Quavo is paying tribute to his nephew, Takeoff. The 31-year-old rap star who formed Migos with Takeoff and cousin, Offset, released a song titled “Without You” that references his grief. Born Kirsnik Khari Ball, Takeoff and Quavo were leaving a private party in Houston that included a private dice game (which Takeoff was not involved in) where shots were fired, and Takeoff was killed at the scene. He was 28.
The members of Migos grew up together in Atlanta, forming the group in 2008 and rising to fame with their single “Versace” in 2013 off their debut mixtape “Y.R.N.” Their debut album, Young Rich Nation, was released in 2015, followed up by their No. 1 album, Culture, in 2017. Shortly before Takeoff’s death, he and Quavo (born Quavious Marshall) had reportedly had a falling out with Offset (born Kiari Kendrell Cephus) and the future of Migos was unclear. Takeoff and Quavo had just teamed up on the album Unc & Phew, releasing its first single just days before Takeoff was killed.
Offset spoke at Takeoff’s funeral, saying, “Changed the culture of music forever, you did that Take. You changed that flow. That flow came from Take, the originator. The originator of that flow. He changed the music. Lord give us the strength, give us the strength, the family and everybody, give us the strength. I don’t want to question God, but I just don’t get it.” Quavo also posted a tribute on Instagram shortly after his death: “I’m proud we saw the world and done things we couldn’t ever imagine together. We laughed way more than we ever argued and when we did I was in the wrong every time.”
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