Hip-hop artists as well as fans have paid tribute to Takeoff, a member of the chart-topping trio Migos, who was shot to death at the age of 28.
On Tuesday, the musician whose real name is Kirshnik Khari Ball, was shot dead in Houston.
Gucci Mane, Kid Cudi, Khalid, as well as Dave paid tribute on social media, and Rick Ross referred to him as a “young legend.”
Migos were among the most influential groups of their era, trailblazing the “Migos flow,” a style of rapping in choppy, staccato triplets.
The band, which announced their breakup earlier this year, had several global hits, including Bad and Boujee, Versace, as well as Walk It Talk It.
The shooting occurred around 02:30 p.m. local time (07:30 p.m. GMT) on a balcony outside of the 810 Billiards and Bowling Alley, where Takeoff was supposedly playing dice with his uncle and bandmate, Quavo.
According to police, 40 to 50 people were at a private party when somebody began shooting. Officers reported finding a large crowd as well as a man with a gunshot wound to his head or neck when they arrived. He was declared dead on the spot.
According to police, two other people were wounded and taken to the hospital in private cars. There haven’t been any arrests.
Houston Police Chief Troy Finner begged witnesses at the incident to come forward during a media briefing on Tuesday afternoon.
“Please step up and provide the details to us so that we can deliver some closure to this family currently in pain,” he said.
Quality Control said in a statement, “It is with heartbreaks as well as great sorrow that we mourn the passing of our beloved brother Kirsnick Khari Ball, better known to the world as Takeoff.”
“We are heartbroken because senseless violence and a stray bullet have taken another life from this world.” Please be respectful of his family and friends as we all mourn this tragic loss.”
On social media, tributes poured in. Gucci Mane, another Atlanta rapper, tweeted, “This broke my heart.” “May you rest in peace.”
“Forever a legend, I can’t believe this,” Lil Pump wrote on Instagram, while Ja Rule sent “love to friends and family” with a dove emoji.
Dave, a Brit Award-winning rapper, posted a series of photographs of himself and Takeoff on Instagram with the caption, “My brother… days we spent together were priceless.”
On Twitter, fellow British rapper AJ Tracey stated: “”Rest In Peace, Not Takeoff!” wrote Atlanta singer Keri Hilson. Love and healing to your brothers, family, and friends. #gonetoosoon.”
Khloe Kardashian, a reality star, stated on Twitter: “This is heartbreaking. Wow! over what exactly? God bless everyone who is in pain. These senseless acts must stop. It’s so sad.”
Cole Bennett, a music executive, tweeted that “hardly anything makes sense anymore. Nothing at all,” and Juice Wayne posted a verse about Takeoff with the caption “it will never make sense.”
“Takeoff was most likely the least problematic rapper,” actress Masika Kalysha added. “He doesn’t bother anyone and stays out of the way.”
Migos, comprised of Takeoff, Offset, and Quavo, grew up in Lawrenceville, Georgia, and emerged to represent the state’s capital, Atlanta, which is undoubtedly the spiritual home of trap music.
Takeoff stated that music provided an escape route from poverty for the trio who were all related.
“Growing up, I was striving to make it in music, grinding, which was just what I loved doing because I didn’t have much else to do,” he told The Fader.
“I used to record myself in my spare time. Locate a beat… just make something for myself. 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 went on to score their 1st hit with Versace, that was remixed by Drake, in 2013.
“The Beatles of this Era”
Their rise was momentarily halted in 2015 when Offset was arrested just after a police raid on the group’s tour bus just after a show at Georgia State University.
Later that year, the trio released the mixtape Back to the Bando, which featured the hit song Look at My Dab, which popularized the dabbing dance trend, which was later adopted by athletes as well as politicians alike.
They broke through in 2016 with Bad and Boujee, a viral hit with clever and witty lyrics (“rain drop, drop top”) that spawned numerous memes.
It was a slow-burning achievement, peaking at number one in the United States two months after its release, thanks in part to an enthusiastic endorsement from actor-rapper Donald Glover, popularly known as Childish Gambino.
“I believe that Migos are the Beatles of this era,” he said at the 2017 Golden Globe Awards. “Bad and Boujee’s song is indeed fly.”
Takeoff’s absence from that single sparked some debate among fans, but he dismissed it, asserting he was simply unavailable for the studio session.
Culture, the group’s second album, debuted at number one in the United States, catapulted by its success. The trio collaborated with Calvin Harris on Slide, their only UK top 10 hit, that same year.
Culture II, their subsequent album, showcased production by Kanye West and Pharrell Williams, as well as appearances by Nicki Minaj, 21 Savage, Cardi B, and Drake. Another number one in the United States, it spawned the platinum hits 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 as well as Wave.
Takeoff was the group’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 his solo album, The Last Rocket, in 2018.
Even so, the band disbanded earlier this year following a disagreement with Offset.
“We stand on real deal loyalty, and occasionally that… ain’t displayed,” Quavo said earlier this year on the Big Facts podcast. “This is not related to a label, paperwork, 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 published a Halloween-themed video for their single Messy not long before Takeoff’s death.
