Following the unexpected passing of the Migos rapper Takeoff, his hometown of Atlanta has created a brand-new creative homage in his honor.
Just one day after the hip-hop community awoke to the news of Takeoff’s murder following a fight and shooting in Houston early on Tuesday morning, the mural, created by local artist Armando Monoletti, first emerged along the Atlanta BeltLine on Wednesday morning (November 2). (November 1).
“First off prayers to the family’s of your fallen kings and Queens,” In the caption of a photograph taken soon after he finished the artwork, Monoletti, “but to the family’s of @yrntakeoff I hope I did this young man some justice with the material is had.”
The Historic Fourth Ward Skatepark is not far from the Takeoff memorial. After DMX’s untimely passing in April 2021, Monoletti, also known by the tag Ape, created a prior painting in his tribute.
No less than two tributes to MF Doom have been placed on the walls along the network of trails that make up the Atlanta BeltLine in the past year.
Artists including Gucci Mane, Killer Mike, Joe Budden, Lloyd Banks, and Boosie Badazz posted on social media as soon as they learned of Takeoff’s demise to express their shock and grief. More tributes to the late Migos lyricist have been coming in from artists like Drake, Future, 21 Savage, Travis Scott, 2 Chainz, and others as the loss has continued to set in.
Takeoff, who was killed in downtown Houston’s 810 Billiards and Bowling, was born Kirshnik Khari Ball. Age-wise, he was 28.
The youngest member of the Migos passed away from “penetrating gunshot wounds of the head and torso into arm,” the Harris County Medical Examiner stated in its official autopsy report, according to TMZ.
Joshua “Wash” Washington, Quavo’s aide, was reportedly shot during the brawl and taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening wounds, according to law enforcement sources.
Houston Police issued a “step up” request to witnesses on Wednesday in an effort to identify the trigger man.
“We’re looking for anything to help us from there,” Sgt. Michael Arrington said at a press conference. “We want to find justice for [Takeoff’s] family. They’re going through a lot right now. And the only thing that we can do is hope that y’all reach out and assist us in any way to lead to evidence that will help us to apprehend and get charges and arrest on the person responsible for the death of Takeoff.”
Houston Police Chief Troy Finner also made it a point to defend the Hip Hop community in the hours that followed the event, saying that he intended to meet with local rappers to talk about gun violence in the city.
“Sometimes the Hip Hop community gets a bad name,” Finner said. “And I know, evident from this city and people who I have a great relationship [with], [there’s] a lot of great people in our Hip Hop community and I respect them. But back to Takeoff. I got many calls from Houston and outside of Houston, and everyone spoke of what a great young man this is, how peaceful he is, what a great artist.
“I’m calling up on everybody, our Hip Hop artists in Houston and around the nation, we gotta police ourselves. It is so many talented individuals, men and women, in that community who, again, I love and I respect. We all need to stand together and make sure nobody tears down that industry.”
At the time of publication, Houston authorities had not disclosed if they had any information pointing to a suspect in Takeoff’s shooting.
