Migos rapper Takeoff has been killed in a shooting in Houston.
The Georgia-born musician, real name Kirsnick Khari Ball, was 28.
TMZ first reported that Takeoff was killed in Houston in the early hours of this morning (November 1), while AP, Rolling Stone and Variety have all subsequently confirmed his death.
Houston outlet KPRC 2 News additionally reported that one person was killed and two were injured in a shooting at a private party at 810 Billiards & Bowling in downtown Houston.
Houston Police Department told the outlet that a man with a gunshot wound to the head or neck was pronounced dead by officers at the scene. HPD also confirmed that Takeoff and his fellow Migos member Quavo were in attendance at the alley at the time of the shooting.
UPDATE: 2 other victims taken in private vehicles to hospitals.
Media partners: We are not releasing an identity of the deceased victim until his family is notified & ID verified by Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.
Any updates on the incident will be posted here. https://t.co/bbaad2z9My
— Houston Police (@houstonpolice) November 1, 2022
Officers added, however, that they are “not releasing an identity of the deceased victim until his family is notified & ID verified by Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences”.
NME has reached out to representatives of Takeoff and Migos for further confirmation.
Tributes to Takeoff have been pouring in on social media following the first reports of his death. Gucci Mane, an early champion of Migos, wrote “this broke my heart 💔 Rest In Peace,” while Drake said: “I got the best memories of all of us seeing the world together and bringing light to every city we touch. That’s what I’ll focus on for now.”
You can see a selection of tributes below.
do y'all not realize these niggas changed the whole cadence of rap when they came out? rip Takeoff. this man has been staying out the way, keeping it minimal, and minding his own buisiness since the beginning. If that's not enough to be left alone, then idk.
— FEO (@UglyGod) November 1, 2022
not takeoff! 😞 RIP 🕊️
— aj (@ajtracey) November 1, 2022
Rest In Peace Takeoff 🙏🏽 my condolences 💐 to his family and close friends,very dope artist gone too soon. pic.twitter.com/lNqkkNzzAx
— Lloydbanks (@Lloydbanks) November 1, 2022
I remember @1YoungTakeoff being a very down to earth, cool dude. Cant believe I’m having to say this again about another young black star being killed for no reason, something really has to change in the industry, it’s sickening how easy & often people are dying. RIP Takeoff pic.twitter.com/VBguVkzBJ7
— Chris Eubank Jr (@ChrisEubankJr) November 1, 2022
Takeoff was one member of the Atlanta hip-hop trio Migos along with Quavo and Offset, his uncle and cousin respectively.
The group released a host of records together, including four studio albums and 12 mixtapes, and were known for such songs as ‘Versace’, ‘Bad and Boujee’ and ‘Stir Fry’. Their most recent release, ‘Culture III’, arrived in June 2021.
With Migos on an indefinite hiatus, Takeoff and Quavo released their collaborative album, ‘Only Built For Infinity Links’, last month.
Takeoff released his debut solo album ‘The Last Rocket’ in November 2018.