Fans pay tribute to slain rapper Takeoff in Atlanta celebration of life ceremony

Barry Brecheisen/WireImage

Thousands of fans gathered on a rainy Friday in Atlanta to pay their respects to Migos rapper Takeoff, who was shot and killed in Houston on November 1.

Fans were joined by family and friends of the slain rapper for a celebration of life in the rapper’s hometown. The memorial was held at the State Farm Arena, the home of the Atlanta Hawks, where Takeoff was a regular.

“It’s a sad day but you have to celebrate because he is one creative person. He has brought joy to us. Not just us — internationally,” a fan told ABC Atlanta affiliate WSB-TV on Friday as she lined up outside the arena.

Takeoff, birth name Kirshnik Khari Ball, was shot and killed outside the 810 Billiards & Bowling in downtown Houston following a private event, police said. He was 28. Quavo, Takeoff’s uncle and one-third of Migos, who was also present at the time, was not injured.

Police said that shots were fired following an argument and urged the public to come forward with tips. There is no indication the rapper was involved in the dispute, according to police, who said the investigation is ongoing.

“[His loss] hit home,” a fan who was lined up outside the State Farm Arena told WSB-TV on Friday. “He did a lot for the culture. I just love their music.”

Free tickets to the celebration of life service were made available to Georgia residents, but the tickets sold out quickly; the venue asked fans who didn’t have tickets not to come to the downtown area.

The memorial service was not livestreamed, and media coverage was limited to outside the venue. The State Farm Arena did not share details regarding the program ahead of the event.

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