TAKE OFF. 28-year-old rapper Takeoff, a member of the Migos group, was shot and killed in Houston at a bowling alley in the city. An investigation is opened to determine the circumstances of the tragedy.
[Mis à jour le 3 novembre 2022 à 10h20] The day after Takeoff’s death was announced, his record label, Quality Control Music, said the rapper was killed by “a stray bullet.” “It is with broken hearts and deep sadness that we mourn the loss of our beloved brother Kirsnick Khari Ball, whom the world knows as Takeoff. It was senseless violence and a stray bullet that took a new soul to this world and we are devastated,” an Instagram post read.
While an investigation is underway to shed light on the circumstances of Takeoff’s brutal death, the American media are reporting new elements on the case. According to BBC and TMZa shooting reportedly broke out around 2:30 a.m. on the balcony of 810 Billiards and Bowling Alley, a Houston bowling club, during a private party where “40 to 50 people” were gathered.
Takeoff, present at the party with his uncle and fellow Migos bandmate Quavo, was playing dice when he was hit by a bullet and died on the spot, hit in the head and chest. Two other people were injured and taken to hospital. So far, no arrests have been made in the investigation into the death of the 28-year-old rapper.
The shock of Takeoff’s death
Since the announcement of Takeoff’s death, all of world rap has expressed its sadness. The rapper’s murder is inevitably reminiscent of that of other young artists in recent years, such as XXX Tentacion, Pop Smoke, Nispey Hussle, Young Dolph and, of course, less recently, Notorious BIG and Tupac. Takeoff’s disappearance will only rekindle the debate about gun violence in the United States.
Tributes to Takeoff
Takeoff’s death also inevitably sparked an outpouring of tributes around the world. “May God bless our dead and God protect our lives. Pray for the Migos family. Pray for my people so that we can one day end this war with ourselves”, writes for example Killer Mike, when Chance the Rapper shares a photo of himself alongside the late artist, offering a prayer.
In a video posted live on social networks, rapper Desiigner, in tears and enumerating rappers who have been shot in the United States, announces that he is ending his career, in reaction to the death of Takeoff . “I hold fond memories of us traveling the world together and bringing light to every city we touch. That’s what I’m going to focus on for now, rest in peace, space man,” he said. declared on his side drake on Instagram.
Silent since the announcement of the death of his cousin, the rapper Offset has changed his profile photo on social networks, replacing his image with a photo of Takeoff. Gucci Mane, Kid Cudi, Khalid… All paid tribute to the late rapper, described as a “young legend” by Rick Ross.
Who was rapper Takeoff?
Born June 18, 1994, in Lawrenceville, Georgia, Kirshnik Khari Ball, aka Takeoff, grew up surrounded by family members, including rappers Quavo and Offset. Bathed in this universe, he began creating music and rapping in 2008. With his uncle Quavo and his cousin Offsert, he created a first group called Polo Club, which would become Migos. After meeting with success and releasing three albums, Takeoff announces the release of a solo project, The Last Rocketreleased in 2018.
In 2020, rapper Takeoff is accused by a woman of sexual assault. The case will be dismissed by the Los Angeles district attorney for lack of evidence. Takeoff was shot to death on November 1, 2022 in Houston, Texas.
Migos Member Takeoff
Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, the group Migos was born in 2009. The trio, composed of Quavo, Quavious Keyate Marshall of his real name, Takeoff and Offset, whose full name is Kiari Kendrell Cephus, became known in 2013 with his single Versace. In all, Migos have released four albums Yung Rich Nation (2015), Culture (2017), Cultivation II (2018) and Cultivation III (2021). For his album Cultivation IIthe trio had brought together many renowned artists, from Drake to Travis Scott, including Nicki Minaj, Post Malone and Cardi B.
Takeoff and Quavo’s latest music video, titled Messy, was uploaded to YouTube shortly before the tragedy. More than members of the same music group, Quavo, Takeoff and Offset come from the same family. Quavo and Offset are indeed cousins. While Takeoff was Quavo’s nephew.