In front of family, friends, and admirers, the late Migos artist Takeoff was memorialised Friday in Atlanta.
The State Farm Arena, which has a capacity of 21,000 people, served as the venue for the celebrity-studded “Celebration of Life” ceremony.
Yolanda Adams, Byron Cage, Chloe Bailey, and Justin Bieber all sang during the ceremony, contrary to reports that they wouldn’t.
Quavo and Offset, who spoke at the funeral, were in attendance, along with Cardi B, Mayor Andre Dickens, Gucci Mane, Cee-Lo Green, City Girls, Russell Simons, Lil Yachty, and many others.
A press release sent out before the event said that there was a “strict no photo and no video policy” inside the venue.
But one visitor was able to record Drake speaking inside the memorial and broadcast it on Twitter.
The 36-year-old rapper from “One Dance” is heard praising Takeoff’s ability to take off his sunglasses while keeping his eyes open wide.
In the news release, Takeoff’s family also requested that all visitors donate to the Rocket Foundation, which supports neighborhood-based initiatives to reduce gun violence, rather than sending flowers or gifts.
He was described as having “a most lovely spirit, with a peace about him combined with a wise manner way above his years” in his official obituary, which was published after his funeral.
The article went on to say, “Endearing and impressive on stage and off, Takeoff got respect from musicians, family, the business world, and his peers wherever his path took him.”
According to the obituary, there are no words or thoughts that can adequately express the affection that so many people felt for him and the impact he had on this world.
Part of the statement stated, “Takeoff would want the world to recognise the brightness in what he built and continue raising each other up and supporting the creations people put into the world. He is now in the heavens with the stars he adored, and he continues to live on through his music and the love he gave to so many people every day.
At the age of 28, Takeoff, whose true name was Kirsnick Khari Ball, was fatally shot in a Houston bowling alley on November 1.
Although no one has been arrested, the police claimed last week at a press conference that they “want to find justice” and pleaded with the public to help them with their inquiry.
Videos of the events leading up to the tragic encounter and its aftermath were made public shortly after law enforcement spoke.
In one video, Quavo, a fellow member of the Migos and Takeoff’s uncle, was seen yelling at someone and calling them “disrespectful” just before shots were fired.
An individual who was spotted having a gun during the altercation was captured on another video. As the argument heated up, it showed the unnamed man drawing his weapon.
If the individual in the video is an official suspect, the police have not stated as much.
Takeoff was shot in the head and body before passing away at the scene, according to the coroner’s report from the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.
Offset, the last member of Migos and Takeoff’s cousin, paid a quiet tribute on social media in place of Quavo, who hasn’t said anything official about his nephew’s death.
Takeoff’s wife, Cardi B, made a video tribute to him in which the late “Bad and Boujee” rapper talked about how important family is.
