Offset Breaks Silence on Takeoff’s Death, ‘Feels Like a Nightmare’

Offset has broken his silence since the death of Migos rapper Takeoff. The rapper took to Instagram to pen a beautiful note to his cousin.

"Dear Take," Offset began the note. "The pain you have left me with is unbearable. My heart is shattered and I have so many things to say, but I can't find the words. I've been going to sleep and waking up hoping that all of this is a dream, but it's reality, and reality feels like a nightmare. Every time you would see me, you didn't give me a dap you  gave me a hug. I wish I could hug you one last time. Laugh one last time. Smoke one one last time. Perform one last time. I know someone with a soul like yours is in heaven now. I hope you can see how much we love you and miss you. You have left a hole in my heart that will never be filled. Give me strength, give your brothers strength, give your family strength. Even though I know you will always be with us, throw me a lil sign or a beautiful dream. I love you forever, 4L, and after. [rocket emoji] [red heart emoji]."

Offset's note to Takeoff follows Cardi B's tribute on Instagram where she wrote in part,  "The impact you had in this world was so considerable and we have struggled to grasp this tragedy. I am heartbroken but I am grateful for all the precious memories we got to share while you were here with us."

Quavo, who was with Takeoff in Houston at the time of his death broke his silence last week. In a three page tribute, Qauvo said in part that his nephew had a "real passion" for music and that he was the one that created the triplet flow which we know as the Migos.  "I am proud to be ya uncle. I'm proud we saw the world and done things we couldn't ever imagine together," Quavo wrote.

Takeoff was shot and killed at a private party at 810 Billiards & Bowling in downtown Houston on Nov. 1. He attended the party with Quavo, gossip site TMZ first reported. Quavo was not injured during the incident. Takeoff was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other victims — a 23-year-old male and 24-year-old female — checked themselves into a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, per Billboard. It was later reported that the 23-year-old male victim was Quavo's Assistant, Joshua 'Wash' Washington, per TMZ.

Earlier this morning, we reported on the tragic and senseless death of rapper Takeoff from Migos. Takeoff, whose real name was Kirshnik Khari Ball, was killed in an early morning shooting in Houston.

Gossip site TMZ reported on the story. They noted that law enforcement sources, and multiple witnesses, said that the fatal incident occurred shortly after 2:30 AM when police got the call for a man shot at a bowling alley called 810 Billiards & Bowling Houston. According to their reports, Takeoff and Migos' Quavo were there playing dice when an altercation broke out and that's when someone opened fire, shooting Takeoff. They reported that he was shot "either in the head or near to his head." They said that he was pronounced dead on the scene. Takeoff was 28 years old.

TMZ also posted photos that were slightly blurred but which showed Takeoff lying on the ground.  Many were upset that TMZ and others shared horrifying footage. The writer Kimberly St. Julian-Vernon tweeted, "I think it’s disgusting that TMZ monetizes the deaths of Black men: Kobe’s accident, now Takeoff’s murder." Civil rights lawyer Sherrilyn Ifill said, "No human being or their family deserves to have published the kind of crime scene photos I glimpsed. A disgrace TMZ." Writer Rotimi Adeoye expressed, "I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. TMZ is disgusting. Posting death photos is beyond cruel. They did the same exact thing when Kobe died."

Rapper Cadence Weapon tweeted, "TMZ posted Takeoff’s dead body when reporting his murder. Would they do the same for a white country artist? Or would they be more respectful? Where does the impulse to film and post a lifeless dead Black body come from? Maybe this is why Black death has become so normalized." A twitter account called NBA Slime said, "TMZ y’all gotta stop showing “EXCLUSIVE” footage of people’s last moments Please man! Getting the scoop is enough, you guys don’t need to show that stuff anymore! It’s getting sick! You know what you’re doing and you know it’s wrong! Stop doing it!!!" See more reactions below.