Digital Social Hour | Episode DSH #1631

Guest: King Yella | Host: Sean Kelly
Date: November 20, 2025
Title: “They Tried to Bury Me”: King Yella on Street Life, Survival & Growth

Episode Overview

In this raw, unfiltered episode, Sean Kelly hosts rapper and former Chicago gang member King Yella for a wide-ranging conversation about street life, survival, trauma, and transformation. Yella details his tumultuous past, discusses the complexities of navigating prison and the criminal justice system, and reflects on personal growth and fatherhood. The episode dives into race, policing, snitching accusations, the machinery of social media, and the spiritual side of survival. Expect vivid stories, blunt honesty, and hard-won wisdom.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Street Life, Hustle, and Survival

• Early Hustles & Motivation
  • King Yella shares that he had his first child at 17, which forced him to consider his responsibilities, yet he remained in the streets out of survival (02:27-04:02).
  • Explains systemic issues: jobs weren’t available even before he had face tattoos or felonies.

“When you young too, you trying to be cool, you trying to impress your homies... even if you don’t want to do it in your head you might be like this. But... damn, I gotta slide with my guys...” (21:48, King Yella)

• Dealing for Survival
  • Both Sean and Yella discuss selling drugs as a survival tactic and acknowledge transferable business skills from hustling (05:02-06:19).
  • Critique of double standards regarding street drugs and legal pharmaceuticals.

2. Kids, Legacy, and Changed Perspective

• Yella proudly claims “six biological, four from my girl—ten kids” and states, “I ain’t stopping until God stop it.” (01:43-01:59)
• He expresses that having children changed his worldview, pushing him to stay alive and out of trouble to be present as a father (02:23-02:31).

“When I leave, I want my legacy to be here... That’s the purpose. That’s what God did.” (01:59, King Yella)

3. Trauma, Drugs, and Escapism

• Speaks on understanding why people use drugs as a coping mechanism for trauma and pain, but cautions youth to stay away (04:03-05:02).

“Life gets so hard... people do things to cope and run and hide from reality.” (04:03, King Yella)

4. Prison Stories: Federal vs. State

• Experiences Inside
  • King Yella opens up about both State and Federal prison—sharing terrifying first impressions, “I got butterflies when I got there,” (11:36–13:37), and the intense politics inside.
  • Describes the hierarchy and power structures among different racial groups, and encounters with notable figures, e.g., “Tupac’s daddy,” and Pooh Shiesty (17:07–17:48).
• Survival & Prison Codes
  • Lays out strict prison codes—how fights must be approved to avoid gang wars, and consequences for breaking rules are often fatal (15:52–16:26).
  • Recounts stories of makeshift weapons and adapting quickly to high-risk environments (13:37-14:24).

“You can’t just fight nobody. So whatever happens has to be lined up... They gonna kill you. It’s just like that. You gonna die.” (16:27, King Yella)

5. Race, the System, and Police Encounters

• Touches on systemic racism, his own mixed family, and disparities in the way white and Black people are treated by law enforcement—with harrowing personal examples (30:10–32:14).
• Details his own run-ins with police, including near-death experiences, and the way the system “targets people” (34:46–36:43).
• Criticizes how Vegas and other cities hide police violence for the sake of tourism and profit (34:09–34:14).

“I'm the chosen one. I'm different... For me to still be here... I beat the odds. All my homies dead.” (23:32, King Yella)

6. Snitching Allegations & Public Perception

• Discusses snitch accusations in rap/street culture and clarifies: “I never got nobody convicted. I never testified on nobody—that’s a snitch.” (40:46, King Yella)
• Breaks down how social media and police use informants, and how norms have shifted so that any contact with police draws suspicion (40:46–41:03).

“People not from the streets, they don’t understand how it go... that’s your opinion." (40:46, King Yella)

7. The Media: Platforms, Exploitation, and Morality

• On Adam22 & No Jumper
  • Critiques Adam22 for profiting off violence, perpetuating negativity, and manufacturing beef for content:

    "Adam’s platform is getting niggas indicted... He brings Black people, poverty... about more killing... It’s like a devilish like." (41:03–42:29, King Yella)

  • Alleges Adam’s background and family ties factor into a larger agenda.
• On VladTV
  • Sees Vlad as opportunistic but fair; emphasizes individuals must exercise caution in interviews (45:51–47:04).
• On Say Cheese
  • Takes pride in helping launch Say Cheese’s Chicago presence and values their fair, respectful approach (47:28–48:36).

8. Personal Growth, Spirituality, and Vision

• Credits staying alive to having spiritual vision, intuition, and refusing to crash out for status or temporary thrills.
• “I always saw the future. I always thought ahead, I always been ahead of my time on a lot of shit...” (21:52, King Yella)
• Believes in karma and warns that negative energy, especially in media, returns full circle (44:09–44:12).

9. Forgiveness, Maturity, and Moving On

• Speaks on past beefs—specifically with Charleston White—and how maturity led to letting go, seeking growth and focusing on business opportunities (51:23–52:59).

“You gotta forgive, you know... maturity, growth... I don’t feel like he was serious... I feel like he was trolling.” (51:43–52:32, King Yella)

10. Advice & Closing Messages

• Urges listeners not to repeat his mistakes, to value family, and stresses the empty, cyclical nature of street life.
• Pushes viewers to look past surface antics and recognize deeper messages, especially in viral personalities (50:35–51:23).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Fatherhood:
  “When I leave, I want my legacy to be here... That’s the purpose.” (01:59, King Yella)

• On Survival in Prison:
  “You can’t just fight nobody... They gonna kill you. It’s just like that. You gonna die.” (16:27, King Yella)

• On Escaping the Cycle:
  “When we die, them streets still going to be there. The same streets you don’t even own...” (24:09, King Yella)

• Critique of Adam22:
  “That’s like a devilish like... He brings black people... about more killing... just always negativity.” (41:30, King Yella)

• On Spirituality:
  “I always thought ahead, I always been ahead of my time... I’m a Pisces, I see a lot of visions. I see ahead of time.” (21:52, King Yella)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Impact of Fatherhood & Kids: 01:43-02:27
• Street Survival & Business Parallel: 05:02-06:19
• Prison Stories (Fed vs. State): 07:03-18:05
• Racism & Police System: 30:10-34:14
• Snitch Allegations & Street Code: 40:46-41:03
• Adam22 & No Jumper Critique: 41:03-43:49
• VladTV & Media Ethics: 45:51-47:04
• Charleston White & Forgiveness: 51:23-52:59
• Closing Thoughts & Socials: 53:06-53:46

Final Thoughts

King Yella brings an unguarded, reflective analysis of the streets, hip-hop culture, and American systems. He offers both cautionary tales and motivation for transformation, urging listeners to focus on legacy, learn from trauma, and act with integrity.

Where to find King Yella:

• Instagram: @kingyellaa
• YouTube: Search "King Yella"

Family is everything. (53:46, Sean Kelly)