Migos member Offset, whose real name is Kiari Kendrell Cephus, memorialized his late cousin, Kirsnick Khari Ball, better known as Takeoff, with a massive back tattoo. Last year, the Southern rap trio lost Takeoff, its youngest member, cousin to Offset and nephew to Quavo, or Quavious Keyate Marshall. Since the tragedy, Offset has said he knows Takeoff will always be with them, but it only makes sense he’d further express his love and mourning through a piece that will be part of his body forever.
The tattoo, done in collaboration by Nezla and Chuey Quintanar, nearly covers the rapper’s entire back and depicts his cousin wearing a leopard jacket with his chains and diamonds on display. He is placed in front of a mandala with a vast galaxy surrounding him. Offset’s Instagram caption of the piece reads, “Love you 4L & after.”
On November 1, 2022, Takeoff was among a group of 40 people standing outside 810 Billiards and Bowling in Houstin when a sudden brawl erupted, escalating to open fire in which one of the bullets struck Takeoff in the head. A bystander to the conflict, he was pronounced dead at the scene. At 28, Takeoff left behind a loving family and devoted fanbase heartbroken by the incident, and likely to honor him for the rest of their days.
In an Instagram letter Offset posted two weeks after the tragic event, the rapper shared feelings of disbelief and devastation regarding the situation. “I’ve been going to sleep and waking up hoping that all of this is a dream,” he writes. “But it’s reality and reality feels like a nightmare.” By the end of the letter, Offset says, “I hope you can see how much we love and miss you. You left a hole in my heart that will never be filled.”
This will surely not be the final tribute to the talented rapper taken too soon. What do you think of Offset’s touching memorial piece?
