TakeOff’s death is still weighing heavily on Offset’s heart, with the Migos rapper admitting it’s “not easy” to put on a brave face.
The Lawrenceville, Georgia native continued to mourn the tragic murder of his cousin and groupmate on social media this week, letting fans know he’s still struggling to process his grief.
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“Shit not easy fake smiling and shit tryna keep walking with my head up,” he wrote to his 4.5 million Twitter followers on Wednesday (December 21).
Offset accompanied his tweet with a photo of TakeOff stood triumphantly on stage during Migos’ performance at Miami’s Vewtopia Music Festival in 2020.
TakeOff (real name Kirshnik Ball) was shot and killed outside of a Houston, Texas bowling alley on November 1. The rapper, who was just 28 years old and fresh off releasing an album with his uncle and groupmate Quavo, was fatally wounded in the head and torso, his autopsy revealed.
Police believe the shooting stemmed from an argument over a “lucrative” dice game involving Quavo and other men. The dispute turned physical when one of Quavo’s associates allegedly swung at one of the opposing individuals, leading to a shootout between the two camps. TakeOff was an “innocent bystander.”
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A 33-year-old man named Patrick Xavier Clark has been charged with TakeOff’s murder. Clark, known locally in Houston as DJ Pat, was linked to the crime by surveillance footage showing him firing a gun in the direction of TakeOff and a wine bottle left at the scene containing his fingerprints.
The suspect is currently being held on a $1 million bond — reduced from $2 million — and has maintained his innocence, despite reportedly attempting to flee the country after the shooting.
Following TakeOff’s death, Offset shared a heartfelt post on Instagram saying goodbye to his close relative and Migos colleague, while also delaying the release of his upcoming solo album.
“Dear Take, the pain you have left me with is unbearable,” he wrote in part. “My heart is shattered and I have so many things to say, but I can’t find the words … I wish I could hug you one last time. Laugh one last time. Smoke one one last time. Perform one last time.”
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He added: “I know someone with a soul like yours is in heaven right now. I hope you can see how much we love you and miss you. You have left a whole in my heart that will never be filled … I love you forever, 4L and after.”
The Father of 4 rapper has continued to frequently detail his grief over TakeOff’s death on social media, admitting earlier this month that he’s “in a dark place.”
Yet Offset has also steadily been battling through the pain and making his way back to stage, where he recently introduced a massive tribute to his late cousin that he said will occur “before every show” going forward.
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In a video of the remembrance shared on Instagram, a photo of TakeOff being projected onto the on-stage screen could be seen while The Jackson 5’s “Never Can Say Goodbye” played through the venue’s speakers.
