Takeoff is the least-appreciated Migos, and for no good reason. He’s a Rapper, with a capital “R.” His rhyming is dexterous, his wordplay is sharp and he’s got the best natural delivery in the group. Sure, Offset is a more well-rounded presence on a track and Quavo is the melodic glue that holds it all together, but time and time again Takeoff has proven to be an irreplaceable piece of the puzzle. He’s more than just a stray “MAMA!” ad-lib or played out “Bad & Boujee” meme.
Younger than Quavo (his uncle) and Offset (his first cousin, once removed), the 23-year old most likely isn’t at the forefront of the Migos-craze because he chooses not to be. Even though Migos have been collectively creating hits and setting trends since Drake’s 2013 “Versace” remix (some of them, like “Fight Night” being entirely Takeoff’s doing), Quavo only recently started being valued for this talent like, what, last year, right? And then Offset was suddenly right on his heels, flexing his songwriting prowess after the accidental success of “Bad & Boujee.” With this sequence of events in mind, it only makes sense that Takeoff is taking the backseat to his relatives.
Migos seem to operate as a single unit - for the most part, each player plays their role to the best of their abilities, never stepping on each other’s toes stylistically or otherwise. And to give credit where it’s due, after “Bad and Boujee,” the group made sure set Takeoff up quite nicely with “T-Shirt” and “Call Casting;” the 2nd and 3rd singles for Culture. Their moves seem calculated; they cycle through and distribute opportunity fairly amongst themselves and when one of them makes moves beyond the group, the other two make sure to hold down the fort.
All this to say, we’re sure Takeoff’s time is around the corner. In 2017 alone, the supposed Year of Offset, Takeoff has managed to lowkey body a few dozen verses and it would be a shame if we undersold his value to the game. Like Offset this year and Quavo the year before, we’re sure the younger MC will tease his own feature/solo run during 2018.
Therefore, we decided to take a look at his top 15 verses of 2017.
Make sure to sound off below with any verses we may have missed from the Migos’ secret weapon.
15. Migos - "Big on Big"
A relatively tame verse for Takeoff, "Big on Big" echoes the same sentiments as Kendrick Lamar's lead single for DAMN: be humble. Stop pushing fake Actavis, stop lying about your wealth and, most importantly, stop saying your independent if you're signing 360 deals!
14. Takeoff - "Intruder"
His only solo offering of the year, "Intruder" is a whimsical take on a grim scenario - a break-in. "Don't do it, intruder," Takeoff warns at the start of the track. If you failed to heed his warning, be prepared for an onslaught of minced syllables and increasingly clever threats ("July 4th him and take his freedom").
13. Migos - "Out Yo Way"
A disarmingly sweet passage about empathy, honesty and true love. "Never switch or act brand new, go out your way and wasn't told to, so I made this song just for you," he explains, clearly infatuated with this verse's leading lady.
12. "Call Casting"
In case his past work with a track like "Fight Night" wasn't proof enough, Takeoff comes through with multiple great hooks on Culture, one of the best being the jingle he conjured up for "Call Casting." Equally catchy is his first verse, which starts with a disgusted, "ACT," ad-lib and ends with a groovy "yeah."
11. "Too Hotty"
Did you know "audience" rhymes with "insomnia?" Neither did we. What about "binoculars" and "obstacles?" That's a bit more feasible but still, Takeoff's gotta be some kinda magician. There's no way he should be pulling off some of these.
10. Calvin Harris - Holiday (ft. Snoop Dogg, John Legend & Takeoff)
Remember when Takeoff was noticeably absent from "Slide," which featured Quavo, Offset and Frank Ocean? It was almost "Bad & Boujee" all over again. But, clearly aware of the slight, Calvin Harris repaid the young MC with a great look of his own on "Holiday," placing him alongside icons Snoop Dogg & John Legend. Never flustered, Takeoff doesn't miss a step and delivers a slick verse that pays homage to the old and new school equally (the mid-verse "a-huh-huh-huh-huh" is gold).
9. Sean Paul - "Body (ft. Migos)"
Takeoff is often able to do a lot with very little. And although we haven't seen him on this terrain before, he slides comfortably into the dancehall rhythm with a melodic twist that feels right out of Quavo's playbook. It's a brief glimpse at his untapped versatility.
8. Mike WiLL Made It - "Gucci On My (ft. YG, 21 Savage & Migos)"
The most underrated verse on this great posse cut, Takeoff hits the beat running with a relentless flow:
"Broke my wrist off in the pot (breakin' it)
Tryna make a bigger knot (knot)
Jalapeño, block is hot (hot)
Duckin', dodgin' from the cops (12)"
He holds onto the scheme for the entire verse, weaving the internal rhymes together with increasing ease. A maestro of syllables, at one point he even rhymes "Draco make his heart stop" with "split him like a pop tart."
7. Migos - "Get Right Witcha"
The joy Takeoff gets from perfectly matching syllables down to each ad lib is so apparent. At its core, it's an old head way of rhyming, a style that should earn the MC his props from the more open-minded purveyors of the old school. Who the hell knew so many things rhymed with "Get Right Witcha," let alone phrases like:
- "Pop me a missile"
- "Take me a picture"
- "Lit like Christmas"
- "Drank too official"
- "Cut like scissors"
- "Boy got wisdom"
As if this display of technical prowess wasn't enough, he goes as far as to taunt us towards the end of the verse: "You can do better, never settle." Savage.
6. Migos - "Deadz"
Not to be shown off my 2 Chainz or Quavo, Takeoff & Offset take the last verse on this track and completely disembowel the beat. With his half, Takeoff claims to make women faint every time he steps out of his car, likens himself to Kurt Angle, teaches of his mom's sagely advice ("My momma told me I gotta stay humble, 'boy don't be too ready, you gotta have patience'") and weaves a motivational tale of perseverance.
5. Migos - "Motor Sport (ft. Nicki Minaj & Cardi B)"
Who had the best verse - Nicki or Cardi? Are they taking shots at each other? Did Quavo phone this hook in? Did Offset write his verse before or after he decided to propose to Cardi? SO many questions.
The only absolute is the fact that Takeoff hit it outta the park when it was his turn at bat. He announces that he's happily married to his money, runs from 12 in brand new Chanels, and almost crashes his car after popping a percocet.
In a twist of events that would make Nas blush, he even flirts directly with Nicki, spitting,
"If Nicki should show me her titty
Right hand on the Bible, I swear I won't tell (swear)
If I get to play with that kitty
I wonder how many platinums we gon' sell?"
A+ effort, young man.
4. Juelz Santana - "D's Up (ft. Migos & Jim Jones)"
The highlight of this random but highly entertaining single has got to be Juelz Santana himself going back and worth with Takeoff. They go in 4 bar turns, playing off each other's wit and dense rhyme schemes, before Santana carries the verse to its close. During his brief showing, Takeoff cycles through a handful of catchy flows, switching things up just when you think they've hit a wall. That "big knots, trap out the bando it's hot," pivot almost makes the whole song. Even when he's not trying, he's dropping off rapid fire lines like:
"Championship on my ring
I make my bitches trap out of Céline
I put that ice in my watch, Mr. Freeze
And I'm takin' the PJ just to go to Belize"
3. Gucci Mane - "I Get The Bag (ft. Migos)"
This is a Gucci Mane single, but a majority of the runtime feels dedicated to highlighting Takeoff's relentless raps. "I used to break in and enter, then Takeoff runnin' like the game of Temple," he rattles off, amplifying his flow and delivery at his mood's will. He's romantic ("Ice on my neck baby, chill with me"), he's sleazy ("It's simple, I play with her mental"), he's arrogant ("A nickle for me to take pictures"). But, mainly, he just wants you to know: "I'm not your average or typical."
2. Migos - "Slippery"
Besides the fact that Quavo basically reused the same hook for both songs, "Slippery" and "I Get The Bag" have a lot in common. The most significant of which is Takeoff coming through with that show-stopping renegade. Only this psycho could make "AK make your head rock" rhyme perfectly with "Retro Air Jordan deadstock." Aside from how smooth it is, this verse also features one of Takeoff's most poignant moments of the year:
"Free my partners (John Wick)
'Til they free it's fuck the cops (fuck 'em)
They know I geek a lot
They don't know I keep a Glock (clueless)
Ain't been no drought (where)
They think I been sleep a lot
They think I'm dumb (dumb)
They don't know I see the plot (see it)
Fuck it I seize a knot"
1. Migos - "T-Shirt"
The obvious #1 choice - there should be no explanation needed here. After "Bad & Boujee" took off with the undervalued MC left by the wayside, it was only right that they came back with a track completely hinged on a magnetic Takeoff performance. The hook, as well as the verse, are full of quotables, and the commanding delivery cuts through the operatic Nard & B beat with deadly precision.
Takeoff's closing set of bars here read like the thesis statement for the Migos' entire career:
"I'ma get that bag, nigga, ain't no doubt about it (yup)
I'ma feed my family, nigga, ain't no way around it (family)
Ain't gon' never let up nigga, God said show my talent (show it)
Young nigga with the Anna, walkin' with the hammer
Talkin' country grammar, nigga
Straight out Nawf Atlanta (Nawf side)"