Last Updated on November 2, 2022
UPDATED – Editor’s Note: This story originally reported that Takeoff’s death was caused by an argument over a dice game. An alleged witness to the incident revealed on a podcast Wednesday that was not the case.
Kirshnik Khari Ball, aka Takeoff, 28, of the Migos hip-hop collective, was murdered by a gunshot wound in a dispute at a private party in downtown Houston early Tuesday morning.
Police responded to reports of a shooting in progress around 2:34 AM Tuesday morning at the 810 Billiards & Bowling Alley at 1201 San Jacinto Street. Reportedly, there were 40 to 50 people in attendance at the private party.
Takeoff was found deceased by Houston Police Department (HPD) upon arrival at the scene. At least two firearms were used in the encounter.
“There are too many young men of color that are killing young men of color. We do need to have that conversation. We do need to deal with it head on,” Mayor Turner added. “It’s across the board with this demographic.”
Too many young men of color are killing each other. Resolving their disputes by pulling their guns and shooting one another regardless of fame or fortune. Crazy. And in a few second a life is gone, families and friends are left grieving. STOP! st
— Sylvester Turner (@SylvesterTurner) November 1, 2022
“This does not have to be our reality and it need not be our future,” Turner added.
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner (D) admitted that “young men of color” are the most common perpetrators and victims of homicide. According to the data reported by the HPD to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FB) and its Crime Data Explorer (CBE), Turner is correct.
However, In Houston, you are more likely to be a victim of a general violent crime if you are white than if you are black, despite the fact that most of the offenders are black. This would include violent crimes not involving death, including aggravated assaults, burglaries, and robberies.
The death of Takeoff is a symptom of the criminality which has crippled the Texan port city over the past couple of years. Homicides have increased 134% over the last decade, according to the FBI CDE.
The Mayor of House asked the public for help with the identification of the alleged perpetrators, he specifically directed his plea to the few dozen people who attended the party that ultimately resulted in the death of Takeoff.
“As you heard this was a private party last night of about 40 people. In that group, somebody or people knew who the actual shooter or shooters were. And let me just ask like has already been asked that anyone who has information on the shooter or shooters to provide that information to HPD,” Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said in a press conference on Tuesday.
A text message which surfaced on social media Tuesday from an alleged witness implied that the Migos collective had been hanging out with some very dangerous people at the party. However, an alleged witness to the incident came on a podcast on Wednesday and stated that Quavo and Takeoff were in the process of quelling an argument when the shooting started.
An alleged witness to the incident stated on a podcast that the "only people with firearms" on the night of Takeoff's death were the people protecting music label CEO, Jas Prince.
She relayed that Quavo and Takeoff were attempting to quell an argument when the shooting started. https://t.co/lLFAp6Fb2e
— Addy Adds (@OneAddyAdds) November 2, 2022
At least 42 rappers have been killed due to unnatural causes since 2017, a list which includes 33 killed by gunshots, one by stabbing, one due to suicide, and one due to a car accident.
Hip-hop and fashion mogul, Ye, formally known as Kanye West, recently lambasted the hip-hop culture for its glorification of violence.
“‘It’s pushed through; I got a new word for 2024, The Red Media. If you go to Apple right now go to Apple Music let’s load up the top 10 songs. I guarantee you, they’re promoting black serial killing. Not just one, The Red Media is making money off of blacks being serial killers to each other. Also misogynistic. The Red Media is making money off of that, and God sees it.”
"If you go to Apple right now, go to Apple Music; let's load up the top 10 songs. I guarantee you, they're promoting black serial killing. The Red Media is making money off of blacks being serial killers to each other. Also misogynistic," Ye said. pic.twitter.com/e9U5IYPMlX
— Addy Adds (@OneAddyAdds) November 2, 2022
A top hip-hop executive recently spoke about the glorification of drug abuse in the rap music industry and admitted that he is “opportunistic.”
Listen to one of the top executives in hip-hop explain why he still sells opioid music even though he knows it’s a crisis pic.twitter.com/PUfqYHCwyF
— An0maly (@LegendaryEnergy) November 1, 2022
Homicides in Houston have increased by nearly 66% from 2019 to 2021, which was the city’s most violent year in 30 years. The last time Houston was this violent was 1991, the year Tupac Shakur released his debut album, 2Pacalypse Now.
