The surviving members of Migos, Offset and Quavo, paid tribute to their late cousin and bandmate, Takeoff, on what would have been his 29th birthday on Sunday, June 18.
Takeoff, whose real name was Kirshnik Khari Ball, was fatally shot in the early hours of November 1, 2022, outside a private party at a bowling alley in Houston, Texas. He was reportedly a bystander during an altercation that erupted over a dice game.
The Atlanta rapper was one-third of the platinum-selling hip-hop group Migos, who pioneered a style of rapping in choppy, staccato triplets known as the “Migos flow”. The group scored several international hits such as Bad and Boujee, Versace and Walk It Talk It before splitting earlier this year.
Everyone Wish My Nephew Happy Birthday ?♾?Miss You So Much! pic.twitter.com/de1S4b3Y03
— QuavoYRN (@QuavoStuntin) June 18, 2023Offset and Quavo buried their tension and reunited to honor Takeoff’s memory with loving posts on social media.
Offset shared a photo of himself and Takeoff on Instagram with the caption: “Happy birthday to my brother @takeoff we miss you so much we celebrate your life today you will never be forgotten love you forever.”
Quavo posted a video montage of Takeoff’s career highlights on his Instagram story, writing: “Happy birthday to my brother Takeoff. We love you and miss you every day. You are always with us in spirit. You are a legend.”
The tributes came after months of rift between Offset and Quavo, who had a falling out over creative differences and personal issues earlier this year. The two rappers had not spoken publicly since Takeoff’s death until Sunday.
Takeoff’s death also sparked an outpouring of grief and condolences from fans and fellow artists, including Gucci Mane, Kid Cudi, Khalid, Dave, Ja Rule, Lil Pump and Keri Hilson.
Houston police are still investigating the shooting and have not made any arrests. They have urged witnesses to come forward with information.
Bio
Takeoff was born on June 18, 1994, in Lawrenceville, Georgia. He grew up with his cousins Quavo and Offset, who formed Migos in 2009. He was the youngest member of the group and often considered the most underrated. He released his debut solo album, The Last Rocket, in 2018, which peaked at number four on the Billboard 200 chart. He was known for his rapid-fire flow, witty wordplay and catchy hooks. He died at the age of 28 on November 1, 2022.
