The Controversial Legacy: 5 Shocking Facts About The King Von Mural In Chicago And Its Mysterious Removal
The King Von mural in Chicago is more than just a piece of street art; it is a flashpoint for a city's ongoing debate about art, violence, and the complex legacy of the drill music scene. As of late December 2025, the original, highly visible tribute to the late rapper, Dayvon Daquan Bennett, is gone, having been controversially removed after years of public and police scrutiny. Its disappearance, however, has only fueled the conversation, leading to the rapid emergence of new, often more discreet, memorials across the city.
The saga of the mural—its creation, its vandalism, and its ultimate removal—perfectly encapsulates the divisive nature of King Von’s influence. For fans, it was a symbol of success and a tribute to a neighborhood legend; for critics, it represented the glorification of a violent lifestyle. The latest updates reveal a shifting landscape of public art in Chicago, where the memory of "Grandson" continues to be honored, just out of the official spotlight.
Dayvon Daquan Bennett: A Brief Biography of King Von
Dayvon Daquan Bennett, known professionally as King Von, was an American rapper and songwriter whose life and music were inextricably linked to the South Side of Chicago. Born on August 9, 1994, he grew up in the notorious Parkway Gardens apartment complex, famously nicknamed "O'Block," which became a central theme in his raw, narrative-driven drill music.
Bennett's music career began to take off around 2018, shortly after he beat a murder charge. He quickly signed to fellow Chicago rapper Lil Durk's record label, Only the Family (OTF), and became one of the most prominent voices in the Chicago drill scene.
His discography, including the album *Welcome to O'Block*, cemented his status as a master storyteller, detailing the harsh realities of life in his neighborhood. Tragically, King Von's life was cut short on November 6, 2020, when he was shot and killed in Atlanta, Georgia, at the age of 26.
- Real Name: Dayvon Daquan Bennett
- Born: August 9, 1994, in Chicago, Illinois
- Died: November 6, 2020 (Aged 26), in Atlanta, Georgia
- Hometown: Chicago, Illinois (South Side)
- Key Location: Parkway Gardens (O'Block)
- Career Start: 2018
- Record Label: Only the Family (OTF)
- Notable Albums: *Grandson, Vol. 1* (2019), *Welcome to O'Block* (2020), *Grandson* (Posthumous, 2023)
- Aliases: Grandson, King
The Original O'Block Mural: A Magnet for Controversy
The original King Von mural, which became the focal point of the controversy, was a massive tribute painted in 2021. It was intentionally located on the South Side of Chicago, directly across the street from the Parkway Gardens complex—the heart of the area known as O'Block.
Fact 1: The Artist and the Location
The iconic, over 40-foot-tall mural was painted on the side of the Parkway Supermarket, which sits on King Drive. The artwork was created by Chicago urban planner and artist Chris Devins, who was commissioned to complete the piece. Devins’ work depicted King Von wearing his signature "O Block" chain, a powerful symbol of his origins and the drill scene he helped popularize.
Fact 2: Police Pressure and Public Pushback
Almost immediately after its completion, the mural became a source of tension. The Chicago Police Department (CPD) reportedly expressed disapproval, arguing that the tribute glorified a street lifestyle and contributed to neighborhood violence. The public art sparked a heated debate among South Side residents, with some viewing it as a celebration of a local success story and others seeing it as a negative influence on the community.
Fact 3: Vandalism and Threats
The mural was not only controversial to law enforcement and some residents but also became a target for rivals. In a highly publicized incident, the mural was vandalized, notably following the arrest of fellow drill rapper Lil Durk. These acts of vandalism highlighted the ongoing, real-world tensions of the Chicago drill music scene that often played out in the immediate vicinity of the artwork.
The Sudden Removal: Why the Iconic Mural Disappeared
The most significant and recent update regarding the King Von mural is its removal in late 2023. The sudden disappearance from the Parkway Supermarket wall sparked widespread speculation on social media and among fans.
Fact 4: The Official and Unofficial Reasons for Removal
While the exact, single reason for the removal remains a subject of speculation, the general consensus points to an overwhelming combination of factors:
- Owner/Business Pressure: The mural was painted on private property (Parkway Supermarket). The intense public scrutiny, police pressure, and potential for ongoing vandalism likely created a difficult situation for the business owner.
- Police Disapproval: Reports from the time indicated that the Chicago police had been pressuring for the mural's removal for some time, viewing it as a symbol that attracted unwanted attention to the O'Block neighborhood.
- Community Vote: At one point, South Side residents were reportedly going to vote on the fate of the mural, underscoring the deep division the artwork created within the community itself.
The removal of the large-scale King Drive mural on November 13, 2023, marked the end of an era for the most visible tribute to the rapper in his hometown.
The New Era of Tributes: King Von's Legacy Lives On
The removal of the original artwork did not extinguish the desire to honor King Von's legacy. Instead, it seems to have simply shifted the location and style of the tributes. This phenomenon demonstrates the enduring power of King Von's music and his status as a cultural icon for the drill community.
Fact 5: The Emergence of the Lil Durk & King Von Joint Mural
Days after the O'Block mural was taken down, news of a new mural featuring both King Von and his mentor, Lil Durk, began trending on social media. This new, joint tribute emerged elsewhere in the Chicago area, though its precise location is less publicized, likely to prevent the same fate as the original.
This subtle shift from a solo, highly controversial piece to a joint tribute with a living, successful artist like Lil Durk may be a strategic move by fans and artists to honor the legacy while deflecting some of the intense scrutiny from law enforcement. The new artwork symbolizes the unbreakable bond between the two artists and the continued influence of the Only the Family (OTF) movement.
The Enduring Impact on Chicago's Drill Culture
The story of the King Von mural is a microcosm of the larger issues surrounding the Chicago drill scene. King Von, alongside pioneers like Chief Keef and G Herbo, gave a voice to the struggles of life in complexes like Parkway Gardens.
The mural's existence, and its subsequent removal, highlight the constant tension between street culture and civic governance in Chicago. For many young residents, the mural was a point of pride, a visual representation of a local who achieved fame on a global scale. The fact that a local resident was able to make money giving tours to tourists wanting to see the mural further demonstrates its cultural significance and economic draw.
While the original, massive King Von mural is now a piece of history, the emergence of newer, more clandestine tributes proves that the conversation surrounding Dayvon Daquan Bennett and the drill music he pioneered is far from over. His legacy continues to be written not just in music, but on the walls of the city he immortalized.
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