Welcome to O'Block

As so much of the contemporary discussion of drill puts its focus on locales like London and Brooklyn, its Chicago birthplace continues to produce new talent that strengthens the sound’s regional foundations. Associated with Lil Durk’s Only The Family imprint, King Von has rapidly risen thanks to viral singles like “Crazy Story” and its gripping sequels over the past two years. From the stuttering Chopsquad DJ drop on opener “Armed & Dangerous” onwards, his *Welcome to O’Block* album forces the spotlight back on the South Side, with the help of locals like Durk and Prince Dre, to show what’s changed and what hasn’t. Bluntly revealing cuts like “Demon” and “Gleesh Place” speak to the realities of his streets, while the emotional pair “Can’t Relate” and “Why He Told” go even deeper. Reaching beyond the city limits, Von builds his drill empire with East Flatbush’s Fivio Foreign for “I Am What I Am” and Memphis trap spitter Moneybagg Yo for “Ain’t See It Coming.”

The debut album from the uncompromising rapper was released one week before his untimely death. It delivers a concentrated dose of his tense, menacing take on drill.

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