Thousands of fans, friends and family members of rapper Takeoff gathered in Atlanta on Friday afternoon for a Celebration of Life, where the rapper was remembered as a humble, funny and quiet man.
Takeoff, whose real name was Kirshnik Khari Ball, was shot to death in the early morning hours of Nov. 1 after leaving 810 Billiards & Bowling in Houston. He was 28.
The rap star, who was one-third of Migos, was born and raised in Lawrenceville, roughly 50 kilometres northeast of Atlanta.
Free tickets to the Celebration of Life were available to Georgia residents and those who attended were barred from recording video on their phones – yet a few did and shared clips on social media. Although reporters were not invited to cover the service, which ran for nearly three hours, some details emerged.
Inside Atlanta’s State Farm Arena, Takeoff’s casket was placed at the foot of the stairs to the stage, which was adorned with white roses. Among those mourning were Cee-Lo Greem, Gucci Mane, Murda Beatz, Lil Yachty, YG, Rich the Kid and Russell Simmons.
New Mercies Christian Church Senior Pastor Jesse Curney III officiated and the Order of Service program included lyrics from the Migos track “Supastars” (“I put my heart inside this s**t ‘cause I was chose / I put my heart inside and only God knows.”)
Drake shared personal memories and quoted the late Joyce Grenfell (“If I should go before the rest of you / Break not a flower nor inscribe a stone / Nor when I’m gone speak in a Sunday voice / But be the usual selves that I have known”) and paraphrased the late Maya Angelou’s “When Great Trees Fall.”
Drake’s fellow Canadian star Justin Bieber, who was visible emotional, performed his song “Ghost,” backed only by piano. There were also performances by the New Mercies Christian Church Choir and gospel singers Yolanda Adams – who sang “The Battle is Not Yours” – and Byron Cage as well as a rendition of Beyoncé’s “Heaven” performed by Chlöe.
Takeoff’s mother Titania Davenport-Treet said her son had a unique voice early on. “I could tell his cry from any other child,” she recalled, describing Takeoff as someone who always put his family first. “He hugged so tight you could feel the love transferring through him.”
Davenport-Treet added: “He can’t come back to me, but one day I will go to him.”
His two siblings also spoke, as well as his Migos mate and uncle, Quavo. “You were always with me and we did everything together,” he said. “You never competed with me. We was always on the same team.
“Remember our first dream was to be tag team partners in the WWE.”
Quavo spoke about how Takeoff was happy to let his talent speak for itself. “He never worried about titles or credits or who got the most shine,” he said, describing him as "my angel.”
He later posted the full speech on social media.
The third member of Migos, and Takeoff’s cousin, Offset broke down as he shared how he wakes up hoping Takeoff’s death was nothing but a bad dream. He also admitted that his faith has been shaken.
“I don’t want to question you, God but I just don’t,” he said. “I don’t get it. I don’t get you sometimes.”
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens spoke at the Celebration of Life and gave Takeoff the city highest honour, the Phoenix Award.
Takeoff’s family asked attendees to make donations to the Rocket Foundation, which was created in Takeoff’s memory and will support four organizations “working on community-led solutions to end gun-related violence.”