Earlier this morning, the artist Takeoff, one of the three members of the popular rap group called the Migos, was killed in a shooting in Houston, Texas.
Maddy Brown has the details on the incident, reactions to the artist’s death, and his legacy.
On Tuesday morning, rapper Takeoff was shot and killed outside the 810 Billiards and Bowling Alley in Houston Texas. He was only 28 years old.
Takeoff, whose legal name is Kirshnik Khari Ball, was at the bowling alley with his bandmate and uncle, Quavo, as well as 40 to 50 other people who had gathered there for a private party. The shooting occurred at 2:30 am local time. One man was pronounced dead at the scene and two other injured victims were taken to the hospital.
Takeoff’s lawyer, Drew Findling, stated that “there was a sense of peacefulness about his aura. The world was starting to learn about Takeoff. It was his time to shine.”
Since his passing, celebrities, friends and fans have taken to social media to express their grief and offer condolences to Takeoff’s loved ones.
Fellow artists like Khalid, Chloe Bailey, and Kid Cudi tweeted their disbelief and sorrow over the rapper’s passing. Reality TV star Kloe Kardashian posted on Twitter to say: “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.”
Gucci Mane took to Instagram to write: “This broke my heart. Rest in peace.” Gucci Mane had only recently collaborated with Takeoff and Quavo on the song “Us vs. Them.”
Just days before his death, Takeoff did an interview on the podcast Drink Champs, in which he discussed the success of his and Quavo’s new album Only Built for Infinity Links and stated his readiness for recognition before it was too late.
N.O.R.E: One thing I really really love about the project is how you shining...of course you was shining before but I feel like you was dancing on this one....I felt like it was always your time, it was your time to prove it. Is that something you had in your mind when you was going in recording.
Takeoff: Oh for sure, you know what I mean? Enough is enough. You know I’m chill and I’m laidback but it’s time to pop it, you know what I mean? I mean, it’s time to give me my flowers, you know what I mean? I don’t want them later on when I ain’t here.
The rapper was born in 1994 in Lawrenceville, a suburb of Atlanta.
His journey into the world of music started early in his life. Takeoff had previously stated that: “Growing up, I was trying to make it in music. I was grinding, which is just what I loved doing. I didn’t have nothing else to do. In my spare time, I’d record myself...just making something and creating for me.”
In 2010, Takeoff, his cousin Offset and his uncle Quavo made their debut as the band Migos. Just three years later, the group starting gaining popularity after releasing the hit song “Versace.”
The band gained even more recognition in 2016 after releasing “Bad and Boujee,” although Takeoff was absent from that track. The Migos’ next two albums, Culture and Culture II, both reached number one in the US charts.
Together, the group was responsible for multiple top ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100 such as “MotorSport,” “Stir Fry” and “Walk It Talk It.”
Despite their success, the band parted ways earlier this year after Takeoff and Quavo had a disagreement with Offset, citing lack of loyalty as the reason. Takeoff and Quavo then formed the duo Unc and Phew and released the album Only Built for Infinity Links on October 7th. The new album reached number seven in the US charts last month.
For Annenberg Media, I’m Maddy Brown.