From the onset of King Von’s debut mixtape, 2019’s Grandson, Vol. 1, the Chicago drill star asserts himself as one of the subgenre’s sharpest storytellers. The project represents the beginning of a fruitful relationship between the rapper and fellow drill tastemaker Lil Durk, who features on the project’s fifth track, “Twin Nem”. At the time, Von seemed to be the logical descendent of Durk’s trademark post-drill style just like Durk was inspired by Windy City greats Chief Keef and King Louie. Until his tragic death in 2020, King Von was earmarked as Chicago’s next great rap superstar. He begins to fulfil his legacy on Grandson, Vol. 1. On its opening track, “Went Silly”, King Von showcases the dead-eyed nihilism that informs much of the drill style, building stories of betrayal and hood ethics that inform the ruthlessness of his reign. Over a rumbling beat from Chopsquad DJ, who also served as an executive producer on the project, Von raps, “I got a bag, n****s’ savings, I be spendin’ that shit/My homie turned state, now he a witness and shit/See, on my soul, I'm out here shootin’ poles/I probably catch a body before I catch a cold.” Von’s ability to imbue these street raps with emotion—in this case, the pathos of a man who has grown weary of dealing with the trauma of life on the corner—is strong. On “Crazy Story”, which is widely considered Von’s first breakout hit, he reflects on the highs and lows of the world he’s built: “We at the top, yeah we lost a lot, but that just how it go.” Von wrote the song (which features futuristic synths and bouncing 808 drums) while driving from Atlanta to Chicago just after murder charges against him in The ATL were dropped. Initially working without a beat, Von unloaded all his feelings—good and bad—resulting in a song dripping with rawness and vulnerability. These features, permeating most of the tracks on Grandson, Vol. 1, bring an authenticity that the rapper would rely on throughout his brief career. No matter how intense, tragic, or triumphant his situation was, King Von would spit the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.