It was the most famous wall in Chicago. Honestly, if you spent any time on Rap Twitter or TikTok between 2021 and late 2024, you saw it. The King Von O Block picture—that massive, grayscale mural of Dayvon Bennett sitting backward in a chair, grinning with his O Block chain front and center—wasn't just street art. It was a pilgrimage site.
But if you drive down South King Drive today, you’re going to be staring at a blank, grey slab of concrete.
The mural is gone. It was buffed in November 2024, and the story behind its removal is a messy mix of federal indictments, neighborhood politics, and a city that’s still trying to figure out how to handle the legacy of drill music. People are still arguing about it. Some say it was a tribute to a neighborhood hero; others saw it as a "shrine to violence."
The Birth of an Iconic Image
The mural was painted in August 2021 by artist Chris Devins. He put it right on the wall of the Parkway Supermarket, which sits directly across from the Parkway Gardens apartment complex. Most people just call that complex O Block.
It was a huge deal.
The image wasn't random. It was based on a specific photo of Von that captured his energy—the "Grandson" of the South Side, looking like he just told a "Crazy Story" and was waiting for your reaction. Devins worked with Delilah Martinez and the Mural Movement to get it done. The goal? According to Martinez, it was about representation and giving the community something that reflected its own culture.
For a while, it worked.
Tourists actually took buses to 64th and King Drive. Think about that for a second. A neighborhood that most people in Chicago avoid was suddenly a "must-see" destination for rap fans from London, New York, and Tokyo. They all wanted that one specific shot: the King Von O Block picture in the background while they threw up signs or just stood there in awe.
Why It Became a Problem
Not everyone was a fan of the "drill tourism."
The Chicago Police Department (CPD) hated it from day one. They argued that the mural glorified gang life and served as a flashpoint for conflict. In 2022, there was even a shooting nearby during a birthday celebration for Von. That gave the authorities the leverage they needed to push for its removal.
Residents were split. You had people like Pastor Edward Morris from the nearby Christian church calling it a "great advertisement for gang activity." But then you had the kids in Parkway Gardens who finally saw someone from their hallways being treated like a king.
The tension reached a breaking point in late 2024.
The Fall of the Mural
Everything changed when Lil Durk was arrested on federal murder-for-hire charges in October 2024. The feds alleged that Durk and several others were involved in a revenge plot against Quando Rondo following Von’s death in Atlanta back in 2020.
The streets reacted immediately.
Within days of Durk's arrest, the mural was vandalized. Someone splashed bright red paint across Von’s face. It felt like a deliberate message. Shortly after that, the store owners—who had been under immense pressure from the police and the city—finally decided they’d had enough.
They painted over it.
The removal wasn't a secret. It happened in broad daylight. People recorded the artist buffing the wall, turning the King Von O Block picture into a memory. It was a quiet end for such a loud piece of art.
Does the Mural Still Exist Somewhere Else?
Technically, no. The original is gone.
However, there were reports and photos circulating on social media shortly after the removal about a "new" mural featuring both King Von and Lil Durk appearing somewhere else in the city. The location has been kept relatively low-key to avoid the same fate as the first one.
In the digital world, the King Von O Block picture is permanent. You can't scrub it off the internet. It’s on the cover of unofficial mixtapes, it’s the profile picture for thousands of fan accounts, and it’s a staple of Chicago's visual history.
What This Means for O Block
Parkway Gardens is changing.
The complex was sold to new owners, and there’s a push to distance the area from the "O Block" branding that Chief Keef and King Von made world-famous. Taking down the mural was a symbolic move in that direction.
But can you really "buff" a legacy?
Probably not. Von’s music—tracks like "Took Her to the O" and "Armed & Dangerous"—paints a more vivid picture of that block than any mural ever could. The wall is grey now, but the stories are still there.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Visitors
If you're looking for the King Von O Block picture or planning a trip to the South Side, here is what you need to know right now:
- Don't go looking for the mural on King Drive. It is 100% gone. The wall is blank.
- Respect the neighborhood. Parkway Gardens is a residential complex, not a movie set. If you do visit the area, remember that people are living their lives there.
- Support the music, not the conflict. The best way to engage with Von's legacy isn't through a wall; it's through the storytelling he left behind in his discography.
- Keep an eye on the "Mural Movement." Delilah Martinez is still active in Chicago. While the Von mural is gone, her organization continues to put up art that focuses on Black and Brown excellence across the city.
The removal of the mural marks the end of an era for Chicago drill. It’s a reminder that in the intersection of rap and reality, things move fast and nothing—not even a 40-foot tall tribute—is permanent.