Entertainment
Fans Pay Tribute to US Rapper “Takeoff” Shot Dead at 28
Hip-hop artists and fans have paid tribute to Takeoff, a chart-topping group Migos member who was shot dead in Huston, Texas, at age 28. Ja Rule, Kid Cudi, Khalid, and Dave all paid tribute on social media, while Rick Ross referred to him as a “young legend.”
Migos is one of the most important acts of their time, pioneering the “Migos flow,” a style of rapping in choppy, staccato triplets.
The band, who announced their breakup earlier this year, had multiple international singles, including Bad and Boujee, Versace, and Walk It Talk It.
The shooting occurred about 02:30 p.m. local time (07:30 p.m. GMT) on a balcony outside the 810 Billiards and Bowling Alley, where Takeoff, whose real name is Kirshnik Khari Ball, was playing dice with his uncle and bandmate, Quavo.
According to police, 40 to 50 people were at a privately held party when someone opened fire. Officers reported finding a huge crowd and a man with gunshot wounds to the head or neck when they arrived. He was declared dead at the site.
According to police, two other persons were hurt and rushed to the hospital in private vehicles.
There have been no arrests.
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner asked witnesses at the scene to come forward during a press conference on Tuesday afternoon.
“Please step up and send the information to us so we can bring some closure to this family that is currently in pain,” he urged.
Drew Findling, Akeoff’s lawyer, told the New York Times that the rapper’s death was a “devastating loss, particularly for Atlanta,” his birthplace.
There was one “Mr. Findling described Takeoff as having a “calm air,” adding that “the world was beginning to learn about Takeoff.” It was finally his turn to shine.”
On social media, tributes poured in. “Forever a legend, I can’t believe this,” Lil Pump commented on Instagram, while Ja Rule tweeted “love to friends and family” with a dove emoji.
Dave, a Brit Award-winning rapper, posted a sequence of images of himself and Takeoff on Instagram with the caption, “My brother… days we spent together were precious.”
not takeoff! 😞 RIP 🕊️
— aj (@ajtracey) November 1, 2022
On Twitter, fellow British rapper AJ Tracey stated: “Rest In Peace, Not Takeoff!” commented Atlanta singer Keri Hilson. Love and healing to your brothers, family, and friends. #gonetoosoon.”
This is so sad. Wow! 💔💔 over what?? May God cover everyone who is in pain. These senseless acts have got to end. So so sad
— Khloé (@khloekardashian) November 1, 2022
Khloe Kardashian, a real personality, stated on Twitter: “This is heartbreaking. Wow! over what exactly? God bless everyone who is suffering. These senseless acts must stop. It’s sad.”
nothing makes sense anymore. nothing at all.
— Cole Bennett (@_ColeBennett_) November 1, 2022
Cole Bennett, a music executive, tweeted, “nothing makes any sense any longer. Nothing at all,”; and Juice Wayne tweeted a Takeoff verse with the caption, “it will never make sense.” “.
“Takeoff was probably the least problematic artist,” actress Masika Kalysha noted. “He doesn’t annoy anyone and stays out of the way.”
Takeoff Escaped from Poverty through Music
Migos, comprised of Takeoff, Offset, and Quavo, grew up in Lawrenceville, Georgia, and came to symbolize the state’s capital, Atlanta, which is undoubtedly the spiritual home of trap music.
Takeoff stated that music provided an escape from poverty for the band, who were all connected.
“I used to attempt to make it in music when I was younger. I was grinding, which was exactly what I wanted to accomplish. I didn’t have anything else planned, “He revealed this to The Fader.
“I used to record myself in my spare time. Find a beat… make something for me. I’d wait for Quavo to return from football practice and play him one of my songs.”
Originally known as Polo Club, the band debuted as Migos in 2010 and earned their first hit with Versace, which was remixed by Drake, in 2013.
Their rise was halted in 2015 when Offset was arrested following a police raid on the group’s tour bus following a gig at Georgia State University.
Eventually that year, the group released the mixtape Back to the Bando, which featured the smash song Look at My Dab, which popularized the dabbing dance style, which was later picked up by sports and politicians alike.
They broke over in 2016 with Bad and Boujee, a viral song with quotable lines (“rain drop, drop top”) that created numerous memes.
It was a slow-burning hit, peaking out at number one in the United States two months after its release, partly to an enthusiastic endorsement from actor-rapper Donald Glover, aka Childish Gambino.
“I think they [Migos] are the Beatles of our generation,” he declared at the 2017 Golden Globe Awards. “Bad and Boujee’s music is fly.”
Takeoff’s absence from that track sparked some debate among fans, but he dismissed it, claiming he was merely unavailable for the recording session.
Culture, the band’s second album, debuted at number one on the Billboard charts in the United States, propelled by its success. The duo partnered with Calvin Harris on Slide, their sole UK top 10 single, the same year.
Culture II, their follow-up album, features production by Kanye West and Pharrell Williams and guest appearances from Nicki Minaj, 21 Savage, Cardi B, and Drake. Another number one in the United States yielded the platinum songs MotorSport, Stir Fry, Walk It Talk It, and Narcos.
Offset began dating Cardi B around the same time, with whom he now has two children, Kulture and Wave.
Takeoff was the band’s youngest member and was frequently the quietest in public.
“He analyzes a lot, and I think that’s why his raps are so strong,” Offset told Rolling Stone in 2018. “He’s simply powerful.”
Before reuniting with Migos to record Culture III in 2021, the musician released a solo album, The Last Rocket, in 2018.
However, the band disbanded earlier this year following a disagreement with Offset.
“We stand on real deal loyalty, and sometimes it… ain’t displayed,” Quavo said on the Big Facts podcast earlier this year. “This has nothing to do with a label, documentation, QC, or anything else. This is connected to the three brothers.”
Takeoff and Quavo stayed together and released an album, Only Built For Infinity Links, which charted at number seven in the United States last month.
The pair had released a Halloween-themed video for their tune Messy shortly before Takeoff’s murder.
