Takeoff Remembered by Offset, Quavo and Drake at Public Memorial

Takeoff was given an emotional sendoff Friday, at a public memorial service in Atlanta.

The hip-hop star was one-third of platinum-selling rap group Migos, known for their smash singles “Bad and Boujee,” “Versace,” “Walk It Talk It,” and “Motorsport.”

Related Story: ‘Saturday Night Live’ Pays Tribute to Late Rapper Takeoff

Group members Quavo and Offset  gave emotional speeches at the memorial, and according to published reports, Offset had the audience in tears.

Us Weekly reported Offset discussed Takeoff’s legacy and influence. “You changed the culture of music forever. You did that, Take. You changed that flow. That flow came from Take, the originator,” he said.

Photos and videos were prohibited at the memorial and phones were locked away.

Drake, who collaborated with Migos and toured with the group, gave a speech comparing their friendship to a brotherhood.

He quoted the Maya Angelou poem “When Great Trees Fall,” about tragic loss. “They existed. They existed/We can be. Be and be better/For they existed,” Drake said, according to CNN.

Takeoff's memorial service featured tributes from Offset, Quavo, Drake, and Justin Bieber ?? https://t.co/mgyCzGwn8h pic.twitter.com/iJhG2YCMbS

— Rap-Up (@RapUp) November 12, 2022

Takeoff’s mother, brother and sister also all addressed the audience.

The public funeral was held at State Farm Arena, which has a capacity of 20,000 seats. The venue displayed a sign outside with Takeoff’s image that read: “Celebrating the life of Takeoff.”

In a tweet the venue wrote, “Today we honor Kirsnick Khari Ball.”

TMZ and several other outlets reported Justin Bieber, Chlöe Bailey, and Yolanda Adams performed at the ceremony.

Atlanta news station 11Alive obtained a copy of the program from the celebration of life, and shared it on social media.

Thousands gathered at State Farm Arena to pay their respects and remember Migos rapper TakeOff on Friday. Here's a look at the program during his Celebration of Life.

Read more: https://t.co/eRJhrHIy4W pic.twitter.com/Kqh3w8hgxL

— 11Alive News (@11AliveNews) November 11, 2022

The Atlanta-based Migos are family members — Offset and Quavo are cousins and Takeoff is the nephew of Quavo. The group formed in 2008, before splitting up earlier this year.

Billboard once stated that the trio “influenced pop culture and the entire English language by bringing their North Atlanta roots to the mainstream.”

Takeoff, born Kirsnick Khari Ball, was shot and killed outside the doors of a bowling alley in Houston, where he and Quavo were playing dice, on Nov. 1. He was 28 years old.

As previously reported, in lieu of flowers or gifts, the family asked fans to donate to the Rocket Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on preventing gun violence with community-based solutions.

Authorities have identified persons of interest, but no arrests have been made in the case. Houston’s police chief urged anyone with information to “step up” and help investigators close the case.