On Twitter, friends and fans paid tribute to the late rapper. “I remember Takeoff being very down to earth, cool dude,” boxer Chris Eubank Jr. wrote. “I can’t believe I have to say this again about another young black star being killed for no reason, something really needs to change in the industry.” “Rest in peace on takeoff, I just spoke to him too,” wrote Twitch streamer Adin Ross. “I’m in shock right now, I can’t believe it. I pray to god it’s fake. This bullshit ain’t fair bro.” Takeoff was born in Lawrenceville, Georgia in 1994. He began rapping with Quavo and Offset, his uncle and cousin, respectively, in 2008 under the collective name Polo Club. In 2011, the trio released Juug Season, their debut mixtape as Migos. “Growing up, I tried to make it in music. I was grinding, which is exactly what I loved to do,” Takeoff told The Fader in 2017. “I was just making something and creating for me… I was getting my own pleasure out of it, because that’s what I loved to do. I’d wait for Quavo to come home from football practice and play him my songs.” In 2013, Migos released Versace, their first mainstream hit. The song was notable for popularizing the triplet flow – Migos’ signature rapid-fire beat – in modern rap, and was eventually remixed by Toronto rapper Drake, who would go on to have a long-standing relationship with both three members of the group. Migos are best known for their 2016 collaboration with Lil Uzi Vert, Bad and Boujee, which peaked at No.1 in the US, as well as the top 10 hits MotorSport, featuring Nicki Minaj and Cardi B, and Walk It Talk It, featuring Drake. As a solo artist, Takeoff has released one album – 2018’s The Last Rocket, which debuted at No.4 in the US – and one record as a duo, last month’s Only Built for Infinity Links, with Quavo. More to come.
