famous jeweler, saying that he has stolen so many chains and other jewelry that he is, at this point, a jeweler himself.

His syntax during the song is also conversation like, making the audience feel like they are talking to Von rather than listening to a song, leading to a more immersive listening experience, ultimately helping convey the experience even more.

King Von’s music and gangster rap in general is a perfect example of poetry under Perrine’s defenition. This type of music is a specific, often detailed poem of an experience that aims to make others feel connected to this lifestyle, even if they are not directly effected or connected to it. These rappers use many literary devices like the ones listed in this analysis as well as many more and are the perfect evidence of music and poetry being one in the same.