Takeoff (rapper)

Kirshnik Khari Ball (June 18, 1994 – November 1, 2022), known professionally as Takeoff, was an American rapper.

He was best known as a member of the hip hop trio Migos along with his uncle Quavo and first cousin once removed Offset. Migos' 2013 hit "Versace" went viral and peaked at number 99 on the Billboard Hot 100. He started making beats and developing rhythms in the seventh grade, but did not start producing music professionally until 2011.

On August 5, 2020, news broke that Takeoff was named as the perpetrator in a civil lawsuit filed by a female victim on charges of "sexual battery, assault, false imprisonment, gender violence, and interference with civil rights" at a June 2020 party in Los Angeles. On November 1, 2022, Takeoff was shot and killed in Houston, Texas.

Early life

Kirshnik Khari Ball was born in Lawrenceville, which is in Gwinnett County of Georgia, U.S.. He was raised in Lawrenceville, Georgia, U.S. by his mother, along with family members Quavo and Offset.

Career

Early work with Migos (2008–2018)

Along with fellow family members Quavo and Offset, Takeoff began rapping in 2008. The group initially performed under the stage name Polo Club, but eventually changed their name to Migos. The group released their first full-length project, a mixtape titled Juug Season, on August 25, 2011. They followed with the mixtape No Label, on June 1, 2012.

Migos initially rose to prominence after the release of their single "Versace", in 2013. The song was remixed by Canadian rapper Drake and peaked at number 99 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 31 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

Their debut studio album, Yung Rich Nation, was released in July 2015, and featured guest appearances from Chris Brown and Young Thug, and production from Zaytoven and Murda Beatz. The album peaked at number 17 on the Billboard 200.

Migos achieved their first number one single in 2016 with "Bad and Boujee" featuring Lil Uzi Vert, peaking on the Billboard Hot 100 during the week of January 21, 2017. The song has gone on to be certified four times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). While he can be seen in one of the background scenes in the music video, Takeoff is not featured nor credited on the song. Takeoff himself has claimed that he was not featured on the song because he was busy at the time of recording. During filming of Complex's Everyday Struggle at the BET Awards 2017, he was questioned about his absence by hosts Joe Budden and DJ Akademiks, to which he replied, "Do it look like I'm left off "Bad and Boujee"?". Takeoff's response caused Budden to leave the set, and an altercation between Migos and Budden and their entourages almost took place before it was broken up by security.

Migos's second studio album, Culture, was released on January 27, 2017, debuting at number 1 on the US Billboard 200, moving 131,000 album-equivalent units, including 44,000 copies sold, during its first week of release. The album went on to achieve platinum certification in the country in July 2017.

The group's second album, Culture II, was released on January 26, 2018. It became Migos's second album to debut at number 1 on the Billboard 200, moving 199,000 equivalent units, including 38,000 copies sold, in its first week of release.

The Last Rocket and later Migos work (2018-2021)

Following the release of Culture II, on October 23, 2018 Takeoff announced an upcoming solo project titled The Last Rocket to be released the following month. Two days after the announcement, he released his first single off the album, "Last Memory", along with the music video. The album was released on November 2, 2018.

The forth Migos album, Culture III, was released on June 11, 2021. This would be the final Migos album released during Takeoff's lifetime.

Friction within Migos and Only Built for Infinity Links (2022)

In October 2022, rumors surrounding a possible disbandment of Migos arose, based on repots that Quavo’s ex-girlfriend Saweetie had slept with Offset. Following this, Quavo and Takeoff released a collaborative album titled Only Built for Infinity Links on October 7, 2022, 25 days before Takeoff's death in Houston on November 1, 2022.

Legal issues

2015: Georgia Southern University incident

On April 18, 2015, Migos were scheduled to headline Georgia Southern University's 2015 Spring concert at Hanner Fieldhouse. The show started at 7:00 pm with local opening acts; however, the group took the stage nearly an hour and a half later than their scheduled 9:00 pm set time. Although their performance contract stipulated a minimum 45-minute set length, the group performed for less than 30 minutes before leaving the stage.

The University Police Department, the Statesboro Police Department and the Bulloch County Sheriff's Office, who were present at the concert as security detail, detected a strong scent of marijuana from the group's vans, and the drivers were questioned by law enforcement. Upon further investigation, the rap trio and 12 members of their entourage were arrested for possession of marijuana and another controlled substance, possession of firearms within a school safety zone, possession of firearms during the commission of a crime, and possession of firearms by convicted felons.

While university officials had been aware of Migos's reputation, the group were allowed to perform as the student body had voted to have the group perform among seven acts that were up for consideration, and student fees and ticket sales were used to pay for the concert. According to the performance contract, the group were to be paid $30,000 with their promoter Big House Collective receiving an additional $3,000. University officials initially sought to put Migos in breach of contract due to the group's late arrival, shortened performance, and possession of contraband on university property; however, the university ultimately paid half of the agreed-upon fees.

On April 20, 2015, Takeoff, Quavo, and six members of their entourage were released on bond by the Bulloch County District Attorney's Office while Offset and six others remained in custody without bond. As a result of their arrests, on April 28, 2015, Migos announced they would postpone their Yung Rich Nation Tour until July.

2017: Atlanta flight incident

On July 7, 2017, Takeoff was asked to be taken off a Delta Air Lines flight prior to takeoff from Atlanta to Des Moines, Iowa, after he reportedly refused to move his bag from the floor to an overhead storage bin.

2020–2021: Sexual assault allegations

As of April 2, 2021, it was reported that the Los Angeles District Attorney's office would not be filing criminal charges against Takeoff due to insufficient evidence. The civil suit court proceedings are still in progress.

Death

On November 1, 2022, Takeoff was shot and killed at 810 Billiards & Bowling in Houston, Texas. Houston Police Department reported that a fatal shooting had taken place at 2:40am CST, and that the victim was found dead on arrival while two other victims were "taken in private vehicles to hospitals". Although police would not initially identify the victim, Takeoff's representative confirmed his death to the Associated Press. Takeoff’s uncle, Quavo, who was present during the shooting, was not injured.

Killing of Takeoff

On the morning of November 1, 2022, American rapper Kirshnik Khari Ball, known professionally as Takeoff, was shot and killed in a bowling alley, 810 Billiards & Bowling in Houston, Texas. He was pronounced dead on the scene. Rapper and uncle to Takeoff, Quavo, was present but not injured. Just a couple of hours before the shooting, Takeoff posted a selfie from the bowling alley. Quavo had posted a video earlier in the night, driving around Houston with James Prince, who was celebrating his birthday. According to a statement by Houston Police, two other victims were taken in private vehicles to hospitals. The department later added "We are not releasing an identity of the deceased victim until his family is notified & ID verified by Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences." As of Tuesday, November 1, 2022, 13:04 (GMT), his death has not been officially announced by the authorities yet, although Takeoff's representative confirmed his death to the Associated Press.

Reactions

Shortly after his death was announced, celebrities including Jake Paul, Dave, Adin Ross, Ric Flair, Mike Tyson, Desiigner, Almighty Jay, Lil Pump and Cole Bennett have all released statements of condolences on their social media accounts.

A graphic video of Takeoff's body moments after he was shot was shared on Twitter and viewed by millions of people.

Discography

Main article: Takeoff discography See also: Migos discography

• The Last Rocket (2018)