Kirsnick Khari Ball † (June 18, 1994 – November 1, 2022 [aged 28]), better known professionally as Takeoff, was an American rapper known for being a part of Migos along with his uncle Quavo and cousin Offset. On November 1, 2022, Takeoff was fatally shot at a private party in Houston, Texas.
Career[]
Along with relatives Quavo and Offset, Takeoff began rapping in 2008. The group initially performed under the stage name Polo Club, but eventually changed their name to Migos. The group released their first full-length project, a mixtape titled Juug Season, in 2011. They followed with the mixtape No Label in 2012.
Following the release of the Migos album Culture II in 2018, Takeoff announced an upcoming solo project titled The Last Rocket to be released the following month. Two days after the announcement, he released his first single off the album, "Last Memory", along with the music video. The album was then released on November 2.
In 2022, rumors surrounding a possible disbandment of Migos arose, based on reports that Quavo's ex-girlfriend Saweetie had slept with Offset. Following this, Quavo and Takeoff released a collaborative album titled Only Built for Infinity Links on October 7, 25 days before Takeoff's death.
Channel[]
Ball created his channel on March 2, 2022, and uploaded his first video on May 18, 2022. He has only uploaded one video in his lifetime, a lyric video of the song "Crypto" featuring Rich The Kid.
Death[]
On November 1, 2022, following a private party at 810 Billiards & Bowling in Houston, Texas, Ball was shot multiple times in the head and torso. In a statement, Ball's record label said that he was killed by a "stray bullet", and Houston police chief Troy Finner said that he did not believe Ball was the intended target.
The Houston Police Department reported that a victim was found dead on arrival while two other victims were "taken in private vehicles to hospitals". The department later added: "We are not releasing an identity of the deceased victim until his family is notified & ID verified by Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences." Houston police later confirmed that Ball had been killed in the shooting. He was 28.
On November 5, Ball's friends and family held a farewell ceremony for him. A memorial was soon formed at the site of his death.
On November 10, Takeoff's private commemoration was held, and on November 11, Takeoff's "Celebration of Life" was held at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. Free tickets were offered for the event and eventually sold out. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens posthumously presented Ball with the Phoenix Award. Those present were not allowed to use their phones or take pictures of the event.
