Rapper King Von Died in Atlanta, Georgia, Just a Week After Dropping Welcome to O’Block

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King von

On April 6, just days after releasing his most ambitious album to date, Chicago drill rapper King Von was shot and killed in Atlanta at 26 years old.

Over the last several months, three prominent Chicago MCs – Tray Savage, FBG Duck and now King Von – have fallen victim to gun violence.

His Life

King Von was born Dayvon Daquan Bennett on August 9, 1994 to Taesha and Walter E Bennett and found it increasingly difficult to avoid trouble due to his father’s frequent stints in and out of prison. As such, it became his responsibility to remain out of trouble himself.

At 16 years old, he was arrested for the first time, marking a series of legal issues for him. Initially accused of fatally shooting one individual and wounding another before ultimately being exonerated by a jury,

Once released from prison, Von took up rapping and soon found himself signing to Lil Durk’s OTF entertainment label; that collaboration quickly established him as one of the go-to rappers on Chicago’s drill scene.

He was murdered on 6 November 2020 in Atlanta at only 26 years old – the latest tragedy to strike Atlanta’s rap community over recent months.

His Music

Born Dayvon Bennett on Chicago’s South Side, King Von spent much of his youth living in the O Block neighborhood – which had its fair share of crime – before taking up crime himself and turning towards criminality himself. But even so, in 2018 he decided to begin rapping as well.

He was signed to Lil Durk’s Only the Family label and released his debut album Welcome to O’Block in 2019. This included songs that addressed both street antics as well as deeper introspective themes like love and mental health.

Although he was on his way, it became evident when he died tragically just a year after his debut album was released in Atlanta.

Von has released his music video for “Too Real,” one of the lead singles off his posthumous album What It Means To Be King due out March 4. Filmed just days before his passing, this cinematic clip shows Von walking through Chicago with a flamethrower at his side.

His Influences

Von first made an impactful statement with his music by using atmospheric piano beats that enhanced his dark and morbid lyrics. This signature style made him stand out among Chicago rappers who tried mimicking Chief Keef or G Herbo’s drill sounds.

King Von quickly established himself on his city’s drill scene after his fluid storytelling style caught the ear of more established rapper Lil Durk, and was quickly signed to Durk’s Only the Family label; soon thereafter his 2018 single “Crazy Story” quickly went viral online.

At a time when Chicago’s drill scene was saturated, King Von stood out with his unique and soulful music which combined violent elements of drill with emotive vocal performances that expressed both pain and emotion through high-energy vocal performance. His unique lyrical style often addressed themes such as loyalty, struggle, and perseverance in his songs.

King Von’s death has come as a devastating shock to the hip-hop community and will long live on in its memory. His music remains an inspiration for generations of young rappers who revered him; those who knew and loved him will miss him dearly.

His Death

King von Autopsy was a Chicago rapper born Dayvon Daquan Bennett who rose from difficult circumstances to become one of hip-hop’s most promising artists. His debut album Welcome to O’Block gave a vivid account of his upbringing as well as trauma wrought by the criminal justice system.

Just days after the release of his album, King Von was shot and killed during a brawl outside a nightclub in Atlanta. His passing sent shockwaves through the rap world, while his family and team expressed their appreciation for fans in their first posthumous tweet.

On Friday morning, November 6, a rapper was shot and killed outside Monaco Hookah Lounge after an argument escalated into gunfire. Timothy Leeks, an affiliate of Chicago rapper Quando Rondo is believed to have shot him.