Takeoff was an integral member of the Atlanta trio, the Migos (often referred to simply as Migos). Signing to QC in 2013, Takeoff re-popularised the triplet flow in hip hop and was a true trendsetter as part of the group. Born Kirshnik Ball in 1994, Takeoff (nephew of Quavo) most definitely was just getting started as an artist and, like PnB Rock, was taken from us far too early.
Formed in Atlanta, the Migos (short for amigos) was comprised of the late rapper Takeoff alongside Quavo and Offset. All three members were related. Managed by legendary Atlanta manager Coach K, in 2013, they had their first breakthrough into the charts with the track ‘Versace’.
Coach K (real name Kevin Lee) is Atlanta’s answer to Suge Knight, with QC acting as a Death Row of sorts. QC, short for Quality Control, is an extremely successful label and has been home to many of Atlanta’s name-brand rappers, including The Migos, Lil Baby, Lil Yachty, City Girls, Rich The Kidd and even Cardi B, under a management deal.
After creating a buzz locally through their first two mixtapes Juug Season and No Label, in 2013, the Migos signed with QC and proceeded to release a third mixtape Y.R.N. QC does its distribution through Universal Records and with the label being to the South what Death Row was to the West Coast, the mixtape’s lead single was the group’s first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 where they debuted at number 99 with ‘Versace’.
From there, the group continued to grow and grow, especially with the weight of Universal and QC behind them. Releasing collaborative mixtapes with other QC artists continuously, such as Streets On Lock with Rich The Kid, Streets On Lock II, With Rich The Kid and Lobby Runners with PeeWee Longway, Young Thug & Rich The Kid. Following the blueprint as laid out by Lil’ Wayne of flooding the South with mixtapes and hammering your distribution deal, it wasn’t long before the major labels came knocking at the door of QC for the Migos.
In 2014 after the QC mixtape Solid Foundation hit the streets, Migos signed with Warner Bros’ 300 Entertainment but still wanted to be managed by Quality Control. From here, the group grew to take over hip hop and became the faces of what some dub mumble rap, but others just call rap.
However, one thing that the Migos did popularise is something called the triplet flow, and although they did not create the flow, their ingenious use of it for hooks became a practice that is now regarded as common practice. In fact, some may argue that due to the Migos’ repeated use of the flow, it has now actually become the de facto flow of modern-day hip hop.
Takeoff was breaking off from the Migos to find himself creatively before he was brutally murdered by what QC has revealed was a stray bullet in Houston, and was working on some interesting solo material. However, whether or not fans will be getting a posthumous release is yet to be disclosed, but for now, we have compiled an essential mixtape containing the 25 best songs of Takeoff.
The 25 best songs of Takeoff:
- ‘Versace’ – Y.R.N, (2013)
- ‘Fight Night’ – No Label 2, (2014)
- ‘Handsome And Wealthy’ – No Label 2, (2014)
- ‘Cocoon’ – Cocoon, (2016)
- ‘Bad And BouJee’ ft Lil Uzi Vert – Culture, (2017)
- ‘T-Shirt’ – Culture, (2017)
- ‘Slippery’ ft Gucci Mane – Culture, (2017)
- ‘Insomnia’ – The Last Rocket, (2018)
- ‘Infatuation’ – The Last Rocket, (2018)
- ‘Last Memory’ – The Last Rocket, (2018)
- ‘Motorsport’ ft Cardi B & Nicki Minaj – Culture 2, (2018)
- ‘Stir Fry’ – Culture 2, (2018)
- ‘Narcos’ – Culture 2, (2018)
- ‘Walk It Talk It’ ft Drake – Culture 2, (2018)
- ‘I Suppose’ – Control The Streets Vol. 2, (2019)
- ‘Magellanic’ – Control The Streets Vol. 2, (2019)
- ‘Pure Water’ ft DJ Mustard – Perfect Ten, (2019)
- ‘Need It’ ft YoungBoy NBA – Culture 3, (2021)
- ‘HOTEL LOBBY (UNC & PHEW) – Only Built For Cuban Linx, (2022)
- ‘Us vs Them’ ft Gucci Mane – Only Built For Cuban Linx, (2022)
- ‘Crypto’ ft Rich The Kid – Crypto, (2022)
- ‘Two Infinity Links’ – Only Built For Cuban Linx, (2022)
- ‘Chocolate’ ft Gunna & Young Thug – Only Built For Cuban Linx, (2022)
- ‘Nothing Changed’ – Only Built For Cuban Linx, (2022)