Last month, family and fans celebrated the life of rapper Takeoff with a three-hour superstar event at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.
The memorial service featured performances by Justin Bieber, Chloe Bailey and Yolanda Adams, as well as a poem by Drake and eulogies from Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and founder of Migos label Quality Control Music.
Offset, who formed a trio called Migos with Takeoff’s uncle Quavo, struggled to calm himself and think of his bandmates with whom he grew up and was considered a brother.
Takeoff is considered by many to be the best rhymer of the trio, and Jesse Curney III, pastor of the Lilburn church where Takeoff’s family attends, shared a story Quavo had told him about Takeoff’s moniker.
Quavo and Offset would take multiple takes to get their verses onto the track, repeated takes until they got it right, while Takeoff – the youngest of the trio – would step up to the mic and, in one flawless take, Drop his lyrics. “He’s an introvert,” the pastor said, “but he trusts God” to not back down.
Takeoff’s family took to the podium to remember the humble, wise and even-tempered young man who always wanted to be a rapper but never bothered about the accolades or the spotlight. His mother, Titania Davenport-Treet, said his voice was unique even as a baby.
“I could tell his cry from any other kid,” she said, adding that God must have given him that voice because he always knew what he wanted to be.
He was quiet but always attentive, and he never bothered anyone, the family said. He was the funniest guy in the room, they said, and no matter how famous he was, he never stopped putting his family first and making sure their needs were met.