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Takeoff, of Atlanta Rap Trio Migos, Shot Dead at 28 Takeoff, of Atlanta Rap Trio Migos, Said to Be Shot Dead at 28
(32 minutes later)
A shooting at a Houston bowling alley overnight killed a man, and the Houston police believe the victim was the rapper known as Takeoff, 28, of the chart-topping Atlanta rap trio Migos, according to a person familiar with the investigation. The Houston Police Department is waiting to make a formal confirmation until the man’s family has been notified, the person said. The rapper known as Takeoff, 28, of the chart-topping Atlanta rap trio Migos, was shot and killed overnight at a Houston bowling alley, the police believe, according to a person familiar with the investigation.
The Houston Police Department is waiting on the local medical examiner to make a formal confirmation and notify the man’s family, the person said. A representative for Migos, who was not identified, told The Associated Press that Takeoff had died.
Quavo, another member of Migos, was with Takeoff at the time of the shooting, the police said.Quavo, another member of Migos, was with Takeoff at the time of the shooting, the police said.
Drew Findling, a lawyer for Takeoff and confidante to many rap stars, called the death “a devastating loss, particularly for Atlanta.” Drew Findling, a lawyer for Takeoff and confidante to many rap stars, called the news of his death “a devastating loss, particularly for Atlanta.”
“When you’re around Takeoff, there’s a sense of peacefulness about his aura,” Mr. Findling said. “He listens to you, he looks at you, he’s more focused on what you have to say than what he has to say. The world was starting to learn about Takeoff. It was his time to shine.”“When you’re around Takeoff, there’s a sense of peacefulness about his aura,” Mr. Findling said. “He listens to you, he looks at you, he’s more focused on what you have to say than what he has to say. The world was starting to learn about Takeoff. It was his time to shine.”
Migos, one of the biggest rap acts of the last decade, was founded in the Atlanta suburb of Lawrenceville, Ga., in 2008. The trio first came to wide attention five years later with its debut singles “Bando,” “Versace” and “Hannah Montana,” featuring the group’s signature style of rapid-fire, stuttering raps, and filled with sticky, repetitive choruses.Migos, one of the biggest rap acts of the last decade, was founded in the Atlanta suburb of Lawrenceville, Ga., in 2008. The trio first came to wide attention five years later with its debut singles “Bando,” “Versace” and “Hannah Montana,” featuring the group’s signature style of rapid-fire, stuttering raps, and filled with sticky, repetitive choruses.
A New York Times review of Migos’s 2013 mixtape “Y.R.N.” called the group “insistent, noisy and chaotic” and “perpetually in fifth gear.” A New York Times review of Migos’s 2013 mixtape, “Y.R.N.,” called the group “insistent, noisy and chaotic” and “perpetually in fifth gear.”
In late 2016 and early 2017, the group became international stars thanks to “Bad and Boujee,” a track featuring Lil Uzi Vert — but not Takeoff, who was absent from the song — that spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. In late 2016 and early 2017, the group soared to international fame thanks to “Bad and Boujee,” a track featuring Lil Uzi Vert — but not Takeoff, who was absent from the song — that spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The track became one the first megahits of the streaming era, and has been streamed more than 1.5 billion times in the United States alone. The group’s subsequent album, “Culture,” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard chart and earned Migos one of its two Grammy nominations.The track became one the first megahits of the streaming era, and has been streamed more than 1.5 billion times in the United States alone. The group’s subsequent album, “Culture,” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard chart and earned Migos one of its two Grammy nominations.
In the years since, Migos have released singles including “MotorSport,” “I Get the Bag” and “Walk It Talk It,” and Takeoff also put out a solo album in 2018, “The Last Rocket,” which debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200. Last month, Takeoff and Quavo, without the third Migos member Offset, released an album, “Only Built for Infinity Links,” which went to No. 7. In the years since, Migos has released singles including “MotorSport,” “I Get the Bag” and “Walk It Talk It”; Takeoff also put out a solo album, “The Last Rocket,” which debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 in 2018. Last month, Takeoff and Quavo — without the third Migos member, Offset — released an album, “Only Built for Infinity Links,” which went to No. 7.
Takeoff, whose real name is Kirsnick Khari Ball, was born on June 18, 1994, and grew up in Lawrenceville and Athens, Ga. He “always wanted to rap,” he told The Fader, a music magazine, in a 2013 interview, and found his bandmates close to home: Takeoff and Quavo, his uncle, were brought up by Quavo’s mother, Edna, a hairstylist, and as a child, Takeoff would replicate wrestling moves on a backyard trampoline. The first of the group to fall hard for rap music, Takeoff soaked up music bought at the flea market, particularly Lil Wayne and his early group the Hot Boys. Takeoff, whose real name is Kirsnick Khari Ball, was born on June 18, 1994, and grew up in Lawrenceville and Athens, Ga. He “always wanted to rap,” he told The Fader, a music magazine, in a 2013 interview, and found his bandmates close to home: Takeoff and Quavo, his uncle, were brought up by Quavo’s mother, Edna, a hairstylist. The first of the group to fall hard for rap music, Takeoff soaked up music bought at the flea market, particularly Lil Wayne and his early group the Hot Boys.
As a duo initially called Polo Club, Takeoff and Quavo began performing music in their teens, and released a mixtape when Takeoff was still middle-school age. Offset began spending time at Edna’s house and considered Takeoff and Quavo his cousins. Together, they started to map out a sound — repeated words, punchy ad-libs — that was catchy and distinctive.As a duo initially called Polo Club, Takeoff and Quavo began performing music in their teens, and released a mixtape when Takeoff was still middle-school age. Offset began spending time at Edna’s house and considered Takeoff and Quavo his cousins. Together, they started to map out a sound — repeated words, punchy ad-libs — that was catchy and distinctive.
The trio came to the notice of Pierre Thomas (known as P) and Kevin Lee (Coach K) of Quality Control, a then-budding Atlanta label that became the city’s primary incubator of young talent, via the local hero Gucci Mane, who had heard the group’s early track “Bando.” Takeoff first drew Thomas’s attention with bouncy, melodic triplet raps that the executive said reminded him of the ’90s group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. The trio came to the notice of Pierre Thomas (known as P) and Kevin Lee (Coach K) of Quality Control, a then-budding Atlanta label that became the city’s primary incubator of young talent, via the local hero Gucci Mane, who had heard the group’s early track “Bando.” Takeoff first drew Thomas’s attention with bouncy, melodic triplet raps that the executive said reminded him of the ’90s group Bone Thugs-n-Harmony.
“The music was crazy,” P later said, “but what made me really wanna go hard for them is that they packed all their clothes and moved into the studio — literally lived there, sleeping on reclining chairs and making music all day.”“The music was crazy,” P later said, “but what made me really wanna go hard for them is that they packed all their clothes and moved into the studio — literally lived there, sleeping on reclining chairs and making music all day.”
Describing their approach to music in The Fader, Takeoff said the group would make about “seven songs a day,” spending no more than 15 minutes on each track. Working on a song for any longer “kills the vibe,” Takeoff said. “You gotta have fun with a song, make somebody laugh,” he added: “You gotta have character.”Describing their approach to music in The Fader, Takeoff said the group would make about “seven songs a day,” spending no more than 15 minutes on each track. Working on a song for any longer “kills the vibe,” Takeoff said. “You gotta have fun with a song, make somebody laugh,” he added: “You gotta have character.”
In the summer of 2020, Takeoff, was accused of rape in a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles by a woman who said she was assaulted at a house party in Encino, Calif. A lawyer representing the rapper called the claims “patently and provably false” and said that the rapper was known for his “quiet, reserved and peaceful personality.” The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office declined to prosecute the case the following year based on the lack of evidence, according to Pitchfork. In the summer of 2020, Takeoff was accused of rape in a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles by a woman who said she was assaulted at a house party in Encino, Calif. A lawyer representing the rapper called the claims “patently and provably false” and said that the rapper was known for his “quiet, reserved and peaceful personality.” The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office declined to prosecute the case the following year based on the lack of evidence, according to Pitchfork.