Dayvon Daquan Bennett, known by his stage name King Von, was shot and killed early Friday morning (November 6, 2020) in Atlanta at 26. Von was an Atlanta rapper signed to Lil Durk’s Only the Family label who collaborated on songs with Lil Durk such as “Crazy Story”.
Chicago rapper Akon had two young children from his previous relationship and was expecting his third with Kema, his alleged mistress.
1. Lil Durk’s Tribute
Lil Durk released a song and video, “Backdoor,” dedicated to late Chicago drill MC King Von after rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine was accused of mocking his death by mocking it himself. Lil Durk donned Von’s signature chain necklace while alluding to his murder in this tribute song from OTF affiliate Lil Durk.
The track also makes reference to a video in which Durk was seen confronting a fan who was disrespecting Von during one of his concerts, pushing them away while proclaiming his unwillingness to allow anyone disrespect his dead friend.
The visual that accompanied Durk and director Virgil Abloh’s song was shot in Chicago, their shared hometown. Scenes recreate Abloh’s iconic fashion runways as well as cultural artifacts from Off-White; an LVMH-backed luxury brand owned by him that creates cultural artifacts in Chicago that helped foster drill music’s rise. Furthermore, this video gives us a glimpse of Durk’s quieter side; unlike his previous projects.
2. Lil Durk’s “The Voice”
King von autopsy existed within the post-drill landscape of Chicago rap, acknowledging the legacy of first generation artists like G Herbo and Chief Keef but keen on developing his own distinctive stylistic aesthetics within the genre. His rhymes featured narrative nihilism balanced by humor and empathy – making for compelling reading for any listener.
On November 6th 2020, three people died following a shooting outside the Monaco Hookah Lounge in Atlanta that broke out due to tension between Von and Chicago rapper Quando Rondo, sparking the gunfight that ensued. King Von and two others were gunned down during this violent exchange that resulted in fatal gunfire outside.
Documentarian Trap Lore Ross has made a name for herself documenting street beefs and deadly gang rivalries that spill into Hip-Hop music. Her recent video King Von: Rap’s First Serial Killer alleges that the “Crazy Story” rapper committed 10 murders prior to his death in 2020; Ross bases this claim on social media posts, lyrics and other evidence. Her video has drawn significant pushback from Von’s family, friends and fans.
3. King Von’s “Crazy Story”
Once upon a time, storytelling was at the core of rap music. Legendary artists like Slick Rick and Scarface built their reputation through intricate rhyme schemes they wove into their lyrics. Nowadays, however, many emcees often freestyle in the booth without writing out their verses beforehand.
Dayvon Daquan Bennett, better known by his stage name King Von, was one of the last rappers in this vein. Hailing from Chicago like Chief Keef, King Von achieved prominence after successfully challenging an incorrect murder charge and writing narrative-based songs full of both despairing nihilism as well as empathy-inducing humor.
He gained notoriety with a series of buzzy singles and his debut mixtape Welcome to O’ Block, produced by Mac Fly. On this record, produced by Mac Fly, was his breakout hit “Crazy Story.” In it he recounted an emotional conflict between Shorty and Wayne; its video, directed by JMP brought its lyrics alive with cinematic flair as it painted an authentic snapshot of street life.
4. King Von’s “Took Her to the O”
King Von was born and raised on Chicago’s South Side in O Block – a notorious neighborhood renowned for producing legends like Chief Keef. After rightfully beating an erroneous murder charge, he turned to rapping after finding relief through rightful legal representation, earning rave reviews with tracks like “Problems” and his compelling narrative of an attempted robbery and shootout on “Crazy Story”. Lil Durk took notice and welcomed Von into Only the Family collective; together they released two viral mixtapes that allowed Von to show off his ferocious flow.
“Took Her to the O” will be Von James’ debut single from his forthcoming album Levon James, due out March 6th via Only the Family/EMPIRE. Directed by Joan Pabon, its video intercuts narrative scenes taken directly from Von’s lyrics with shots of him and his therapist dancing away to Chopsquad DJ’s infectious beat. Also featuring Lil Durk as well as YNW Melly, NLE Choppa, Tee Grizzley, Booka 600 as features among its cast – making this project essential listening for anyone interested in gritty Chicago rap music!