01/11/2022
Sad to loose w genius
You could feel Migos’ family vibe from the jump. When the trio passed around the mic during a track, like 2017’s “Stir Fry,” a pow-pow-pow rhythm was in the air as they rode the beat, cheered each other’s phrases, and spit three-way punctuations that made everything pop. 28-year-old rapper Takeoff, who died last night after a shooting at a Houston bowling alley, was Quavo’s nephew and Offset’s cousin; their ATL roots provided a rich bond that bolstered their art.
Craft and camaraderie were in equal measure when it came to defining the trio’s sound. Takeoff enjoyed writing for the group as much as performing, especially early on. “It’s what I like doing,” he told The Fader in 2017. “I’d wait for Quavo to get back from football practice and I’d play my songs for him.”
That art carried a great commercial impact. The Grammy-nominated trio, who united in 2008 under the name Polo Club, had four Top-10 hits on the Billboard charts, bringing a playful, punchy, and influential sound to the rap mainstream. They established their approach with 2013’s “Versace,” whose unique use of repetition made the music crackle. Though known around the Atlanta region and respected by area heroes such as Gucci Mane, it was a Drake remix of the track that brought them a wider spotlight. Takeoff (whose name was Kirshnik Khari Ball) Quavo and Offset signed to the city’s forward-looking Quality Control imprint, and set their sights on the top. They got there quickly. “Bad and Boujee,” featuring Lil U*i Vert, started the drive, followed by “Slippery,” “Walk It, Talk It,” “Motor Sport,” and other jams. The trilogy of ‘Culture’ albums is a key hip-hop achievement.
The crew’s charisma didn’t prevent them from trying their own solo work. In 2018, Takeoff dropped ‘The Last Rocket,’ and last month he and Quavo united on the impressive ‘Only Built For Infinity Links.’ Their “Messy” video premiered yesterday. It too boasted the back ‘n’ forth flow that will forever be linked to Takeoff’s impact. “I got the gang tatted on me, that’s forever,” he proudly claimed in “Messy.” Farewell to a key hip-hop voice that always honored community.