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Hip-Hop Stars React To King Von’s Death At 26

Getty Image The burgeoning Chicago rapper was a star in the making and beloved across the hip-hop spectrum. …

Emerging Chicago rap star King Von was reported dead at 26 this morning after an altercation at an Atlanta lounge escalated to gunfire, leaving three dead and three injured according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. While Von wasn’t a household name yet, he held a similar place of esteem to Pop Smoke, another rapper who was gunned down this year just as he was beginning to break through to the mainstream.

Among the rap peers and fans who chimed in were Chi-Town compatriots such as Chance The Rapper, Calboy, Dreezy, Joey Purp, and Queen Key, producers like Kenny Beats and Tay Keith, and admirers from across the world of hip-hop and R&B, including DVSN, Jacquees, Lil Yachty, YG, and more.

Von — whose real name was Dayvon Bennett — was signed to Lil Durk’s Only The Family Entertainment. 2020 was a turnaround year for the 26-year-old rapper, who’d been in and out of prison since his teen years and was awaiting trial along with Durk for a February 2019 incident where both rappers were alleged to have robbed and shot a man outside an Atlanta drive-in. Von experienced the biggest boost to his popularity earlier this year with the release of his Levon James mixtape and had just released his debut album Welcome To O-Block last week. His singles “Took Her To The O,” “Why He Told,” and “How It Go” were emerging hits throughout the year as he gained momentum in garnering fans from across the hip-hop spectrum.

See more reactions from hip-hop below.

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C’est Ça lights up a flemish spark with global potential in new single “Sunrise”

C’est Ça offers a flickering ember of hope on their new single, “Sunrise.” But be prepared for an even bigger surprise: this fresh-faced foursome may look young, and they are, but they sound timeless. With the self-assured charm of a band that has a clear idea where it’s going and just the right amount of mischief to keep things grounded, C’est Ça offers an invitation to follow along, and for the moment, this beautiful debut is a fantastic place to start.

“Sunrise” doesn’t just open, it comes to life. It unfolds slowly, like light penetrating morning mist, and it’s suffused with emotional swells and melodic sophistication that are both intimate and anhemic. A warmth draws you in from the first few bars, and sincerity lingers well past the last chord.

The same youthful longing in the vocals, the ambient guitars that expand like open space, the unassuming but insistent push of a band starting to figure itself out. But make no mistake: C’est Ça isn’t here to copy. They’re making their way, a sunrise at a time. According to their Belgium promo girl, they have ‘the emotional depth of bands such as Athlete or Snow Patrol’; you can see why. “Sunrise” achieves that elusive balance between vulnerability and uplift, which makes you want to hit replay and have it serve as a soundtrack to your peaceful mornings in solitude or your late-night reflections.

But below the studio polish is something even more evocative: heart. Whether it’s their small-town foundations or shared big-city dream of being found, C’est Ça carry themselves with a down-to-earth optimism that feels both approachable and hard-won. If this track is anything to go by, C’est Ça are not just climbing; they’re on fire. “Sunrise” is a promise and a business card, a quiet rumble from a band eager to be heard.

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Papi Jay drops a love letter to his roots with “Dear Sacramento”

Papi Jay offers something tangible and personal in a landscape where the music world is inundated with relatively shallow chart toppers. His new single, “Dear Sacramento,” is a lyrical love letter to the city that formed him. It slaps differently with West Coast bounce and raw, honest storytelling.

From Sacramento, born and raised, Papi Jay reps the 916. It’s physically palpable in every bar, every beat, every breath of this track. “Dear Sacramento” presents a portrait of a city that flows with love and struggle, grit and grace. It’s more than hometown pride, survival, endurance, and a sense of coming up when the world won’t notice you. And Papi is not just saying, but living it.

Papi Jay produces the track, fusing a distinctive Cali groove with something more personal: his truth. There’s the bounce, sure, but beneath, there’s an undercurrent of emotion and lived experience that cannot be overlooked. You can feel the streets, the summer heat, the late-night dreams, and the early-morning grind. There is no filter here, just passion and perspective.

“Dear Sacramento” is someone who’s found their voice and isn’t afraid to use it. There’s a slick hook, piercing verses, and a production that keeps your head nodding while your heart tunes in. This is not background music, and it’s a declaration. This one’s a must-have for all real hip-hop fans with a message. And for anyone who’s ever felt sidelined, who’s hustled in silence, who’s shouldered an entire city on their back, this song is for you.”

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That is what Papi Jay is saying: Sacramento made him, and he’s here to give back the love. In “Dear Sacramento,” he shows that the most powerful stories don’t come from watching us so much as from the places we come from and the voices that emerge from those shadows to be heard. This song is not only for the city; it’s from the town and deserves to be heard.

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