King Von
Biography
Dayvon Daquan Bennett (August 9, 1994 – November 6, 2020), known professionally as King Von, was an American rapper from Chicago, Illinois. He was considered a prominent figure in the drill music genre. He gained acclaim for his storytelling and lyrical abilities. Von was raised in the Parkway Garden Homes, also known as "O'Block," on Chicago's South Side. He was primarily raised by his mother; his father was in and out of his life due to incarcerations and was killed when Von was 11.
Career
King Von's music career began in earnest in 2018 after being signed by fellow rapper Lil Durk to his Only the Family (OTF) record label. His breakout single, "Crazy Story," released in 2018, garnered significant attention and was later included on his debut mixtape, "Grandson, Vol. 1" (2019). This mixtape reached number 53 on the Billboard 200 chart. He followed this with another successful mixtape, "Levon James," in March 2020, which climbed to number 40 on the Billboard 200. His single "Took Her to the O" from this project became a top 50 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified triple platinum.
His debut studio album, "Welcome to O'Block," was released on October 30, 2020. The album was a commercial success, peaking at number five on the Billboard 200. It featured collaborations with artists such as Lil Durk, Polo G, and Moneybagg Yo.
Posthumous Releases
Following his death, two posthumous albums were released. "What It Means to Be King" came out in 2022 and debuted at number two on the Billboard 200. "Grandson" was released in 2023.
Legal Issues
Throughout his life, King Von had numerous encounters with the law. At age 16, he went to juvenile detention for armed robbery. In 2014, he was arrested in connection with a shooting that resulted in one death and two injuries; the charges were eventually dropped in 2017. In May 2019, he and Lil Durk were arrested in connection with another shooting in Atlanta. Von was released on a $300,000 bond.
Death
On November 6, 2020, King Von was involved in an altercation outside a hookah lounge in Atlanta, Georgia. The dispute escalated into gunfire, and Von was shot multiple times. He was taken to a hospital in critical condition and died later that day at the age of 26. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation reported that two people were killed in the incident. In connection with Von's death, Timothy Leeks was charged with felony murder.