TakeoffAs the news of Takeoff’s sudden death broke in the early hours of November 1, the music industry was in disbelief over the loss of the 28-year-old rapper. The youngest member of the Grammy-winning trap group Migos died after being shot and killed at a Houston bowling alley November 1, a rep confirmed to AP News. His uncle and bandmate, Quavo, was present at the bowling alley but was not harmed, according to reports. Friends and fans took to social media to honor Takeoff — whose legal name was Kirsnik Khari Ball — after learning of the deadly event. A day after Takeoff’s funeral, Quavo published a statement to Instagram, remembering his nephew. “You are OUR angel, watching me and watching us this whole time in living form making sure EVERYONE FELT UR LOVE AND HUGS while u here and u made our dreams come true,” shared Quavo. “This broke my heart 💔,” rapper and fellow Atlanta native Gucci Mane wrote on Instagram. “Rest In Peace @yrntakeoff.” Future tweeted sparingly, “TakeOff forever Legendary.”
Tributes continued to pour in from industry veterans, friends, and celebrity fans, including the ones in person at his funeral on November 11 and those on social media. “I got the best memories of all of us seeing the world together and bringing light to every city we touch,” Drake wrote on Instagram. “I am heartbroken but I am grateful for all the precious memories we got to share while you were here with us,” Cardi B said in an Instagram post following Takeoff’s celebration of life. A heartbroken Desiigner tearfully said he’s “done with rap” in an Instagram livestream. “Today I lost more than a brother,” Rich the Kid captioned an Instagram post. “My twin my best friend everything, I don’t wanna believe it I can’t.” Singer and actor Teyana Taylor also struggled to digest the young rapper’s death. “Please tell me this is just a bad dream pleaseeeeeeee I don’t want to believe this lil bro please,” Taylor wrote. Tyler the Creator wished the rapper “safe travels” on his Instagram story. Below, more tributes to Takeoff’s life from French Montana, Yung Miami, Wiz Khalifa, Baby Tate, and more.
View this post on InstagramView this post on InstagramView this post on InstagramTakeOff forever Legendary
— FUTURE/FREEBANDZ (@1future) November 2, 2022 View this post on InstagramView this post on InstagramView this profile on InstagramView this post on InstagramIt goes without saying that I’m broken hearted and confused this morning. But I have to say Take is a one of a kind friend that would always acknowledge you, always make sure you was good and would always tell you keep God first. Man I wish I had more times to see u on this earth pic.twitter.com/FxauVhomiq
— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) November 1, 2022Rest in peace, Takeoff 🙏🏾 Sending our deepest condolences and prayers to his family, friends and community of people touched by his craft 🖤 pic.twitter.com/A1RkcrwyRZ
— Outkast (@Outkast) November 1, 2022RIP TAKEOFF 😢⛓️🙏🏾
— yg (@YG) November 1, 2022RIP Takeoff
— The Chosen One (@KiDCuDi) November 1, 2022Rip take. Delete all footage and people talkin about it so it doesn’t exist
— Wiz Khalifa (@wizkhalifa) November 1, 2022 View this post on InstagramView this post on InstagramRIP Takeoff 💔💔💔
my heart is broken
rest in peace, Takeoff. i cannot wrap my brain around this one. 💔🕊
— CHIKA 🌪 (@oranicuhh) November 1, 2022RIP TAKEOFF 😞
— RAULEETO (@rauwalejandro) November 1, 2022 View this post on InstagramDamn takeoff 💔💔💔
— Yung Miami (@YungMiami305) November 1, 2022 View this post on InstagramRest In Peace, @1YoungTakeoff. Healing love to your brothers, family, & friends. 💔 #gonetoosoon
— Keri Hilson (@KeriHilson) November 1, 2022This is so sad. Wow! 💔💔 over what?? May God cover everyone who is in pain. These senseless acts have got to end. So so sad
— Khloé (@khloekardashian) November 1, 2022RIP TAKE , DAMN LIL BRO 😢🙏🏾💔👑💐
— MADE-IT (@MikeWiLLMadeIt) November 1, 2022I don’t wanna be saying Rest In Peace Takeoff right now man what the hell!!!!
— mani pedi 💅🦶 (@imbabytate) November 1, 2022RIP TAKEOFF A SENSELESS AND UNBELIEVABLE LOSS
— SOUL GLO (@soulglophl) November 1, 2022extremely important music
thank you for what you gave us and rest in power takeoff 💜 pic.twitter.com/Me5CnMcldT
Rest in peace to takeoff I just spoke to him too … I’m in shock right now, I can’t believe it. I pray to god it’s fake. This shit just isn’t fair bro wtf
— adin (@adinross) November 1, 2022do y'all not realize these niggas changed the whole cadence of rap when they came out? rip Takeoff. this man has been staying out the way, keeping it minimal, and minding his own buisiness since the beginning. If that's not enough to be left alone, then idk.
— FEO (@UglyGod) November 1, 2022Nawfisde patna gone way to soon… we was just at magic and Kevin hart show together. This beyond unreal. 😞 #gwinnettLegend #take
— Bow Wow (@smoss) November 1, 2022He was 28. Takeoff, the then-kid who convinced his uncle (Quavo) to start rapping then helped change the flow of rap. The undisputed best rapper in Migos (his uncle told me so himself just a few months ago). What a loss.
— Jewel Wicker (@jewelwickershow) November 1, 2022I remember @1YoungTakeoff being a very down to earth, cool dude. Cant believe I’m having to say this again about another young black star being killed for no reason, something really has to change in the industry, it’s sickening how easy & often people are dying. RIP Takeoff pic.twitter.com/VBguVkzBJ7
— Chris Eubank Jr (@ChrisEubankJr) November 1, 2022Sending our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and fans of Takeoff 🙏🏾
— Def Jam Recordings (@defjam) November 1, 2022Sending love to Takeoff’s loved ones.
I’m tired of seeing young Black men die. 💔
— Jamaal Bowman Ed.D (@JamaalBowmanNY) November 1, 2022#Takeoff, I mourn that such frivolous violence has ended your life. My heart goes out to Takeoff’s family and to all who are devastated by his death. We have a lot of work to do in transforming the culture of violence into a culture of community awareness and care. pic.twitter.com/dEu6nsGauC
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) November 1, 2022I want to see more Black men with grey hair. Growing older and wiser. I’m heartbroken at the continuous need for us to post “Rest In Peace” because violence has taken another one of us. But here we are, sleep well, Takeoff. https://t.co/g0vGFzR7fO
— Frederick Joseph is on Mastodon (@FredTJoseph) November 1, 2022This post has been updated throughout.
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