Dayvon Daquan Bennett, better known by his moniker of King Von, was shot and killed during a shootout at an Atlanta nightclub just one week after the release of his breakthrough album Welcome to O’Block. His death was both senseless and tragic in equal measure.
Von was renowned for crafting his tales with vivid detail and subtle humor; no other modern rapper could rival him as an exponent of storytelling.
What is Drill?
Drill rap is a style of hip-hop music focusing on street life, featuring aggressive lyrics about drug dealing and violence. This genre uses staccato beats from 808 drum machines set at 70 BPM for rhythm.
Drill music has earned criticism due to its violent content. Artists such as Abra Cadabra claim that its violent nature simply reflects reality for many young people – cuts in youth services, family breakdown, and childhood trauma are just a few factors young people are exposed to daily. Criminalising its music won’t reduce violence any faster.
Headie One is a pioneer not only of UK drill but modern British hip hop as a whole. From Tottenham, this rapper fuses London grime and garage styles with drill to create something uniquely his own. His 2019 hit ’18Hunna’ reached number 6 on the UK charts making him the highest charting drill artist ever!
What is Drill Music?
Drill music has come to characterize street-level rap over the last decade. A subgenre of hip-hop, it features unsettling aestheticized sounds such as gunplay, spraying hi-hats, double-tapped rhyme blasts and endless variations on “BANG! BAM! POW!” It serves as the soundtrack of young Black artists in New York, Chicago and London alike.
Drill music made its first foray into mainstream popularity in 2012 when YouTube became home for rappers such as Keef and his crew to gain national fame, eventually inspiring other scenes and established hip-hop stars to collaborate with drill musicians.
Drillers employ storytelling techniques that highlight the grim realities of their hoods, often through drug and gun violence as themes. Drillers tend to avoid overly clever wordplay for more straightforward accounts of their experiences; one example being King Von’s album title, Welcome to O’Block’, which conveys its gritty energy; this feeling being enhanced by his use of Chicago type drill instrumentals that aid in portraying it.
What is Drill Rap?
Drill is an aggressive hip hop genre characterized by dark beats and lyrics about street violence, often drawing upon real life experiences that may be uncomfortable to hear about. Drill stands out amongst many genres as an especially visceral musical form because its lyrics often touch upon major social issues such as poverty, racism, or lack of opportunity – provoking strong emotional responses when played back or heard out loud.
Taurus Tremani Bartlett, better known by his stage name Polo G, was another prominent name in Chicago drill. His 2020 album PTSD tackled mental health struggles among Black people, garnering critical acclaim and receiving accolades from fans and critics alike.
King von autopsy made his mark in the drill scene after Lil Durk noticed his fluid storytelling and signed him to his Only the Family label in 2018. His debut mixtape Welcome to O’Block was released one week before he was killed on November 6, 2020; at 26 years old. YouTube removed a documentary that depicted King Von as Hip-Hop’s first serial killer; Trap Lore Ross posted it online via Patreon as a full copy for curious listeners.
What is Drill Storytelling?
Drill rappers — from Chicago to Brooklyn and even London — create an effective language for violent urban neighborhoods. Not only is the music about street antics and violence; it serves as a channel through which gang members communicate the realities of living in war zones where life or death may depend upon an intricate code.
Dayvon Daquan Bennett, better known by his stage name King Von, emerged on the scene when Lil Durk signed him to his Only the Family label. His smooth storytelling attracted more established listeners while his 2018 single, “Crazy Story,” went viral.
Von released his second mixtape, Levon James, featuring notable guests like YNW Melly, NLE Choppa, and Tee Grizzley in March 2020. By October he had released his official studio set Welcome to O’Block; unfortunately, he was shot dead shortly after its release; at 26 years old he died.
