King Von could’ve been Chicago’s next great rap star.
Rising to prominence through his “Crazy Story” series and viral singles such as “Took Her To The O,” the 26-year-old’s natural storytelling ability produced vivid and stark narratives about what goes on in the 6400 block of South Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive on Chicago’s South Side (dubbed O’Block), shining a light on one of the many neighborhoods elected officials have failed to support.
None of this could’ve happened without his close friend Lil Durk, who encouraged Von to rap to keep him out of trouble. Three years later, after serving a three-and-a-half-year stint in prison for an ultimately acquitted attempted murder charge, Von’s consistent and rapid improvement put him in a position to become a luminary for the next generation of Chicago artists.
Instead, the promising rapper faced an untimely death at the hands of the street violence he vividly detailed in his songs. Born Dayvon Bennett, he was more than just a rapper; he was a loving father to two children, devoted brother and prominent figure and friend to the Chicago drill scene.
Shades of the man and artist he was developing into surface on his debut studio album, Welcome To O’Block. Released a week before his passing, the versatile project features Von narrating tales from the Southside streets that make listeners feel like their alongside him as he surveys what goes down in O’Block.
Album opener “Armed & Dangerous” sets the tone with Von giving an introduction into his past, spitting his verses with ferocity. He rattles off lines in quick succession about the death of Odee Perry (who O’Block gets its namesake from), the armed robbery charge he beat at 17 and how the Southside Chicago gang war became a fascination through rap music to those who didn’t live amid the violence.
“Back to back funerals, it’s them or us, it’s him or me/Don’t get booked ’cause ain’t no bond money, we doing this shit for free,” he raps with intensity, making it clear his art is a reflection of a world many can’t understand and wouldn’t survive in.
The anthology’s highlights include “Why He Told,” a heartbreaking moment of vulnerability where Von struggles to cope with the betrayal of a close friend, a brother turned to a snitch. There’s no sense of murderous rage, nor lines about having to take the rat out. Von expresses genuine confusion and sorrow, feeling foolish he put trust in a person that did him so wrong. This range of emotions, coupled with Von’s trembling voice, makes the listener feel like they’re on the other line, becoming a sounding board for his conflicting feelings.
Von employs several diverse flows, developing more ways of expression aside from his signature “Crazy Story” flow. On “Demon,” he switches seamlessly between sing-song harmonies and a machine gun style energetic delivery, as he pays tribute to his dead homies.
On “Mine Too,” he raps with a gruff Auto-Tuned rasp, adding a short echo to create a lingering sense of dread. During the second verse, Von finds a four-bar pocket where he conveys a flurry of emotions, going from sounding threatening, “N-ggas bitches, I know it/I keep my distance like COVID,” to weary and disappointed, “I got the world on my shoulders/Just wish my family was closer.”
He makes strides in his sentimental ballads, something he struggled with on previous projects. Tracks such as “Mad At You” featuring Chicago rap queen Dreezy serving as the foil to Von’s role as the jilted lover gives a full perspective of two flawed people trying to make it work, rather than the vindictive and cliché “hoes gon be hoes” heartbreak rap song.
The crown jewel of the tape comes on the closer “Wayne’s Story,” a grim account of a young life whose actions result in tragedy. Von paints the picture of a 14-year-old hustler marked for a bleak future. He changes the speed and cadence of his flow as the story grows more intense, the main character rejecting any chances of escaping his fate for the allure of the streets. His cautionary tale of how the perpetual cycle of war and bloodshed continues serves as a career-defining performance.
Posthumous releases will help keep Von’s legacy alive, but no amount of vault music will replace what he was about to become. Welcome To O’Block is the type of debut album rappers strive for: a relentless and engaging showcase of superior talent setting them up for a long and prosperous career. Instead, what should have served as a launching pad for a new star now becomes his curtain call, a tragic reminder of what could have been.
Gerbal Azz Play
I miss him he will live on 4 EVA!! REEL TALK
They always kill the real ones. If they move have any type of ability to move people they end up dead. Pac,biggie,Mac Miller just to name a few
.
Garbage
You must be from 63rd because you sound delusional.
Ladies.not dude ok I think he would have been another lil Wayne or so close to it
He was going to be better. We haven’t heard a story teller like him in a long time…. RIP young king von
Young Brothers are dying to soon, Stop the Black on Black killings let’s start making our own lives matter an just maybe the Police will stop killing us ..
He have the type of music that makes you want to listen and see what next not going to lie last person I was really turned in was Tupac R.I.P Tupac and king ? Von
You must be one of his baby mamas
Dope
Rip???
Those questions marks are not supposed to be there can’t delete don’t know how.. album is dope ASF!!! Rest in peace Grandson
Its cool cause now we can see the other 10 comments you left with different names
He was the future, it was refreshing to here such an amazing voice of the new generation. He was gonna blow
Man, I don’t even listen to none of this news rap but shawty was fire. They set him up good.
I downloaded the zlbum and it was pretty damn good. I only heard of this guy like 2 months ago cuz of the beef with 69. But definitely a good album. Hardly any autotune and minimal singing. Thats a plus in my book. From what I read this guy was not a nice dude and most likely got his own body count. But hey you live by the sword, you die by the sword. He will have his moment. 2 rappers hve all ready been killed and 2 others shot since his murder so the moment wont last long. Killing rappers seems to be instant street cred to these young gangbangers.
He fed the kids, the elderly & his homies on “O” Block. Research, please!
Alot of nig**s in Chicago got bodies, it’s the way they grew up, and still sadly a way of life. He don’t stand alone. But WE ALL GOT SKELETONS.
HE fed folks. He gave back. How many street nig**s do YOU know, that does that? PLEASE read up on him. His heart was big. At least he had 1 & wasn’t scared to show it. That’s Love g, that’s Facts.
Ye bro I heard bout dat. Shows that he wasn’t as coldhearted as ppl think. Even the origin of his nickname “grandson” is heartwarming. But even if ppl in Chicago got bodies, killin ppl and taunting them is still bad. Either way, ian frm that typa life so I can’t comment too much without sounding stoopid.
This is hands down a legitimate classic album. 13 out of 16 songs are straight ? I’ve had the album in rotation since he dropped it. I would love it if there is a Deluxe version set to be released. Von definitely mastered the art of story telling to the point it’s makes you feel like you’re right there with him. I hate this brother passed before the world being able to see him reach his full potential. Remember ?WE NOT FROM 63rd! R.I.P. King Von! A.K.A V.ROY?
I give it 5 stars its a hiphop classic should when a grammy for best new artist
Rip von grandson
King Von was a real Dude in my eyes, it take someone who can handle anything that come his way and stand strong out here in these streets….
I love you always ❤️ King Von ?
All King Von songs and albums go hard. I don’t know him and wishes he was still here.
I will forever love King Von and his music
One of the best I’ve heard in a minute and I’m not a fan of alot of rap but you were adored by real ones rip King!
I love his music. Wen i listen to him its like he is telling a story in his songs. Plus he is sexy. R.i.p king von
I’m listening to his whole songs on youtube. He never should have been taken from us. He had real talent and rawness. I love his music.
I Agree I’ve listened to his songs, he had raw talent!! I Would have Loved to see That Young Man King Von reach Heights in the rap game! RIP KING VON!! YOU WILL BE MISSED
FREE LIL TIM. Von brought fists to a gunfight & that’ll getchya killed every time. Got his bitch ass zipped up like a Michael Jackson jacket (judging by his leaked autopsy photos). Karma’s a bitch & God don’t like ugly. Von thought it was hella funny to taunt FBG Duck (a MUCH more talented rapper with a WAY longer resume) when Duck was murdered earlier this year. Well, I find it equally amusing to taunt Von’s bitch ass & revel in his death in the very same manner. ??? Fuck King Von & anybody riding with him. #ripfbgduck #longliveduck #duckworld ???
Suck dick you an duck qack qack got laid 2 rest n his own blood gtfoh dis is dead man page we both count opps dats I4I GAME well played duck music didn’t sell 2much Von music touch world wide he never rap b4 took 2 yrs became professional u got chip 4 tha Oblock but weclome 2 Oblock sold
a lot E.I.E.I.O we still smoke tooka ill take dis rap game piss on Gd like Chevy piss on Ford find on road dead GDK an I ain’t BD I’m just being me karma 4 drama queen poison lead 4 human being
Bruh wats the point of taunting any side. This goofy shyt just continues the cycle and claims lives on both sides. The dead, let em rest in peace, regardless of their wrongs in life. No use disrespecting them now, just contributes to the vicious cycle.
Grandson For President
R.i.P….
R.i.P……
This album is FIRE. BRINGS BACK THE RAWNESS OF THE STREETS! VERY TALENTED. HOW HE SWITCHES HIS FLOWS IN A SONG . LIKE WAYNE STORY. HE CHANGES HIS FLOW LIKE 6 TIMES. Also his ability to tell a story. Almost like you there doing the stuff with him! You will be missed King Von, 1 BLOOD!
Undeniably the best in his craft. His confidence and style was everything Chicago and couldn’t be ignored. Sexy af with that smile and murderous lyrics. Killing the game even in death. LLKV WE NOT FROM 63RD Stretch Gang put in work
KING VON WAS A STORYTELLER!!!! His music is flawless..CHI TOWN STAND UP!! RIH
Boo was the stuff he had so much to bring so many life’s to change so much more love to give all his music go hard don’t care what anyone say wish he was here to still make more music spread more love rest king wish u could come back
This is the part where all the uneducated broke azz wanna be thugs from Chicago come in here and praise there own broke azz drug dealin murderin murdered comrade that couldnt rap 4 shiiit
You can tell its the same 3 people coming in here and writing all this garbage about this loser. You wonder why people dont give any credit to album ratings on here its because of bs like this
Listen up. You are entitled to your opinion. But you do not have to be super lyrical which is what i prefer to still be s good artist. Do you realize the art of storytelling shoutout to outkast and slick rick is dying in hip hop? That is what people enjoy about von. And he was serious about his craft. He wouldve grown as artist. But just to judge based on what you think what good is wack. Broaden your horizans.
Whats a horizan? You illiterate azz clown
Calling someone illiterate but you spell ASS azz foh goofy
Hater go to sleep. And who did he take from you lol
Haha he didnt take nothin from me caise I never gave him the chance im blazin a Joint of some Gushers in my Porsche right now where is Von? Oh yeah he is sleepin with tha maggots
This is fuccin pathetik lmfao. Sayin “this album garbage no matter how many times u vote” lmfaooo. U rlly think ur opinion is that important huh. Wtf u think u is, sum esteemed critic or rapper? Even then the only thing that matters is whether most ppl like it or not, doesn’t matter how many times u scream that it’s garbage.
You gave me strength and hope with your words. You are a King and will forever be remembered as one. No one or nothing can ever take that from you. I loved everything about you and I was never the groupie type. Real just recognize real and you were the realist. This really got me fucked up in the head. You had soooo much to offer the world. You were so much bigger and better than drill music. I asked God to at least allow you to make it to 30 years old. Damn, I loved you King and thank you for blessing us with your wisdom and music. ALL your albums were fire, but Welcome to O Block was my favorite?????????
King von I hope you find peace. The true fearless man that not scared of death. For some reason I think you were prepared to fly high with your homie . I hope you visit your love one in dreams .
King of Drill
Garbage
Stop lying!
KING VON WAS A BAD, YOUNG TRUTH RAPPER. HE WOULD HAVE ONLY BECAME GREATER. RIP KING VON
STOP.HATERS. THE BOY WAS BAD. BUT THATS OK HIS WORDS WILL CARRY ON. OK.
With his one album full of autotune garbage. I hope you listen to this crappy azz album everyday and it bring you down to the same level this fake azz clown is btw with that hair shouldnt he be named Qween Von anyway
Lmao den why dont u try n rap. There prolly reasons to hate on Von as a person because of his past, but lotta ppl like his music, and dats the only thing that counts when it comes to arts. Yo opinion ain’t superior to others. U ain’t no fuccin rapper, who made u think u can put ppl at certain levels.
????????
Bro it was supposed to say fire not ?
MY RATING FOR THIS MUSIC IS 5 OUT OF 5! DAMN! WE ARE REALLY GONNA MISS THIS PURE TRUTH SPITTING ARTIST. 4REAL. RIP KING VON
YOU SHOULD REALLY WATCH YO MOUTH. BECAUSE WHAT YOU SAY IS REAL HATE.
DOES TYPING IN CAPS MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER THOUGH
I’ve been on Von since he 1st came out fresh off beating his attempted murder charges. Every project he out out just got better and better….this was gonna be the album that put him solidly in the mainstream. So sad that we won’t ever get to see it come to pass. RIP King Von!!
That’s my nephew I LOVVVVVE HIM even in the after life
He was a very talented young brother gone but never forgotten my prayers and condolences goes out to his family
Von I put him right with Biggie a true story teller that lived the story
Best Album coming out the Drill Scene in Chicago since Lil Herb Welcome to Fazoland
I love this album and it’s just sad that he’s gone!
He live this life and told the nothing but the true I can relate to him coming from a family in Louisiana who is well known have 3 sons one in the music industry trying to find his way through going through things von went through my heart feel his pain his music speak nothing but the true love him any producer looking for a talent young man Blvd ree up on Instagram Baton Rouge la
Rest up Von ?? bro was a Chi legend already before he even started rappin Von was known in the Chi frfr #RIPKINGVON #RIPLACAPONE
He was bringing storytelling rap back. Great lyrics, RIP King Von
Was undeniably destined greatness. Long live King Von ?
??????????
Excellent body of work
This Album was the rawest…I love the non-fiction it’s the best at its finest?????? only GOD can judge???
NON-FICTION story telling at its finest
He had so much more good music left to do… Just think of the collabs we missed out on… One of the best albums to be released in a long time…
only album I listen to everyday nonstop
Fyi..von was not a rapper
We found another hater..smdh, goofy maugs.
R.I.P. DUDE HAD A LOT MORE IN THE GAS TANK THEN ANYBODY KNEW, LIL DURK TRYED TO SLOW HIM DOWN A LIL…BY LIKE THEY SAY LIVE BY THE GUN DIE BY THE GUN…R.I.P YOUNG MAN GOD HAVE MERCY ON YOUR SOUL…YOU WILLL BE MISSED BIG DOG….
Von was a talented man, we need to give people their flowers while they can still smell them. This project was really good.
KING VON WAS A WONDERFUL TALENT MISS YA! GONE 2 SOON! AND HE ALSO WAS FINE AS WINE! BUT THAT BOW LEGGED STAND DOE! YESSSSSS!
?????
This young man wouldve exceeded all expectations. Its heartbreaking we will never get to see just how talented he was. RIP to a legend in his short time. #RIPKINGVON
Dude was fire, sorry he had to leave us so soon (RIP King Von). The welcome to O block album is the shit !!!!
One of the best Storytellers of this new generation of young rap artist. I can follow every song word for word without getting lost
This album should be number 1on bill board because every song is a bangers.
Great storytelling on the album and overall liked every song on the album. Definitely deserves to go number 1 on billboard main because of how fire the whole album is.
I remember listening to this album a day before Von died and thinking how exciting it was going to be to listen to his perspective grow as he got more distance from his past on the streets. I was so happy to hear this album and so looking forward to what was going to come from his growing talent and abilities. It sucks that we will never be able to do that…
Best album of the year, even predownloaded the album shame anotha talent wasted
I started listening to king von about 4 yed ago and i really liked the dude
Shame what happened to him.
God bless his family
This is fire????
Nice album if you like your rap on a 5th grade reading level.
lmaaoo seriously b. I can’t even get through one song it’s like listening to someone rapping their ABC’s. If you’ve ever heard Lupe, Black Thought — hell if you’ve ever heard Drake how can you listen to this garbage.
King Von Was A Chicago Legend And The Biggest Hip Hop Artist Of All Time. He Will Always Be Remembered By His Music And Powerful Lyrics. RIP V.Roy??❤???
dude wasn’t hiphop most beef nothing good out of that man get fans to believe everything run with it whoopty guess dirkio sacrificed interview told if fans say it then its true only friend was v.voy dirkio snake for fame sad man
Dayvon was the man, a real street legend….. He never missed in any of his albums … He was too goated, when I heard he died I didn’t believe..shit still hurts
RIP Von. This young man had an unmatched talent from new school rappers. From his story telling, to his flow and rhythm, to the tones of his words. It’s incredibly sad that hip-hop is now missing Von. His passing leaves a hole that won’t be filled for a long, long time.
He killed a lot of people bro. Live by the gun die by the gun. fxck him.
If this album is really a 4.2 then All of Scarface albums are 75. Most 90s rappers albums are a min of 20. This album is really .2 GTFO if you dick ryders think it is any better.
Shut yo bitch ass up all of Von’s songs and albums are better than most rappers from the 90s put together dumbass
SHOWS HOW MUCH YOU KNOW FUCK HEAD…YOU USING A DEAD MANS NAME…HIS ALBUM IS MEDIOCRE AT BEST..NOT WACK BUT NOT A CLASSIC…EAT A DICK
THA WAS FOR THE KING VON DUDE…NOT DJ BOUTIT
L
Waaaahhhh? You way outta line saying that shit, period…Like who u like but don’t say shit about the 90s bro…boom bap, gangsta rap and southern hospitality nuff said
Dedicated to King Von, not BOUT IT
4.2 is too high , c’mon ?
O block! King 64 Von was going to be the biggest thing coming. Out of Chicago on the rap scene and the world. R I P Soul Brother! Love
Dirkio knew it comon net he sacrifice him for fame.von said he only beef with ops cuz dirkio in interview v.roy was von only real friend sad shit dirkio on go live I.g world can see he not bout that life ?
No lessons were learned from it BC nothing has changed.. This just goes to show how jealousy and envy sill and will always run ?♂️ this world. I pray Ur sound will continue to bless these “airways.”1
How you give this shit a 4.2 and MTBMB a 3.5??? In what universe is that even possible??
Cause Eminem is mad corny. If SSLP is a 4.2 which it is, you really think MTBMB is better?
Wanted to see what a 5 star album sounds like in 2020 … this is it! According to a 20 something bandwagon wrap fan phaggit … album=trash
I love king von
Great Album I jam that everyday Mine too my favorite but Demon, Cant Relate; All these, Wayne Story Man be got bangers I am frm Tx nd I been a fan since he drop Problems nd Beat Tha Body RIPVROY OBLOCK KING CHIRAQ SAVAGE REAL KILLER
You a real live HATER RT shortie only been rapping for 2yrs nd he took off and his music was authentic dummy shit he rap he lived dumbass get outta here with that bet he went platinum
This album is a gangsta rap classic. Von gets introspective and reminisces about the gang life. It’s too bad we will never get to see a mature version of Von because he has shown to be a quick learner and a great poetic storyteller.
Oh hi! Album is trash! Bye bye! 0/5
Best Drill album ever on pair with Chief keef’s Finally Rich