Posted by The late King Von was on the verge of rap superstardom when his life was cut painfully short outside of an Atlanta hookah bar last November. The Chicago native had just released his debut studio album Welcome To O’Block when he was shot and killed during an altercation with Quando Rondo’s entourage.
But prior to Von’s death, he’d filmed a video for the project’s opening track “Armed & Dangerous,” which finds the 26-year-old spitting about his life. From his uncle’s crack addiction and subsequent death to the time Von spent in prison, the Only The Family rapper doesn’t hold back on some of the rough things he had to endure during his brief time on Earth.
“My lil’ brother getting big, my uncle got that cough again,” he spits. “He been smoking crack since I was born, that monkey stalking him/I used to stay up late at granny crib just to talk to him/When I was locked up, God knocked on his door and told him walk with Him (Damn).”
Von’s shooting death preceded a string of violent crimes involving guns that have rocked the rap community.
Shortly after Von was killed, BadAzz Music Syndicate rapper Mo3 was gunned down on a Dallas interstate. Then, both Boosie Badazz and Griselda’s Benny The Butcher were shot in the leg in two different incidences.
In an effort to celebrate Von’s short-lived career, his team has vowed to keep rolling out the album, while continuing to share unreleased music, videos and interviews Von was able to complete prior to his death.
Review: King Von’s ‘Welcome To O’Block’ Is A Breakout Performance From A Talent We’ll Never See Flourish
Welcome To O’Block features chief production from Chopsquad DJ and guest appearances from Dreezy, Fivio Foreign, Lil Durk, Moneybagg Yo, Polo G and Prince Dre. It also serves as Von’s highest-charting project to date, peaking at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 chart.
Listen to the album below and check out the Jerry Production-directed video above.