Dayvon Daquan Bennett was born on 9 August 1994 in Chicago, Illinois. He was one of ten children: his father, Walter E. Bennett, had six children from another relationship, and his mother, Taesha, had three. Bennett was raised primarily by his mother, as his father spent much of his time incarcerated. When Bennett was about eleven years old, his father was shot and killed.
Bennett grew up on Chicago’s South Side. Until around age nine or ten he lived with his grandmother near 78th Street and Wolcott in the Auburn Gresham area. At that age his family moved into the Parkway Gardens public housing complex (commonly known as “O’Block”) on King Drive. Parkway Gardens is a subsidised housing development for low-income families on the city’s South Side. Von later recalled that the neighbourhood was dangerous, noting that shootings occurred so often residents would often stay indoors for safety.
For schooling, Bennett attended Hyde Park Academy High School on Chicago’s South Side. He overlapped there with fellow Chicago rapper G Herbo (they were at the school at the same time, though in different grades). Von did not finish high school in the ordinary way; he later earned his General Educational Development (GED) certificate while in juvenile detention. After leaving detention, he took classes at South Suburban College in South Holland, Illinois.
Throughout his youth, Bennett was influenced by the culture and people of his neighbourhood. He has mentioned forming early friendships on the schoolyard and noted that local peers were among the early influences on his outlook.
| Fact Category | Details |
| Full Name | Dayvon Daquan Bennett |
| Stage Name | King Von |
| Place of Birth | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Date of Death | November 6, 2020 |
| Age at Death | 26 years old |
| Profession | Rapper, Songwriter |
| Genre | Drill, Hip-Hop |
| Record Label | Only The Family (OTF), Empire |
| King Von Net Worth | Not publicly verified |
King Von performing during his rise in Chicago’s drill scene, where his storytelling style and charting releases helped establish him as a notable voice in modern hip-hop. King Von first emerged within Chicago’s drill music environment in the late 2010s. After serving time in prison, he connected with fellow Chicago rapper Lil Durk and signed to Durk’s Only the Family (OTF) label in 2018.
This association gave him a platform to record and release his first tracks, blending street-oriented content with the hard-hitting beats of drill. He began to appear on Only the Family compilations and other local releases, using vivid storytelling drawn from his experiences to make his mark in the scene.
Von’s professional rap career launched in late 2018 with the single “Crazy Story” on the OTF/Empire label. The song showcased his narrative-driven style and quickly attracted attention in the underground. A remix (Crazy Story 2.0) featuring Lil Durk helped the track reach a national audience; it eventually entered the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 81.
Capitalising on this momentum, King Von released his debut mixtape Grandson, Vol. 1in September 2019. This project, built around the “Crazy Story” series and other originals, debuted at number 53 on the Billboard 200, establishing his presence on the charts and earning Gold certification for over 500,000 album-equivalent units.
The late-2018 single “Crazy Story” served as Von’s breakthrough, thrusting him into wider recognition within and beyond Chicago. Its success aided by Lil Durk’s high-profile feature drew industry attention to Von’s distinctive approach.
Building on that, Grandson, Vol. 1featured multi-part storytelling tracks (e.g. “Crazy Story Pt. 3”) that demonstrated his lyrical abilities. These releases laid the groundwork for his growing fanbase and set him up as a rising talent in hip-hop.
King Von’s rise continued through 2019 and 2020 as he cemented a reputation for gritty, cinematic drill narratives. His second mixtape Levon James(March 2020) peaked at number 40 on the Billboard 200.
This mixtape included “Took Her to the O,” a vivid story-song about street life. That track became one of his signature songs, reaching number 47 on the Billboard Hot 100 and eventually earning triple Platinum status for over three million units sold and streamed.
By this point Von had become known for injecting detailed plotlines and character into his lyrics, differentiating him within the drill genre. He often credited his skill in storytelling to reading books while incarcerated, a discipline that translated into crafting complex song narratives. King Von performing on stage, exemplifying his energetic presence in Chicago’s drill scene.
Between 2019 and 2020, King Von released two mixtapes and one studio album. The mixtapes Grandson, Vol. 1(2019) and Levon James(2020) introduced several hit tracks; both projects charted on the Billboard 200 and received Gold certification.
His debut studio album, Welcome to O’Block(October 2020), was released under Only the Family/Empire and featured guests like Lil Durk, Polo G, Moneybagg Yo and Fivio Foreign.
The album debuted at #13 and climbed to a peak of #5 on the Billboard 200, powered by strong streaming and sales. It earned Gold certification (and was later updated to Platinum) for over a million combined units.
Multiple singles from O’Blockwent platinum or multi-platinum: for example, “Crazy Story” and “Took Her to the O” each achieved triple-platinum RIAA status, while album tracks “Armed & Dangerous,” “All These N***as” and “The Code” also earned platinum certification. In total King Von’s catalog includes numerous RIAA-certified hits, underlining his commercial impact.
His posthumous releases continued to chart highly. In March 2022, What It Means to Be Kingdebuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 (his highest placement), and in July 2023 the album Grandsonreached #14.
Both albums featured frequent collaborators and sustained Von’s visibility. To date, King Von has three studio albums (including two posthumous) and two major mixtapes, all contributing to drill music’s mainstream presence.
Within Lil Durk’s Only the Family collective, King Von was a leading artist. After signing in 2018, he appeared on several OTF compilation albums such as Only the Family Involved Vol. 1 & 2(2018) and Family Over Everything(2019), helping to broaden the label’s profile.
He frequently collaborated with Durk and other Chicago rappers: for example, his mixtape Levon Jamesincluded features from G Herbo, Tee Grizzley, YNW Melly and Yungeen Ace. Von also toured as a supporting act for established artists; in early 2020 he joined G Herbo’s PTSD tour, performing across the U.S.
His deep ties to Chicago’s South Side drill scene (including early ties to the O’Block neighborhood) meant he often worked with local producers and rappers. Through these collaborations and performances, Von played a key role in cementing OTF as a dominant force in Chicago hip-hop.
King Von performing as a key member of Only The Family (OTF), reflecting his strong influence within Chicago’s drill music scene and close collaborations with fellow South Side artists. King Von is widely regarded as one of the most talented storytellers in drill rap. Critics and fans noted how his songs were structured like mini-movies, often praised for cinematic detail and dialogue. Commentators compared his narrative flair to classic hip-hop storytellers.
By blending raw street accounts with clever wordplay, Von expanded the creative scope of drill music. His success helped bring drill’s darker, narrative-oriented style to a broader audience.
Many newer Chicago rappers cite him as an influence, and academic studies of drill have noted how artists like Von added complexity to the genre’s lyrical themes. In sum, Von’s career is seen as having elevated drill music by proving that it could be as vivid and intricate as any rap subgenre.
King Von’s career was tragically cut short when he was fatally shot on November 6, 2020, just one week after his debut album’s release. In the wake of his death, the rap community and his record label continued to build on his legacy. In 2022 and 2023 his estate issued two posthumous albums (What It Means to Be Kingand Grandson) which charted at #2 and #14.
Several singles featuring Von’s vocals (often alongside Lil Durk) also climbed the charts after his passing. Peers and fans paid frequent tribute to Von. On television and social media, artists like 21 Savage and Metro Boomin labelled him a “legend” and honoured his memory.
Chicago’s music scene memorialised him publicly (for example, with a city billboard reading “Long Live King Von”). His girlfriend Asian Doll and colleagues like Durk and Fredo Bang kept his songs alive through performances.
Even years later, new listeners discover his catalog online, and references to his tracks continue in hip-hop culture. Through these posthumous releases and tributes, King Von’s work remains influential, and he is remembered for leaving a lasting impact on drill music and Chicago rap.
At the time of his death, King Von’s net worth was not publicly disclosed, and no figure has been officially verified by major financial authorities. His earnings were primarily derived from his music career, including revenue from album and single sales, digital streaming, live performances (tours), and songwriting royalties. He also participated in brand endorsements and sponsorship deals, and retained full ownership of his master recordings and publishing rights, ensuring ongoing royalty income for his estate.
King Von was known for his storytelling ability, often structuring his songs like detailed narratives. His lyrics frequently depicted real-life experiences from Chicago’s South Side.
King Von was signed to Only the Family (OTF), a label founded by rapper Lil Durk. His music was also distributed through Empire.
King Von did not complete high school through traditional schooling. He later earned a GED while in juvenile detention.
One of his most recognized songs is “Took Her to the O,” which achieved multi-platinum certification. It became widely known for its storytelling and commercial success.
King Von was from Chicago, Illinois, specifically the South Side. He was closely associated with the Parkway Gardens area, also known as O’Block.