It’s finally here (again). As the clocks tick towards freedom from this claustrophobic year, Migos and Quality Control have yet to take their foot off the gas, promising to deliver a release from one of their artist’s nearly every week of the fourth quarter. As it applies to Migos, the first was Quavo’s solo debut, QUAVO HUNCHO. At the start of their careers, all three Migos seemed to be capable, technically proficient rappers, but as their collective stardom has continued to breach new heights, each rapper seems to have been assigned a distinct role within the outfit. Quavo became the singsongy pop whisperer, Offset a sharp-tongued jack of all trades, and Takeoff the sleeping giant, consistently teased as the group’s secret weapon.
While his album was panned to a certain degree for being too one-note, Quavo did indeed manage to deliver on the pop-rap promises of most of his post-Culture work by offering up some inspired moments of melodic pizzazz. And as the one often cited as the most “lyrical” member of Migos, it stands to reason then that Takeoff’s newly minted debut, The Last Rocket, should be brimming with memorable verses that showcase the oft-underappreciated vigor of the group’s youngest member.
Truth be told, for us, Takeoff felt a bit restrained without the dynamic provided by his usual partners in crime, just as Quavo did on his outing. But there was still plenty to work with here as he revived old flows and tried out new concepts over a carefully curated selection of beats. We’ll let you decide if The Last Rocket lived up to expectations. But, in the meantime, here are our five favorite verses on Takeoff’s debut.
5. "Martian"
Takeoff’s first verse on the album is filled with hidden gems. Whether he’s applying a two-tone approach to his entire life or lecturing us on the weight distribution of his luxury car - where the engine in the back is perplexingly outweighed by an exorbitant amount of racks stashed in the trunk in the front - the rapper delivers his string of boasts with an infectiously assured coolness. It’s only briefly autobiographical (“We the ones that brought the Culture to n****s/Before it was never the front”), the rest of the runtime reserved for a charismatic stream of high-grade shit-talking.
Favorite Bars:
They havin' you flexin'', but can't pay your rent (Damn)
President Rollie and president tints (President)
Kennedy, they ain't on my element
Try to sue me, I bet I win the settlement (Win)
Can't do no dirt with these n****s, gon' tell on me (Dirt)
Big body look like an elephant (Big body)
Wrap up that work and I don't got a L on me (License)
They don't know that it's a bale on me (Work)
So we gon' keep that shit quietly (Shh)
Tell 'em pick your poison wisely (Wise)
All kind of flavors and different sizes, uh (Gas)
Yeah, n***a, that's a hundred, not enough (Uh-uh)
I put a mill' in the truck and they thinkin' my engine was still in the front (An M&M)
We the ones that brought the Culture to niggas (Culture)
Before it was never the front (Was never the front)
4. "Lead the Wave"
A song about leading by example. On this one, Takeoff wisely substitutes the sanctimonious preaching found on his Uncle’s “BIG BRO” and disguises the lessons under a slew of harmless self-adulation. While the Scrooge McDuck referencing first verse is fun it’s own right, it’s the second verse that sees Takeoff present a hilarious take on the typical “My teacher said I wouldn’t make it!” shtick that all rappers try to pull at some point. It also has a wider array of flows and touches on more of Takeoff’s teachings. Overall, Takeoff’s lessons are easy enough to follow for those seeking a guide to success: don’t fumble an opportunity that presents itself, don’t take the easy way, and surround yourself with people that make you strive for more.
Favorite Bars:
You can't put a n***a on if you're too famous (Too famous)
Or give advice and say what's right, then get too angry (Argh)
Tryna read my right, with the red blue light like we still in slavery (Whoop whoop)
Plug got jammed up so the bando dried up, lookin' like raisins (Dry)
Another day, we tryna get by
We goin' through phases (Tryna get by)
Pull up in whips they saw in they dreams
Man look at they faces (Skrt, skrt)
I stopped and got fast food for my teacher
He said I wouldn't make it (Hi)
But ain't got no bad heart
So I saw him, said, "Congratulations" (Bye)
What do what he want me to do
When I'm in the position, I made it (Now why would I do that?)
3. "None to Me"
This one is impressive because Takeoff, usually true to himself and his rapid-fire delivery, seems to step out of his comfort zone to try on a flow that may sound more familiar coming from one of his newer labelmates; the dead-eyed crooning throughout is reminiscent of the “Freestyle” flow that shot Lil Baby stardom in 2017. It’s a refreshing change of pace, but just as we’re getting used to hearing Takeoff in this new pocket, the beat drops and he effortlessly reverts back to his trademark tongue twisters. The whole verse sees the flow-master playing with tempo, going in and out of a double time delivery, and shifting from rapping to singing and back to rapping, all while painting a cautionary tale of betrayal.
Favorite Bars:
Some people let the money change 'em (Change)
And I'd still rather be rich than be famous I seen it with my own eyes (Eyes)
My brother changed up on me for dead guys
Can't look 'em in the face cause he got red eyes (Red)
Far from I know, he a demon
When I found out he was scheming
Lookin' at that footage gave me the red eyes (Could've cried)
I couldn't believe it, it's all good It show who down for me (Down)
2. "Insomnia"
During their formative years, when Offset was intermittently in and out of jail, Takeoff and Quavo often had to pick up the slack. For newcomers, this may be hard to believe, but this led to each of them frequently stepping out of their comfort zone and into each other’s shoes. Believe it or not, Quavo was dropping as many bars as his nephew and that same nephew, who has since become known as a “rapper’s rapper”, was often flexing his more melodic side. “Insomnia” feels like an ode to that 2013-2015 period where each one of the Migos was a jack of all trades. It sees Takeoff take on Quavo’s signature melodies while maintaining a playful rhyme pattern and keeping the bar count at an impressive high. It’s a juggling act of sharp flows, notable melodies and quotable one-liners.
Favorite Bars:
I been gettin' that paper way back in the day
But this shit gettin' crazy now (Crazy)
Money been tall as Yao
I'm on a jet, I land in Macau
They tried to copy the style (Tried it)
Count up the backend
Cash in my hand right now (Money)
I met the plug in England
No Queen Elizabeth, we talkin' 'bout pounds (Pounds)
All of my n****s ain't friendly (Uh, uh)
None of my n****s they smile (Nope)
I'm taking risks, Man vs. Wild
I made it, now mama proud (Mama)
Put the whole team on now (Whole team)
Lookin' for the recipe, how?
She just be lookin' for clout (Clout)
Fuck the whole team for the clout (Clout)
I drink an eight a day
I never heard of a drought (Actavis)
Stars in the ceiling, Wraith, ayy
Big body comin' down (Wraith)
1. "Infatuation (ft. Dayytona Fox)"
“Infatuation”, plays on the nostalgic vibes of turn of the century R&B. It sounds like what a young kid in the late ‘80s would be listening to in order to build up the courage to ask the girl of his dreams to a date at a ‘70s-disco themed roller rink - where, as it were, Quavo’s “GO ALL THE WAY” would probably be in heavy rotation. Takeoff’s verse is a glimpse at his storytelling capabilities, a strength of his that is woefully underrepresented on this album. In distinct contrast to the cold boasts of most of The Last Rocket, “Infatuation” sees an intoxicated Takeoff blindly in love, contemplating his mistakes and plotting on how to make it all better.
Favorite Bars:
Smokin’ while I contemplate, I'm thinkin’ 'bout the better days
When me and you, we met each other, it would never be the same (never)
Them material things, I don't care about the fame (Nah)
I miss you so much that I went and tatted your name (Tatted)
Let me be your drug, tell me when you feel in pain (Where)
And you can be my stripper baby, no I ain't ashamed
Thinkin’ 'bout when I hit her, no precision, I got aim
Double R, we pullin' up and watch the Rolls all lanes
I need you in my life, I promise that I'll make it right
And by the end of the night I bet your mind gon' change (Wait)
It ain't 'bout the cars, it ain't all 'bout the chains
Lookin' up, up at the stars, take a look what I became (Look at me)
What you want, a Range? What you want, a pinky ring?
I can get you what you name but love don't cost a thing (Cost a thing)