10.23.2020
King Von Tells His Origin Story on Welcome To O-Block, His Debut Album, Releasing October 30th via Only The Family /EMPIRE
The Rapper Shows Off His Well-Known Storytelling Skills with “Gleesh Place” (Prod. Wheezy), His Latest Video Single
Critical Praise:
“King Von’s original ‘Crazy Story’ is the kind of thing hip-hop heads should crave: an immediate and distinct piece of cinematic rap that makes time for flirting and gangbanging all in one ferocious verse. The Chicago rapper details an attack on an opp that keeps you engrossed all the way to the very end” – The 405
“King Von’s incredibly vivid story-telling rhymes have propelled him to the forefront of Chicago drill rap.” – The FADER
“King Von excels in using his storytelling as a device to portray the struggle of growing up in Chicago.” – Pitchfork
The Announcement + Video:
Commanding a rabid legion of fans who hang on his every bar, King Von is taking over the game with his tight storytelling and unmatched energy. Digging into his past and revealing his origin story, King Von announces Welcome To O-Block, his upcoming debut album. Often described as one of Chicago’s roughest areas, O-Block helped shape Von into what he is today, forcing him to quickly learn how to survive by any means necessary. Sharing the perspective formed by his youth in O-Block and young adulthood spent in and out of prison, Von’s Welcome To O-Block covers conflicts and situations familiar to anyone who grew up in a neglected urban environment.
Featuring production from Von’s frequent collaborator Chopsquad DJ alongside famous faces like Weezy, Welcome To O-Block incorporates regional sounds from around the map into Von’s dramatic post-drill sound. The new album finds the 25-year-old rapper reaching a new level of intensity of craftsmanship, packing minute details into his breathlessly intense rhymes to paint a cinematic picture of his crazy life.
The album features recent singles like “How It Go“ (7.8 million views), a mournful rap ballad that contemplates the harsh decisions made by people caught up in the justice system, and “I Am What I Am” ft. Fivio Foreign (5.7 million views), which combines the sounds of Brooklyn and Chicago drill into an energetic anthem of self-assurance. Welcome To O-Block also collects noteworthy songs from Von’s eventful summer, including the betrayal tale “Why He Told“ (6.2 million YouTube views) and the furious breakout hit “All These N****s” (23 million views), featuring his mentor Lil Durk.
Along with the announcement of the project, Von shares “Gleesh Place,” a chaotic, action-packed new music video. Produced by Wheezy, a favored producer of rappers like Gunna and Young Thug, the lightning-fast “Gleesh Place” finds Von recounting a close call with police in a series of frenzied one-liners: “Came in out of breath/Shoulda seen Gleesh face/Then I showed him the sting/It was like fifty k!” Directed by Jerry Production and filmed at O-Block itself, the video dramatizes Von’s story, the camera following him as he escapes his lick and dodges the opps.
Welcome To O-Block follows Levon James, a wide-ranging and successful project. Hosting the hit single “Took Her To The O“ (26.8 million views), recently spawning a Genius Verified video, as well as highlights like the G Herbo-collaboration “On Yo A**“ (9.7 million views) and the gripping street story “3 A. M.” (12.8 million views), LeVon James is available everywhere via Only The Family/EMPIRE.
The culmination of a meteoric rise that started with 2018’s “Crazy Story,” Welcome To O-Block establishes Von as one of his city’s, and the rap game’s most vital talents. Welcome To O-Block arrives on October 30th via Only The Family/EMPIRE.
Pre-order Welcome To O-Block: https://music.empi.re/oblock
Watch “Gleesh Place”: https://youtu.be/vMxOz_6gWOE
Buy/Stream “Gleesh Place”: https://empire.ffm.to/gleeshplace
Welcome To O-Block tracklist:
1. Armed & Dangerous
2. GTA
3. Demons
4. Mine Too
5. The Code ft. Polo G
6. Why He Told
7. Back Again ft. Lil Durk & Prince Dre
8. Gleesh Place
9. All These N****s ft. Lil Durk
10. Can’t Relate
11. Mad At You ft. Dreezy
12. Ain’t See It Coming ft. Moneybagg Yo
13. Ride
14. How It Go
15. Wayne’s Story
Please contact Michelle, Andrea, or Erin for more info.
The Background:
King Von was born in the South Side of Chicago, growing up in O Block, the area that produced Chief Keef. After rightfully beating an erroneous murder charge that could have put him away for life, King Von took inspiration from heroes like Lil Wayne and turned to rapping, linking up with Lil Durk who signed him to his OTF label. Within six months, Von had a series of viral hits, including the sinister “Problems,” which has over 3.4 million views after its debut on Lil Durk’s YouTube channel, and the defiant “War Wit Us,” which has over 3.8 million YouTube views. With “Crazy Story” currently burning up urban radio (it recently reached #76 on the nationwide chart), Von seems to be on the fast track to translate his fervent local following into national fame.
Links:
“Gleesh Place”: https://youtu.be/vMxOz_6gWOE
“I Am What I Am” ft. Fivio Foreign: https://music.empi.re/iamwhatiam / https://youtu.be/JHixsTYXfso
“How It Go”: https://music.empi.re/howitgo / https://youtu.be/WU6EHi410UQ
“All These N****s”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gB2LmRyfXuk
“Why He Told”: https://empire.ffm.to/whyhetold | https://youtu.be/PLutQQzjig4
LeVon James: https://empire.lnk.to/LevonJames
“Took Her To The O”: https://youtu.be/hzt31eJTGxo
Grandson Vol. 1: https://empire.lnk.to/grandson1
“Crazy Story”: https://Empire.lnk.to/Crazystory // https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YC8NmE3H-zs