Hip-hop artists and fans have paid tribute to Takeoff, a member of the chart-topping group Migos. On Tuesday, the musician, real name Kirshnik Khari Ball, 28, was allegedly killed in Houston, TX. As of this writing, law enforcement has not officially identified the victim.
Migos is one of the most influential groups of their generation. They are pioneers of a style of rapping in choppy, staccato triplets known as the “Migos flow”.
The band, who split earlier this year, scored several international hits including “Bad and Boujee”, “Versace” and “Walk It Talk It”.
The 28-year-old rapper and Quavo were playing dice at 810 Billiards & Bowling Houston when an altercation occurred, according to TMZ. An unknown person opened fire and struck Takeoff in the head or near the area, killing him on the spot. Two other people are in hospital suffering from gunshot wounds. Their conditions remain unknown. Quavo suffered no injuries.
Ja Rule, Kid Cudi, Khalid, and Dave all paid tribute on social media, and Rick Ross refers to him as a “young legend.”
The Houston Police Department confirmed that they are investigating a homicide and that Quavo and Takeoff were present, but they did not reveal the identity of the deceased victim “until his family is notified & ID verified by Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.”
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner urged witnesses at the scene to come forward at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon. “Please step up, get the information to us so we can bring some closure to this family who’s hurting right now,” he requests.
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