Rap artist Takeoff dies at 28

Students discuss his legacy and unexpected death

Jessica Mills / Arts & Culture Editor / The USD Vista

Kirshnik Khari Ball, also known as Takeoff, of the Atlanta rap trio Migos was fatally shot on Nov. 1 in Houston, Texas, at a bowling alley. 

According to the Houston Police Department, Takeoff was one of three individuals who were shot after a private party ended in an argument. Police are still searching for the shooter, and no arrests have been made currently.

Since releasing their first single “Versace” in 2013, the trio has been a staple for many fans of the rap genre. Takeoff was an instrumental part of Migos’ musical flow — specifically known for his syncopation, which occurs when a variety of beats are played together to create an off-beat tune. 

After nearly 10 years of stardom, Migos collaborated with artists such as Drake, Cardi B, Pop Smoke, Nicki Minaj and many more. They’ve released 14 albums, 44 singles and garnered over 18 million monthly Spotify listeners. 

At only 28 years old, many were shocked when hearing the news of Takeoff’s sudden death. Among those surprised was USD senior Hailey Hirmez. 

“I was very shocked,” Hirmez said. “I actually saw it on TikTok first and didn’t know if it was a rumor, because it just came out of nowhere.”With songs like “Bad and “Boujee,” “Fight Night,” “Walk It Talk It” and more, many listeners were captivated by the group’s fast-paced lyrics and party-esque beats. 

USD senior Paulina Smale is a fan of various Migos songs. 

“I used to listen to the Migos in high school. My favorite song was ‘Stir Fry,’” Smale said. 

“Stir Fry” was written by group members, Quavo, Takeoff and Offset, as well as Pharrell Williams — who also produced the song. The song peaked at number 3 on Billboard’s Hot 100 list and currently has over 536 million listens on Spotify, as their most popular song. 

Shortly after Takeoff’s death, videos of the shooting spread across social media rapidly. The video shows the argument leading up to the shooting — specifically Quavo attempting to de-escalate the tension and Takeoff standing off to the side — as well as the shooting itself. 

CNN reports that since 2018, gun violence — whether robbery or disagreement — has killed at least one rapper each year. 

Tupac, Nipsey Hussle, Pop Smoke and XXXTENTACION are among the famous rappers who were fatally shot. Many deaths were captured on video and released to the public as well. 

USD senior Avalon Miracle believes that having access to the video takes away from the seriousness of Takeoff’s death. 

“I do not think it is necessarily appropriate due to it being a violent act and death that we are witnessing,” Miracle said. “It is a sensitive topic to him and his family. I would not want people watching [the death] of some I know on repeat.”

Many are hopeful that the video will help investigators catch the shooter. 

“I don’t think [showing a celebrity’s death online] should be normalized,” Hirmez said. “However, I think that if it provides necessary information that may have been missing previously, it is important to show.”

Many Migos fans are hopeful that the video will be helpful in capturing the shooter. Like Smale, many fans will grieve Takeoff’s death for years to come. 

“I think considering he is a well respected talented rapper [and died] too young, a lot of his fellow rappers are going to take this very personally,” Smale said. “The rap industry is probably numb to these deaths, because we have seen this happen countless times, but what I’ve seen so far is people are really surprised about Takeoff.” 

While neither surviving member of the Migos trio has publicly commented on Takeoff’s death or the viral video, Offset has changed his Instagram profile to a picture of Takeoff. 

Offset’s wife, Cardi B — who has collaborated with Migos on several songs — retweeted a video of Takeoff, Offset and Quavo from Comlex Music with the caption “Family Forever.” 

Artists Drake, SZA, Machine Gun Kelly, Ugly God, OutKast and many more have all publicly commented on their loss on various social media platforms. 

Despite his life being cut short, Takeoff’s legacy will be remembered by many.