Takeoff's Death Prompts Revisiting of Migos Breakup Timeline

Migos rapper Takeoff was shot and killed on Tuesday morning in Houston, sparking a wave of tributes on social media as many remember the Migos legacy.

Twenty-eight-year-old Takeoff, whose real name was Kirshnik Khari Ball, was at a bowling alley called 801 Billiards & Bowling Houston when the incident occurred at approximately 2:30 a.m., reports said.

His uncle and Migos bandmate Quavo was with him, though it is reported that Quavo was not harmed.

Social media swarmed with tributes for Takeoff on Tuesday, and Newsweek decided to look back at the timeline of the Migos rap group and their breakup.

Migos Timeline

Migos was formed in 2008 when Takeoff began rapping with his uncle, Quavo—whose real name is Quavious Keyate Marshall—and his cousin Offset—Kiari Kendrell Cephus. The trio originally called themselves Polo Club but changed their name to Migos in 2011. That same year, they released their first mixtape, titled Juug Season.

In 2013, Migos released their first hit, "Versace," which launched them to fame. Since then, the rap group became one of the most successful hip-hop groups of all time, with their song "Bad and Boujee" reaching No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 and at least 20 platinum and gold singles and albums. They even made an appearance in Donald Glover's Atlanta in 2016.

Other songs that reached Billboard's top 10 included "Stir Fry," "MotorSport" featuring Nicki Minaj and Cardi B, Offset's wife, and "Walk It Talk It" featuring Drake.

In 2018, Takeoff released a solo album titled The Last Rocket, which managed to debut at No. 4 on the Billboard 200. Offset also took on some solo projects, and rumors began to circulate that Migos were going to go their separate ways.

In 2021, they released their fourth studio album, Culture III, which was the third and final installment of their Culture album trilogy.

Shortly after, rumors of the group's split began to escalate, and fans soon noticed that Offset and Cardi B unfollowed Quavo and Takeoff on social media.

On the same day that Offset unfollowed them, Quavo and Takeoff announced that they would be releasing new music as a duo under the name Unc and Phew.

There was no official statement on the group splitting, but Takeoff and Quavo released their album Only Built For Infinity Links in April of this year, and received much love from fans online. Offset is reportedly set to release his second studio album in November.

In August of this year, Cardi B defended her husband on social media after there were reports that Offset cheated on her with rapper Saweetie, who previously dated Quavo. Whether or not this entanglement had any connection to the group's split is unknown.

At the beginning of October, Takeoff and Quavo discussed the future of Migos on Revolt's Big Facts podcast with DJ Scream and briefly explained why they were not on the best of terms with Offset.

"I just feel like we want to see our career as a duo, you know what I'm saying, because, you know, we just came from a loyal family. We are supposed to stick together," Quavo said.

Takeoff had explained, "We don't know all answers. God knows. So we pray a lot. And we tell Him, whatever—whatever ain't right, however you supposed to see it fit, you put it back together or however you do it. Only time will tell. We always family now, ain't nothing gonna change."

"We stand on real deal loyalty, and sometimes that s*** ain't displayed," Quavo added. "This ain't got nothing to do with no label, no paperwork, no QC, nothing. This got something to do with the three brothers. And s***, it is what it is. Right now, we gon' be the duo 'til time tell."

Most recently, Takeoff and Quavo were guests last week on Revolt's Drink Champs, and after the interview, guests typically receive flowers, which Takeoff accepted graciously, saying of the new stage in his career, "For sure. I'm chill, I'm laid back but it's time to pop it. I want to get into my flow. Time to give me my flowers. I don't want them when I ain't here."

Newsweek reached out to a representative for Offset for additional comment.