Around this time last year, Memphis lost one of its rap icons, Young Dolph, to an act of gun violence. This time around the victim was Migos group member Takeoff- born Kirshnik Khari Ball. Ball joins the long list of rappers under 30 who have had their lives cut short, including Trouble, JayDaYoungan, Lil Keed, and Wavy Navy Pooh.
The shooting, according to the Houston Police Department, occurred shortly after a heated dice game at 810 Billiards and Bowling. When the police arrived, Takeoff was declared dead upon arrival and his identity was later released to the public. Rap fans around the world have taken to the internet to both share their condolences and condemn the rampant intraracial violence that is prevalent in Hip Hop culture.
The incident also had Twitter users debating the words of C. Delores Tucker, one of the biggest critics of rap during the 90s. Tucker, who spoke passionately about the effects of violent lyrics on the community, faced lots of backlash from Hip Hop heads everywhere. Sadly, her predictions about violence within the community sting just a little bit more today.
