Takeoff | World Reacts to Rapper’s Death at 28

As the news of Takeoff’s death still breaks across the internet, rappers, politicians and members of the public are taking to social media to express their heartbreak at the star’s untimely death, as well as their appreciation for his music and legacy.

by Archie Brydon |
This morning, reports coming out of Houston, Texas revealed that Takeoff, the American rapper best known as being a member of hip hop trio Migos, had been shot and killed at the age of just 28. 
Takeoff, real name Kirshnik Khari Ball, was born in 1994 in Lawrenceville, a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia.  In 2008, alongside his uncle Quavo and cousin Offset, Takeoff founded Migos. They released a series of mixtapes, before 2015’s debut album, Yung Rich Nation. It was followed by 2017’s Culture, which shot to number one on the US Billboard Hot 200, featuring singles ‘Bad and Boujee’ and ‘T-Shirt’. Within the same year, the album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. Takeoff Culture was followed by Culture II and Culture III, the latter of which arrived in June last year. In 2018, Takeoff released a solo album, Fly Me To The Moon, and just last month, his joint effort with Quavo, Only Built for Infinity Links, was released. On top of their commercial success, Migos were widely regarded as one of the most influential hip hop groups in modern music. Hailing from Atlanta, their style and cadence massively changed the genre in their wake, establishing the trio individually as some of the city’s most successful and famous rappers.  As the news of Takeoff’s death still breaks across the internet, rappers, media, politicians and members of the public are taking to social media to express their heartbreak at the star’s untimely death, as well as their appreciation for his music and legacy. The Martin Luther King Jr. Center expressed their sadness at the tragic, premature loss of life, as well as noting the ‘frivolous’ nature of his death, over a game of dice. One user looked back on a happier time, tweeting the truly brilliant video of Migos’ ‘Sweet Caroline’ adapation, during carpool karaoke with James Corden. The group’s rendition of the ‘Llama Llama Red Pyjama’ children’s book is equally brilliant.
The Shade Room asked for people to refrain from circulating the photos and videos that were spread across Twitter. That feeling was echoed by many: New York congressman Jamaal Bowman expressed his frustration at that unnecessary death of young, black men. British rapper Dave shared his heartbreak on Instagram, describing the days he and Takeoff spent together as ‘priceless’ and sending prayers the late rapper’s family. takeoff dave Rapper Cole Bennet took to Twitter to pay his respects. Complex shared a clip of a Takeoff verse on the LA Leakers radio show. YouTube star turned celebrity boxer, Jake Paul, pleaded with people to put down guns and pick up boxing instead.
This article will be updated as more tributes pour in.

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