Chances are you've heard the name Migos lately. A lot. Last year, the Atlanta trio scored multiple hits on the Billboard 100, all from their two critically-acclaimed mixtapes. Migos are clocking major label money, and they haven't released an album yet. One reason Migos are getting so much exposure is that they're the only trio out there doing it. Period. As rap groups are becoming a thing of the past, Migos continue to innovate, and thus far, they're committed to doing it together.
Though it might be too early to start talking longevity, the odds of group success are in Migos' favor because they're family. Literally. Quavo is Takeoff's uncle, and Offset is Quavo and Takeoff's cousin. Quav's father died when he was four years old, and both of Takeoff's and Offset's respective dads left while they were still kids. All three began living under Quavo's mother's roof in middle school. Though their raps may appear superficial on the surface, their stakes in the game go way deep.
Tomorrow, Migos will drop Migo Lingo, their first mixtape of 2015, and their debut album, Y.R.N. 2, will be released later this Spring.
You know Migos as the hottest rap trio since the 90s. Now meet the individual members.
quavo
Quavious Marshall aka Quavo
Quavo is undeniably Migos's leading man. He commands the most media attention and is the most recognizable member of the trio. At age 23, he's also the oldest member of the group.
He has shoulder length, mop-like dreads, and you'll never catch him without (Versace) sunglasses on.
On the track, he's the loudest and most energetic Migosian. He's also the go-to hook man. He can turn a catchphrase, or simply a single word, into a radio-ready hook, as he's done on "Versace", "Hannah Montana", and most of Migos's biggest hits. In fact, most lines on his verses sound like hooks, too.
He's always animated and precise with his wordplay. He's not the quickest or the wittiest, but his punchlines are always memorable. His whole style is driven by his sense of humor, which he displays on almost every track. All three members sprinkle ad-libs on each other's verses, but Quavo does so in the most maniacal and comical fashion.
Quavo is often credited with the triplet flow, which Migos probably didn't invent (but certainly gave new life to). But he's diversifying his style with each new track. He often blurs the line between singing and rapping, and one can see him being called upon to sing-rap auto-tuned hooks on singles by other major Atlanta artists.
In the (tragic) event of a Migos breakup, Quavo has the most potential for solo success.
takeoff
Kirshnik Ball aka Takeoff
At age 20, Takeoff is the youngest member of the group, though he doesn't look it.
Takeoff has long, tied-back dreads that he's been growing for six years. Of the group, he takes the "young pharaohs" mentality the most seriously and can often be seen in designer robes, shirtless underneath.
In interviews, he talks in a mild, mumbly monotone, though he immediately sharpens his voice when he gets in the booth. His voice is considerably deeper than that of Quav and Offset, and his sound is the meanest. In a battle rap, we'd call on Takeoff first. He maintains his gravelly monotone while rapping, but he's a master of tempo. His rapidfire syllables maintain a constant ebb and flow that's always pleasing to the ears. He's the quickest rapper in Migos.
Though Takeoff's strengths lie in his verses, he can also do a hook, like on "Fight Night", pretty damn well.
offset
Kiari Cephus aka Offset
Unlike Quav and Takeoff, Offset doesn't have dreads. Instead, he has something between a fro and a fade that, given a year or two, could grow into the Quav mop.
Both in and out of the music, Offset is the quietest member of the trio. The lone introvert alongside two mega-personalities.
According to Migos's manager, Offset actually invented the triplet flow, though, hearing him now, you wouldn't expect it. His voice is softer and less recognizable than that of Quavo and Takeoff. When he chimes in with the ad-libs, as he does often, he echoes punchlines in a cool whisper.
Though he lacks Quavo's ear for melody--tonally speaking, he has the best singing voice in the crew. Offset doesn't crave the limelight as much as the other two Migosians, but his stamp is reliability. If any one member of Migos can be called a "conscious" rapper, it's Offset. In the midst of Migos's constant braggadoccio, Offset is sometimes responsible for that fleeting moment of reflection, as he raps on "Versace": "Versace my clothes while I'm sellin' them bows / Versace take over it took out my soul". Offset is the only Migos rapper who's strengths might lie in non-club raps.
While Offset is the most reclusive member, he also has the most to lose. Offset was in jail for most of 2013 for a probation violation--during Migos's rise to fame, as they earned a Drake remix and multiple charting hits. Some of the verses he contributed were phoned in from his jail cell. He returned to Atlanta with fame and fortune awaiting him, though Offset, now a father, too, knows how quickly it can all be taken away.