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CNN
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Houston authorities have vowed to solve the killing of rapper Takeoff, with the police chief calling the 28-year-old Atlanta man a “peaceful” man and urging witnesses to the shooting to come forward.
Police found the rapper, part of the multiplatinum hip-hop trio Migos, early Tuesday morning at a bowling alley and billiards hall where a private party was held. A 911 call received at 2:34 a.m. reported a shooting in progress, and Takeoff was pronounced dead at the scene when officers arrived, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said. He said there were about 40 people at the event, many of whom left “probably out of fear.”
A man, 23, and woman, 24, were also injured and taken by private vehicles to hospital where they were treated for non-life threatening injuries. Michael Arrington of the homicide unit told reporters. He did not elaborate on the nature of the injuries.
Employees told police that an argument broke out after the party and a large group of people gathered outside the front door, leading to the shooting.
“A lot of people who were there fled the scene and didn’t stick around to give a statement,” Arrington said. “We can only hope that you will all come forward and give us evidence to solve the death of Takeoff.”
Investigators face the challenge of an anti-snitch culture that many hip-hop artists have long embraced. Takeoff’s uncle and bandmate Quavo appeared on Pop Smoke’s posthumous 2020 track, “Snitching,” which bans “rats” and talks to the police. Pop Smoke fatally shot in Los Angeles months before the track was released.
However, Finner was clear that investigators do not believe Takeoff “had any involvement in any crime at the time.”
“I got a lot of calls from Houston and outside of Houston, everyone talking about what a great young man he is, how peaceful, what a great artist (he is),” said Takeoff, adding that he was respectful and non-violent. .
He cautioned against blaming the hip-hop community, calling for its people to “stick together.” “Finner wants to meet some of our artists and see how we can tone things down,” he said.
Mayor Sylvester Turner issued a similar plea: “If you have any information — those in the hip-hop community, those who were there last night — please, give that information to HPD.”
It doesn’t matter how famous the victim is, Turner said. A life is a life, and friends and family will grieve regardless of the victim’s status in society, he said, adding that Houston authorities are vowing to find the person or people responsible for the murder of Rhyme.
“We will solve this particular case. “We will find the shooter or shooters, but the information provided will help speed it up,” he said.
News of Takeoff’s death was a blow to the hip-hop community, which was still reeling from the fatal shooting of rapper PNB Rock in September. Rapper Ja Rule tweeted, “This needs to stop,” and fellow rap star Lecrae wrote, “No hot takes. No deep thoughts. Saddened by the death of another rapper, son, brother and friend. May God be with all who suffer loss.
Born in Lawrenceville, Georgia, Takeoff began performing with Quavo and another relative, Offset, in 2008, and the trio found success with their 2013 single “Versace.” Three years later, their track “Bad and Bouji” with Lil Uzi Vert brought them to international attention.
Migos now have four studio albums, two of which have gone platinum, as well as a handful of solo projects and more than a dozen mixtapes to their name. Takeoff’s 2018 solo effort, “The Last Rocket”, peaked at No. 4 on the US charts.
Takeoff and Quavo recently announced that they will be performing under the name Unc & Phew, and their debut album “Only Built for Infinity Links” dropped last month, which Billboard reported topped the rap charts.
Hours before he was killed, he tweeted a video to the single “Messi” from the Takeoff project. On the track, Takeoff rhymes, “Want to know my moves and all my scars, but I move smart/Want to know how much I got, but I won’t tell ’em.”
Last month, he and Quavo appeared on the “Drink Champs” podcast, and in response to praise for his lyricism on “Infinity Links,” Takeoff told listeners, “It’s time to pop, you know what I mean? Time to give me my flowers, you know what I mean? I’m here When I don’t, I don’t want them anymore. I want them now, so…”
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