King Von, born Dayvon Daquan Bennett, built a reputation as one of Chicago’s most compelling and controversial rap storytellers. Less than a year after King Von’s death, the question surrounding his legacy became unavoidable: should he be remembered for his music, or the life that inspired it?
That tension came into focus on August 5, 2021, when a mural of King Von appeared across from O Block (Parkway Gardens), the South Side housing complex closely tied to his identity. The artwork showed Von smiling in a classroom, seated backward in a chair, wearing an O Block chain. What was meant as tribute quickly became division.
Some residents saw it as honoring a hometown figure who made it out, while others viewed it as glorifying gang culture and violence. The debate around the mural and its impact on the neighborhood grew so intense that the image was eventually removed from the wall facing Parkway Gardens.
King Von’s Early Life in Chicago
King Von was born on August 9, 1994, in Chicago, Illinois, and grew up in and around O Block, a section of the Parkway Gardens housing development known for poverty and high crime. His early life was shaped by instability, neighborhood violence, and the realities of growing up on Chicago’s South Side.
His father, Walter E. Bennett (known as Ada Park Silk), spent much of Von’s childhood in and out of prison before being killed when Von was 11 years old. Raised primarily by his mother, Taesha, Von came of age in a setting where survival, loyalty, and street politics often dictated daily life.
By his mid-teens, Von had already begun encountering the criminal justice system, including time in jail in his teens and early adulthood. In 2014, he was charged in a fatal shooting case in Chicago but later had those charges dropped when witnesses declined to testify.
From the Streets to Rap Success
Despite constant legal pressure, King Von found a different path through music, developing a reputation for detailed street narratives and vivid storytelling. His connection with fellow Chicago rapper Lil Durk proved pivotal, leading to a deal with Durk’s Only The Family (OTF) label and launching his professional career.
Von’s breakout moment came with the single “Crazy Story,” released in December 2018, which showcased his ability to turn real-life situations into gripping rap narratives. He followed the success of that single with sequels like “Crazy Story 2.0” and “Crazy Story Pt. 3,” cementing his place as one of drill’s most talked-about voices.
In 2019, King Von released the mixtape Grandson, Vol. 1, which charted on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and helped expand his audience beyond Chicago. Songs such as “What It’s Like” and “2 A.M.” further reflected his blend of raw storytelling and street authenticity.
Legal Issues and Rising Fame
As King Von’s music career grew, legal issues continued to shadow his rise, creating a constant tension between success and potential incarceration. In June 2019, Von and Lil Durk were arrested in Atlanta in connection with a shooting and robbery outside a drive-in, though the case did not immediately halt his momentum in music.
By 2020, his profile had grown significantly with the release of his mixtape Levon James, which featured collaborations with G Herbo, Tee Grizzley, NLE Choppa, YNW Melly, and Lil Durk. Tracks like “Took Her to the O” became some of his biggest hits and helped solidify his reputation as a key figure in the Chicago drill movement.
On October 30, 2020, Von released his studio album Welcome to O’Block, a project that further connected his personal story to the neighborhood that shaped him. The album arrived just days before the events that would abruptly end his life and freeze his legacy in place.
The Night King Von Was Killed
In the early hours of November 6, 2020, a confrontation outside the Monaco Hookah Lounge in Atlanta escalated into a deadly shooting involving King Von’s entourage and another group linked to rapper Quando Rondo. According to law enforcement reports, an argument between two groups of men in the parking lot turned into an exchange of gunfire that left multiple people shot.
King Von was among those struck by bullets and was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead at age 26. Several other individuals were killed or wounded during the incident, and the case immediately drew national media coverage and intense debate among fans and critics.
Timothy Leeks, also known as Lul Timm, was later charged with felony murder in connection with King Von’s death. Quando Rondo has publicly maintained that his crew acted in self-defense that night, a claim that continues to fuel online arguments and diss tracks.
The O Block Mural and a Divided Legacy
After his death, a mural of King Von was painted on the side of a store near Parkway Gardens—better known as O Block—turning the site into both a memorial and a tourist attraction. The mural depicted him wearing his recognizable O Block chain and quickly became a symbol of his impact on Chicago drill culture.
Over time, however, the mural also became a flashpoint for controversy, with some community members and authorities concerned that it drew unwanted attention and criminal activity to the area. Store owners eventually painted over the mural, citing increased crime and pressure from police as reasons for its removal.
Even after its removal, the image of King Von at O Block lived on through social media, fan tributes, and new murals that surfaced in other parts of the city. The ongoing cycle of memorialization, vandalism, and renewal shows how polarizing—and powerful—his image remains in Chicago and beyond.
How Should King Von Be Remembered?
King Von’s legacy sits at the intersection of art, violence, and environment, making it impossible to separate his music from the life that inspired it. Supporters highlight his raw storytelling, his rise from O Block, and the way he gave voice to a community often reduced to statistics and headlines.
Critics, on the other hand, point to his alleged involvement in multiple violent incidents and question whether celebrating his work unintentionally glorifies a destructive lifestyle. The release of documents and ongoing online investigations into his past have only deepened the divide over how his story should be told.
Whether viewed as a gifted narrator of street life, a product of a brutal environment, or both, King Von’s impact on modern drill music is undeniable. His story continues to raise difficult questions about responsibility, representation, and what it really means to say: “Long live the King.”
Frequently Asked Questions About King Von
How did King Von die?
King Von was shot during an exchange of gunfire outside the Monaco Hookah Lounge in Atlanta in the early morning of November 6, 2020, and later died at a nearby hospital.
How old was King Von when he died?
King Von was 26 years old at the time of his death on November 6, 2020.
Where was King Von from?
King Von was from Chicago, Illinois, and closely associated with the O Block area of the Parkway Gardens housing development on the city’s South Side.
What are King Von’s most popular songs?
Some of King Von’s most popular songs include “Crazy Story,” “Took Her to the O,” “How It Go,” and tracks from his projects Grandson, Vol. 1, Levon James, and Welcome to O’Block.
Why was the King Von mural removed?
The original King Von mural near Parkway Gardens was painted over after it became a target for crime, drew heavy attention to the area, and reportedly came under increasing pressure from law enforcement and concerns from store owners.
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