Takeoff shot dead in Houston

Takeoff, a member of the rap group Migos, has tragically passed away at the age of 28. The rapper, born Kirshnik Khari Ball, was fatally shot at a bowling alley in Houston early on November 1, while he and Quavo were playing dice. Takeoff was pronounced dead at the scene, while two others were injured and taken to the hospital. Quavo was unharmed.

Tributes have poured in for the late rapper from fans and fellow artists. Boxer Chris Eubank Jr. expressed his disbelief, while Gucci Mane, Ja Rule, and others shared their condolences.

Takeoff, who was raised in Lawrenceville, Georgia, alongside Quavo, began rapping at a young age and was deeply influenced by groups like the Hot Boys and legends such as Tupac and Biggie. Together with Quavo and Offset, Takeoff formed Migos, releasing their first mixtape in 2011.

Migos gained fame in 2013 with the hit “Versace,” which popularized the triplet flow in modern rap. They went on to have massive success with songs like “Bad and Boujee,” “MotorSport,” and “Walk It Talk It.”

Takeoff also released a solo album, The Last Rocket (2018), and collaborated with Quavo on the album Only Built for Infinity Links earlier this year. In 2020, he faced legal trouble when a woman accused him of sexual battery, though the case was dropped due to lack of evidence.