Migos () is an American
hip hop trio from
Lawrenceville, Georgia
Lawrenceville is a city in and the county seat of Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States. It is a suburb of Atlanta, located approximately northeast of downtown. As of the 2020 census, the population of Lawrenceville was 30,629. In 2019, the ...
, founded in 2008. The group was originally composed of Southern rappers
Quavo
Quavious Keyate Marshall (born April 2, 1991), known professionally as Quavo (), is an American rapper, singer, and actor. He is best known as the co-founder and former frontman of hip hop group Migos. Quavo is the uncle of late fellow Migos m ...
,
Takeoff
Takeoff is the phase of flight in which an aerospace vehicle leaves the ground and becomes airborne. For aircraft traveling vertically, this is known as liftoff.
For aircraft that take off horizontally, this usually involves starting with a t ...
, and
Offset
Offset or Off-Set may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
* "Off-Set", a song by T.I. and Young Thug from the '' Furious 7: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack''
* ''Offset'' (EP), a 2018 EP by singer Kim Chung-ha
* ''Offset'' (film), a 200 ...
. Quavo is from
Athens
Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital and largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh largest city in the European Union. Athens dominates ...
, Georgia; Offset and Takeoff were born and raised in Lawrenceville, Georgia. They are managed by Coach K, the former manager of
Gucci Mane
Radric Delantic Davis (born February 12, 1980), known professionally as Gucci Mane, is an American rapper and record executive. He helped pioneer the hip hop subgenre of trap music alongside fellow Atlanta-based rappers T.I. and Young Jeezy, ...
and
Jeezy
Jay Wayne Jenkins (born September 28, 1977), known by his stage name Jeezy (or Young Jeezy), is an American rapper. Signing to Def Jam Recordings in 2004, his major label debut, '' Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101'', was released the followin ...
, and frequently collaborated with producers such as
DJ Durel
Daryl McPherson, known as DJ Durel, is an American record producer, recording engineer, and DJ from Cleveland, Ohio. He is the official DJ of Atlanta rap group, Migos.
Career
In late 2017, '' Control the Streets, Vol. 1'', a compilation album r ...
,
Murda Beatz
Shane Lee Lindstrom (born February 11, 1994), known professionally as Murda Beatz, is a Canadian record producer. He has produced hit singles like " Butterfly Effect" by Travis Scott, "Back on Road" by Gucci Mane, "Nice for What" by Drake, "Moto ...
,
Zaytoven
Xavier Lamar Dotson (born January 12, 1980), professionally known as Zaytoven, is an American trap music record producer, disc jockey, and keyboardist from Atlanta, Georgia. He has released collaborative projects with artists including Gucci Ma ...
, and
Buddah Bless
Tyron Buddah Douglas Sr. (born February 8, 1992), professionally known as Buddah Bless, is an American record producer, songwriter, and former rapper. He has produced many hit singles, such as "Big Amount" by 2 Chainz (featuring Drake (musician), ...
.
Recognized for their contribution to
trap music
Trap is a subgenre of hip hop music that originated in the Southern United States during the 1990s. The genre gets its name from the Atlanta slang word "trap", a house used exclusively to sell drugs. Trap music uses synthesized drums and is ch ...
in the 2010s, ''
Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
'' stated that the group "influenced pop culture and the entire English language by bringing their North Atlanta roots to the mainstream".
Migos released their commercial debut single "
Versace
Gianni Versace S.r.l. (), usually referred to as Versace ( ), is an Italian luxury fashion company founded by Gianni Versace in 1978 known for flashy prints and bright colors. The company produces Italian-made ready-to-wear and accessories, as w ...
" in 2013, taken from their mixtape ''
Y.R.N. (Young Rich Niggas)''. They released several more singles, including "
Fight Night" (2014), "
Look at My Dab
"Look at My Dab" (originally titled "Bitch Dab") is a song by American hip hop group Migos. It was released as a single on October 30, 2015 by Quality Control Music and 300 Entertainment. The song was included on their mixtape ''Back to the Bando ...
" (2015), and their four
''Billboard'' Hot 100 top 10 entries "
Bad and Boujee
"Bad and Boujee" is a song by American hip-hop group Migos featuring vocals from American rapper Lil Uzi Vert. It was released on October 28, 2016 as the lead single from Migos' second studio album ''Culture''. It was released by Quality Cont ...
" (featuring
Lil Uzi Vert
Symere Bysil Woods ( ; born July 31, 1995), known professionally as Lil Uzi Vert, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. They are characterized by their face tattoo, facial tattoos, facial piercings, eccentric hairstyles and androgynous ...
) (2016), peaking at number 1, "
MotorSport
Motorsport, motorsports or motor sport is a global term used to encompass the group of competitive sporting events which primarily involve the use of motorized vehicles. The terminology can also be used to describe forms of competition of two ...
" (with
Nicki Minaj
Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty (; born December 8, 1982), known professionally as Nicki Minaj ( ), is a Trinidadian-born rapper based in the United States. She is known for her musical versatility, animated flow in her rapping, alter egos and accent ...
and
Cardi B
Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar Cephus (, ; born October 11, 1992), known professionally as Cardi B, is an American rapper and songwriter. She first gained popularity as an influencer on Vine and Instagram. From 2015 to early 2017, she appeared as ...
) (2017), peaking at number 1, "
Stir Fry" (2018), peaking at number 8, and "
Walk It Talk It
"Walk It Talk It" is a song by American hip hop trio Migos featuring Canadian rapper Drake (musician), Drake. The single was released on March 18, 2018. It was included on the trio's third studio album, ''Culture II'' (2018). After the album's r ...
" (featuring
Drake
Drake may refer to:
Animals
* A male duck
People and fictional characters
* Drake (surname), a list of people and fictional characters with the family name
* Drake (given name), a list of people and fictional characters with the given name
* ...
) (2018), peaking at number 1, and even “
T-Shirt
A T-shirt (also spelled tee shirt), or tee, is a style of fabric shirt named after the T shape of its body and sleeves. Traditionally, it has short sleeves and a round neckline, known as a ''crew neck'', which lacks a collar. T-shirts are general ...
” from their second album called
Culture
Culture () is an umbrella term which encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits of the individuals in these groups.Tyl ...
in 2017.
Migos released their debut album ''
Yung Rich Nation
''Yung Rich Nation'' is the debut studio album by American hip hop trio Migos. It was released on July 31, 2015, through Quality Control Music and YRN Tha Label, and distributed by 300 Entertainment. The album features guest appearances from Ch ...
'' in July 2015, through
Quality Control Music
Quality Control Music (also known as Quality Control or QC) is an American hip hop record label founded by Kevin "Coach K" Lee (Chief operating officer, COO) and Pierre "P" Thomas (Chief executive officer, CEO) in March 2013. Its productions were ...
and
300 Entertainment
Theory Entertainment LLC, doing business as 300 Entertainment, is an American record label founded by Lyor Cohen, Kevin Liles, Todd Moscowitz, and Roger Gold. The label's roster includes acts across multiple genres such as hip hop, rock, pop, ele ...
. In 2016, the group portrayed
fictionalized versions of themselves in the
first season of the
Donald Glover
Donald McKinley Glover Jr. (; born September 25, 1983), also known by his stage name Childish Gambino (), is an American entertainer, writer, director, and producer. After working in Derrick Comedy while studying at New York University, Glove ...
comedy-drama television series ''
Atlanta
Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...
''. Their second album, ''
Culture
Culture () is an umbrella term which encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits of the individuals in these groups.Tyl ...
'', was released in January 2017 also through both record labels, and debuted atop the US ''Billboard'' 200 chart. The group signed a deal with
Motown
Motown Records is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. It was founded by Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on June 7, 1958, and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau of ''moto ...
and
Capitol Records
Capitol Records, LLC (known legally as Capitol Records, Inc. until 2007) is an American record label distributed by Universal Music Group through its Capitol Music Group imprint. It was founded as the first West Coast-based record label of note ...
in February 2017, and put out the album ''
Culture II
''Culture II'' is the third studio album by American hip hop trio Migos. It was released on January 26, 2018, by Capitol Records, Motown and Quality Control Music. ''Culture II'' is a double album consisting of 24 tracks, and features guest app ...
'' in January 2018, giving the group their second number 1 album in the United States. In 2021, the trio released their long-awaited fourth album ''
Culture III
''Culture III'' is the fourth studio album by American hip hop trio Migos and the last to be released during member Takeoff's lifetime. It was released by Motown Records and Quality Control Music on June 11, 2021. The album features guest appe ...
'', the final installment in their ''Culture'' trilogy.
On November 1, 2022,
Takeoff
Takeoff is the phase of flight in which an aerospace vehicle leaves the ground and becomes airborne. For aircraft traveling vertically, this is known as liftoff.
For aircraft that take off horizontally, this usually involves starting with a t ...
was shot and killed in
Houston, Texas
Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 in ...
.
Early life
The trio were raised together by Quavo's mother Edna Marshall, in the suburbs of the neighboring town city of
Lawrenceville, Georgia
Lawrenceville is a city in and the county seat of Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States. It is a suburb of Atlanta, located approximately northeast of downtown. As of the 2020 census, the population of Lawrenceville was 30,629. In 2019, the ...
. They grew up listening to
Outkast,
Gucci Mane
Radric Delantic Davis (born February 12, 1980), known professionally as Gucci Mane, is an American rapper and record executive. He helped pioneer the hip hop subgenre of trap music alongside fellow Atlanta-based rappers T.I. and Young Jeezy, ...
,
Hot Boys
The Hot Boys (often styled as Hot Boy$) are an American hip hop group formed in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1997. The group is made up of B.G. (rapper), B.G., Lil Wayne, Juvenile (rapper), Juvenile and Turk (rapper), Turk.
The group was originally ...
,
Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. (born September 27, 1982), known professionally as Lil Wayne, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record executive. His career began in 1995, at the age of 12, when he was signed by rapper Birdman (rapper), ...
, and
Master P
Percy Robert Miller Sr. (born April 29, 1967), known by his stage name Master P, is an American rapper, record executive, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. He is the founder of the record label No Limit Records, which was relaunched as ...
.
Career
2008–2012: Formation and early releases
Migos was formed in 2008, by
Quavo
Quavious Keyate Marshall (born April 2, 1991), known professionally as Quavo (), is an American rapper, singer, and actor. He is best known as the co-founder and former frontman of hip hop group Migos. Quavo is the uncle of late fellow Migos m ...
(born Quavious Keyate Marshall),
Takeoff
Takeoff is the phase of flight in which an aerospace vehicle leaves the ground and becomes airborne. For aircraft traveling vertically, this is known as liftoff.
For aircraft that take off horizontally, this usually involves starting with a t ...
(born Kirshnik Khari Ball), and
Offset
Offset or Off-Set may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
* "Off-Set", a song by T.I. and Young Thug from the '' Furious 7: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack''
* ''Offset'' (EP), a 2018 EP by singer Kim Chung-ha
* ''Offset'' (film), a 200 ...
(born Kiari Kendrell Cephus),
and they originally called themselves the Polo Club. The name 'Migos' is a take on '
Three Amigos
''Three Amigos'' (stylized as ''¡Three Amigos!'') is a 1986 American Western comedy film directed by John Landis, written by Lorne Michaels, Steve Martin, and Randy Newman (who also wrote the film's songs), and starring Chevy Chase, Steve Mart ...
'. The three members are directly related and were raised together; Takeoff was Quavo's nephew, and Offset is Quavo's cousin.
The three of them grew up together in suburban
Atlanta
Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...
, approximately 30 minutes northeast of
Downtown
''Downtown'' is a term primarily used in North America by English speakers to refer to a city's sometimes commercial, cultural and often the historical, political and geographic heart. It is often synonymous with its central business distric ...
in
Gwinnett County
Gwinnett County ( ) is located in the north central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. It forms part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. In 2020, the population was 957,062, making it the second-most populous county in Georgia (after Fulton C ...
. "I ain't going to sit here like, 'My neighborhood was hard, and I had to get out there and grind.' We made it hard for ourselves. We chose to stay on the streets", Quavo said.
The group released their first full-length project, a
mixtape
A mixtape (alternatively mix-tape, mix tape or mixed tape) is a compilation of music, typically from multiple sources, recorded onto a medium. With origins in the 1980s, the term normally describes a homemade compilation of music onto a cassette ...
titled ''Juug Season'', on August 25, 2011. They followed with the mixtape ''No Label'' on June 1, 2012. Assisted by Tucker Toenjes and Mitchell Thomas.
2013: Breakthrough and ''Y.R.N.''
In 2013, Migos released their breakout
single
Single may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
* Single (music), a song release
Songs
* "Single" (Natasha Bedingfield song), 2004
* "Single" (New Kids on the Block and Ne-Yo song), 2008
* "Single" (William Wei song), 2016
* "Single", by ...
"
Versace
Gianni Versace S.r.l. (), usually referred to as Versace ( ), is an Italian luxury fashion company founded by Gianni Versace in 1978 known for flashy prints and bright colors. The company produces Italian-made ready-to-wear and accessories, as w ...
". The single was produced by
Zaytoven
Xavier Lamar Dotson (born January 12, 1980), professionally known as Zaytoven, is an American trap music record producer, disc jockey, and keyboardist from Atlanta, Georgia. He has released collaborative projects with artists including Gucci Ma ...
and peaked at number 99 on the US
''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart. Later that year, Canadian rapper
Drake
Drake may refer to:
Animals
* A male duck
People and fictional characters
* Drake (surname), a list of people and fictional characters with the family name
* Drake (given name), a list of people and fictional characters with the given name
* ...
brought the single more recognition when he
remix
A remix (or reorchestration) is a piece of media which has been altered or contorted from its original state by adding, removing, or changing pieces of the item. A song, piece of artwork, book, video, poem, or photograph can all be remixes. The o ...
ed the song, adding a
verse
Verse may refer to:
Poetry
* Verse, an occasional synonym for poetry
* Verse, a metrical structure, a stanza
* Blank verse, a type of poetry having regular meter but no rhyme
* Free verse, a type of poetry written without the use of strict me ...
, which he would later perform at the 2013
iHeartRadio Music Festival
The iHeartRadio Music Festival is a two-day music concert festival held every year in September since 2011 by iHeartRadio along the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States.
From 2011 to 2015, the festival was held at the MGM Gran ...
. On June 13, Migos released their mixtape ''
Y.R.N. (Young Rich Niggas)'', which features the
lead single
A lead single (also known as a debut single) is the first single to be released from a studio album by an artist or a band, usually before the album itself is released and also occasionally on the same day of the album's release date.
Release s ...
"Versace", to critical acclaim. Brandon Soderberg of ''
Spin
Spin or spinning most often refers to:
* Spinning (textiles), the creation of yarn or thread by twisting fibers together, traditionally by hand spinning
* Spin, the rotation of an object around a central axis
* Spin (propaganda), an intentionally b ...
'' gave it 8 out of 10 stars, commenting that it "is a super-cut of
Dirty South vibes" and compared the three members to
Gucci Mane
Radric Delantic Davis (born February 12, 1980), known professionally as Gucci Mane, is an American rapper and record executive. He helped pioneer the hip hop subgenre of trap music alongside fellow Atlanta-based rappers T.I. and Young Jeezy, ...
,
Soulja Boy
DeAndre Cortez Way (born July 28, 1990), known professionally as Soulja Boy (formerly Soulja Boy Tell 'Em), is an American rapper and record producer. He rose to prominence, after his self published debut single "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" peake ...
, and
Future
The future is the time after the past and present. Its arrival is considered inevitable due to the existence of time and the laws of physics. Due to the apparent nature of reality and the unavoidability of the future, everything that currently ...
.
On June 15, 2013, the group performed at rap radio station
Hot 107.9's Birthday Bash. In October 2013, the group was featured in
''XXL'''s section "Show & Prove". "Versace" was placed in multiple year-end lists of 2013, including number three on ''XXL''s "The 25 Best Songs of 2013", number four on
''Complex'''s "The 50 Best Songs of 2013", number five on
''SPIN'''s "50 Best Songs of 2013", number 38 on
Pitchfork
A pitchfork (also a hay fork) is an agricultural tool with a long handle and two to five tines used to lift and pitch or throw loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves.
The term is also applied colloquially, but inaccurately, to th ...
's "The Top 100 Tracks of 2013" and number 69 on ''
Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...
''s "The 100 Best Songs of 2013". ''Y.R.N. (Young Rich Niggas)'' was named the 27th-best album of 2013 and sixth-best hip-hop album of 2013 by ''SPIN''.
2014–2015: Mixtapes and ''Yung Rich Nation''
On February 25, 2014, Migos released the sequel to their second mixtape, titled ''
No Label 2''. The tape was downloaded over 100,000 times in the first week of its release and was certified gold on mixtape sharing site
DatPiff
DatPiff is an online audio distribution platform that was launched in 2005. It is headquartered in Pennsylvania. It specializes in hip-hop, rap, and urban music. The site was founded in the spring of 2005 by Marcus Frasier. It is owned by Media ...
. ''No Label 2'' was met with generally positive reviews from
music critic
''The Oxford Companion to Music'' defines music criticism as "the intellectual activity of formulating judgments on the value and degree of excellence of individual works of music, or whole groups or genres". In this sense, it is a branch of mus ...
s. ''
Consequence of Sound
''Consequence'' (previously ''Consequence of Sound'') is an independently owned New York-based online magazine featuring news, editorials, and reviews of music, movies, and television. In addition, the website also features the Festival Outlook ...
'' described it as "the perfect mix of raucous party tunes and triumphant rap anthems for your next
BBQ
Barbecue or barbeque (informally BBQ in the UK, US, and Canada, barbie in Australia and braai in South Africa) is a term used with significant regional and national variations to describe various cooking methods that use live fire and smoke t ...
or
block party
A block party or street party is a party in which many members of a single community congregate, either to observe an event of some importance or simply for mutual solidarity and enjoyment. The name comes from the form of the party, which ofte ...
" and ''
Exclaim!
''Exclaim!'' is a Canadian music and entertainment publisher based in Toronto, which features in-depth coverage of new music across all genres with a special focus on Canadian and emerging artists. The monthly Exclaim! print magazine publishes 7 ...
'' commented that it "is packed with potential hits". ''
Vibe
''Vibe'' is an American music and entertainment magazine founded by producers David Salzman and Quincy Jones. The publication predominantly features R&B and hip hop music artists, actors and other entertainers. After shutting down productio ...
'' also praised the production on the tape, calling it "extensive and impressive".
On March 14, 2014, it was revealed by Migos' mixtape ''Y.R.N. 2'', that the project had turned out to be a full-fledged album. The trio were aiming to have at least 20 songs on the album. In June 2014, it was revealed that Migos had signed a deal to
300 Entertainment
Theory Entertainment LLC, doing business as 300 Entertainment, is an American record label founded by Lyor Cohen, Kevin Liles, Todd Moscowitz, and Roger Gold. The label's roster includes acts across multiple genres such as hip hop, rock, pop, ele ...
, which is distributed by
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Recording Corporation (simply known as Atlantic Records) is an American record label founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. Over its first 20 years of operation, Atlantic earned a reputation as one of the most i ...
. In June 2014, their single "
Fight Night" was featured on ''XXL''s "25 Best Songs of 2014 so far" list. It peaked at number 69 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. Following the release of their mixtape, ''
Rich Nigga Timeline
''Rich Nigga Timeline'' (censored, marketed as and on cover ''Rich Ni**a Timeline'') is the fifth mixtape by American hip hop group Migos, released on November 5, 2014. ''Rolling Stone'' named ''Rich Nigga Timeline'' as the seventh Best Rap Album ...
'', which was released on November 5, 2014, ''Rolling Stone'' voted it the 7th-best rap album of 2014.
On February 5, 2015, Migos released the first single from the album, titled "
One Time". On March 23, 2015, the group released a music video for the single, as a part of a cross-promotion with the YouTube Music Awards. The single peaked at number 34 on the US
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United States and is published weekly by '' Billboard''. Rankings are based on a measure of radio airplay, sales data, and streaming activity. The chart had 100 ...
. After a slight delay, because of the
Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southern University (GS or Georgia Southern) is a public research university in the U.S. state of Georgia. The flagship campus is in Statesboro, and other locations include the Armstrong Campus in Savannah and the Liberty Campus in Hine ...
incident (which led to Offset's incarceration), Migos' debut album, ''
Yung Rich Nation
''Yung Rich Nation'' is the debut studio album by American hip hop trio Migos. It was released on July 31, 2015, through Quality Control Music and YRN Tha Label, and distributed by 300 Entertainment. The album features guest appearances from Ch ...
'' (originally titled ''Y.R.N.: Tha Album''), was released on July 31, 2015, featuring
guest appearance
In show business, a guest appearance is the participation of an outsider performer (such as a musician or actor) in an event such as a music record or concert, show, etc., when the performer does not belong to the regular band, cast, or other p ...
s from
Chris Brown
Christopher Maurice Brown (born May 5, 1989) is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and actor. According to '' Billboard'', Brown is one of the most successful R&B singers of his generation, having often been referred to by many contempo ...
and
Young Thug
Jeffery Lamar Williams (born August 16, 1991), known professionally as Young Thug, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. He is considered to be an influential figure of his generation, with his music impacting the modern sound of hip ...
. ''Yung Rich Nation'' received generally positive reviews from music critics. In its first week, the album sold 15,000 copies and came in at number 3 on the
Top Rap Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a music chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales in the United States and is compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The chart debuted as Hot R&B LPs in the issue dated Jan ...
Charts.
During this time, it was revealed that the group had already completed their second studio album. Referring to this album's release, in an interview with DJ Whoo Kid, Takeoff said, "its all about timing". Migos stated that the track "Fantastic", featuring
Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. (born September 27, 1982), known professionally as Lil Wayne, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record executive. His career began in 1995, at the age of 12, when he was signed by rapper Birdman (rapper), ...
, would be included on the album. In addition, they confirmed they would also like to collaborate with rapper
Nas
Nas (born 1973) is the stage name of American rapper Nasir Jones.
Nas, NaS, or NAS may also refer to:
Aviation
* Nasair, a low-cost airline carrier and subsidiary based in Eritrea
* National Air Services, an airline in Saudi Arabia
** Nas Air ( ...
. In September 2015, Migos went independent. They left
300 Entertainment
Theory Entertainment LLC, doing business as 300 Entertainment, is an American record label founded by Lyor Cohen, Kevin Liles, Todd Moscowitz, and Roger Gold. The label's roster includes acts across multiple genres such as hip hop, rock, pop, ele ...
as they felt that Quality Control Music could manage them alone and this would also increase their revenue stream. Under 300 Entertainment, they made approximately US$30,000–40,000 per show; however, through Quality Control they made upwards of US$60,000.
On September 17, 2015, Migos released a new mixtape titled ''
Back to the Bando
The American hip hop group Migos has released four studio albums, one extended play (EP), twelve mixtapes and fifty-three singles (including twenty-four as a featured artist). Migos was first listened to by Rayshun Smith (Friootherussian) in 201 ...
''. Although fellow member Offset was still incarcerated, Migos continued to release music. The first song off the mixtape, "Look at My Dab", was released on September 6. It was officially released as a single through iTunes on October 30. The song gained worldwide attention, due to Migos and other celebrities, like
Odell Beckham Jr.
Odell Cornelious Beckham Jr. (born November 5, 1992), commonly known by his initials OBJ, is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Beckham played college football at LSU and was drafted by the ...
and
Cam Newton
Cameron Jerrell Newton (born May 11, 1989) is an American football quarterback who is a free agent. He has played for 11 seasons, primarily with the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). Nicknamed "Super Cam", he is the NFL ...
, doing the signature dance move called "
dabbing
Dabbing, or the dab, is a gesture in which a person drops their head into the bent crook of a slanted, upward angled arm, while raising the opposite arm out straight in a parallel direction. The move looks similar to someone sneezing into the c ...
". On October 22, 2015, Migos and Rich the Kid released ''Streets on Lock 4''. Migos were originally supposed to release the collaboration mixtape with
Young Thug
Jeffery Lamar Williams (born August 16, 1991), known professionally as Young Thug, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. He is considered to be an influential figure of his generation, with his music impacting the modern sound of hip ...
titled ''MigoThuggin'' in late 2016 but shelved it. Their follow up mixtape to YRN, ''Young Rich Niggas 2'', was released on January 18.
2016–2022: ''Culture'' trilogy and Takeoff's death
On September 7, 2016,
Kanye West
Ye ( ; born Kanye Omari West ; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer.
Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, West gained recognition as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the ea ...
announced that he had signed Migos to a management deal with his
GOOD Music
GOOD Music (also known simply as GOOD, stylized as G.O.O.D. Music; a backronym for Getting Out Our Dreams) is an American record label founded by rapper Kanye West in 2004. The label signed an exclusive long-term worldwide label agreement with t ...
imprint, but in January 2017 the group stated that they are not affiliated with West's label. On October 28, 2016, Migos released the first single of their new album ''
Culture
Culture () is an umbrella term which encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits of the individuals in these groups.Tyl ...
''. The single was titled "
Bad and Boujee
"Bad and Boujee" is a song by American hip-hop group Migos featuring vocals from American rapper Lil Uzi Vert. It was released on October 28, 2016 as the lead single from Migos' second studio album ''Culture''. It was released by Quality Cont ...
". The song was produced by
Metro Boomin
Leland Tyler Wayne (born September 16, 1993), professionally known as Metro Boomin, is an American record producer, record executive, beatmaker, and DJ. He is known for his dark production style and its influence on modern hip hop and trap.
R ...
and features vocals from fellow American rapper
Lil Uzi Vert
Symere Bysil Woods ( ; born July 31, 1995), known professionally as Lil Uzi Vert, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. They are characterized by their face tattoo, facial tattoos, facial piercings, eccentric hairstyles and androgynous ...
. The music video for the single was released on October 31. The single went on to top the
''Billboard'' Hot 100, becoming Migos' first number one single in the US.
Their second album, ''
Culture
Culture () is an umbrella term which encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits of the individuals in these groups.Tyl ...
'', was released on January 27, 2017. In April, Migos were featured on
Katy Perry
Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson (born October 25, 1984), known professionally as Katy Perry, is an American singer, songwriter, and television personality. Known for her influence on modern pop music and her Camp (style), campy style, she has been ...
's song "
Bon Appétit
''Bon Appétit'' is a monthly American food and entertaining magazine, that typically contains recipes, entertaining ideas, restaurant recommendations, and wine reviews. Owned by Condé Nast, it is headquartered at the One World Trade Center i ...
" from her fifth studio album, ''
Witness
In law, a witness is someone who has knowledge about a matter, whether they have sensed it or are testifying on another witnesses' behalf. In law a witness is someone who, either voluntarily or under compulsion, provides testimonial evidence, e ...
''. On May 30, Migos (branded by Quality Control) released "
Too Hotty" which is featured on the compilation album, ''
Quality Control: Control the Streets Vol. 1'', released on December 19, 2017. The single was officially released on streaming services on August 24, 2017. The music video was released on August 25. On June 16, the Migos (alongside
Lil Yachty
Miles Parks McCollum (born August 23, 1997), known professionally as Lil Boat, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and producer. He first gained recognition on the internet in 2015 for his singles "One Night" and "Minnesota" (featuring ...
) were featured on the
Steve Aoki
Steven Hiroyuki Aoki (, ; born November 30, 1977), best known as Steve Aoki, is an American DJ, record producer, music programmer, and record executive. song "Night Call". On October 27, Migos officially released "
MotorSport
Motorsport, motorsports or motor sport is a global term used to encompass the group of competitive sporting events which primarily involve the use of motorized vehicles. The terminology can also be used to describe forms of competition of two ...
", the lead single off their third studio album ''
Culture II
''Culture II'' is the third studio album by American hip hop trio Migos. It was released on January 26, 2018, by Capitol Records, Motown and Quality Control Music. ''Culture II'' is a double album consisting of 24 tracks, and features guest app ...
'', along with
Cardi B
Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar Cephus (, ; born October 11, 1992), known professionally as Cardi B, is an American rapper and songwriter. She first gained popularity as an influencer on Vine and Instagram. From 2015 to early 2017, she appeared as ...
and
Nicki Minaj
Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty (; born December 8, 1982), known professionally as Nicki Minaj ( ), is a Trinidadian-born rapper based in the United States. She is known for her musical versatility, animated flow in her rapping, alter egos and accent ...
. The second single, "
Stir Fry", was released on the official Migos YouTube channel, on December 20, 2017. Produced by
Pharrell Williams
Pharrell Lanscilo Williams (; born April 5, 1973) is an American record producer, rapper, singer, and songwriter. Alongside close colleague Chad Hugo, he formed the hip hop and R&B production duo the Neptunes in the early 1990s, with whom he ...
, the song was later used for the 2018 NBA All-Star Weekend.
A promotional single, titled "Supastars", was released on January 22, 2018. It was produced by
Honorable C.N.O.T.E.
Carlton Davis Mays, Jr. (born April 8, 1981), professionally known as Honorable C.N.O.T.E., is an American hip hop record producer and songwriter.
Mays started producing at the age of 15 in the Benton Harbor Area of Michigan, before moving to At ...
, Buddah Bless, and Quavo; it was co-produced by
DJ Durel
Daryl McPherson, known as DJ Durel, is an American record producer, recording engineer, and DJ from Cleveland, Ohio. He is the official DJ of Atlanta rap group, Migos.
Career
In late 2017, '' Control the Streets, Vol. 1'', a compilation album r ...
. On January 26, 2018, ''Culture II'' was released. The album contains twenty-four tracks, featuring production from
Metro Boomin
Leland Tyler Wayne (born September 16, 1993), professionally known as Metro Boomin, is an American record producer, record executive, beatmaker, and DJ. He is known for his dark production style and its influence on modern hip hop and trap.
R ...
,
Dun Deal
David Maximillian Cunningham (born August 19, 1986), known professionally as Dun Deal, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper. He is best known for producing A$AP Mob's hit single "RAF", Young Thug's single " Stoner" and Migos' s ...
,
Murda Beatz
Shane Lee Lindstrom (born February 11, 1994), known professionally as Murda Beatz, is a Canadian record producer. He has produced hit singles like " Butterfly Effect" by Travis Scott, "Back on Road" by Gucci Mane, "Nice for What" by Drake, "Moto ...
,
Travis Scott,
Zaytoven
Xavier Lamar Dotson (born January 12, 1980), professionally known as Zaytoven, is an American trap music record producer, disc jockey, and keyboardist from Atlanta, Georgia. He has released collaborative projects with artists including Gucci Ma ...
and others. In October 2018, Quavo stated that ''
Culture III
''Culture III'' is the fourth studio album by American hip hop trio Migos and the last to be released during member Takeoff's lifetime. It was released by Motown Records and Quality Control Music on June 11, 2021. The album features guest appe ...
'' would be released in early 2019.
The album was then delayed and rescheduled for release in early 2020. However, the album was pushed back again, due to the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...
. Quavo spoke to ''
Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
'' in March 2020, and announced the group's decision to hold off on the release of ''Culture III'', explaining it was largely due to their inability to properly roll out the album once social distancing rules went into effect in most states in the US.
While on
Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. (born September 27, 1982), known professionally as Lil Wayne, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record executive. His career began in 1995, at the age of 12, when he was signed by rapper Birdman (rapper), ...
's Young Money Radio show on
Apple Music
Apple Music is a music, audio and video streaming service developed by Apple Inc. Users select music to stream to their device on-demand, or they can listen to existing playlists. The service also includes the Internet radio stations Apple M ...
, on May 22, 2020, Migos announced they would change the title from ''Culture III'' to another title. However, this was reverted on May 17, 2021, when the group announced via Instagram that ''Culture III'' would be released June 11 of the same year under its original name.
In 2022, the group was rumored to have broken up after Quavo’s ex-girlfriend
Saweetie
Diamonté Quiava Valentin Harper (born July 2, 1993), known professionally as Saweetie (), is an American rapper. After the release of her debut single "Icy Grl" in 2017, she was signed to her then-manager Max Gousse's record label Artistry Wo ...
had reportedly slept with Offset. Quavo alluded to the rift in the song "Messy" and in an interview where he insinuated Offset’s lack of loyalty. In October 2022, Quavo and Takeoff subsequently released an album without Offset titled ''
Only Built for Infinity Links''. On November 1, 2022,
Takeoff
Takeoff is the phase of flight in which an aerospace vehicle leaves the ground and becomes airborne. For aircraft traveling vertically, this is known as liftoff.
For aircraft that take off horizontally, this usually involves starting with a t ...
was shot and killed while with
Quavo
Quavious Keyate Marshall (born April 2, 1991), known professionally as Quavo (), is an American rapper, singer, and actor. He is best known as the co-founder and former frontman of hip hop group Migos. Quavo is the uncle of late fellow Migos m ...
and others were at a Houston bowling alley. The shooting occurred around 2:34 a.m. local time at the 810 Billiards and Bowling Houston. A majority of the hip hop community reached out through social media to send their love and condolences to Takeoffs death.
Legal issues
Prior to fame
In 2013, Offset was incarcerated in Georgia's DeKalb County Jail for violating his probation that he had received due to felony convictions for burglary and theft.
[Offset of the Migos Denied Bond After Georgia Southern University Arrest](_blank)
''XXL''.
In 2014, Migos was involved in a feud with
Chief Keef
Keith Farrelle Cozart (born August 15, 1995), better known by his stage name Chief Keef, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer. His music first became popular during his teen years in the early 2010s among high school s ...
. Quavo was robbed by Chief Keef’s affiliates.
Georgia Southern University concert incident
On April 18, 2015, Migos were scheduled to headline
Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southern University (GS or Georgia Southern) is a public research university in the U.S. state of Georgia. The flagship campus is in Statesboro, and other locations include the Armstrong Campus in Savannah and the Liberty Campus in Hine ...
's spring concert at
Hanner Fieldhouse
Hanner Fieldhouse is a 4,325-seat multi-purpose arena in Statesboro in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was built in 1969 and is home to the Georgia Southern University men's basketball, women's basketball and women's volleyball teams. It hosted ...
in
Statesboro, Georgia
Statesboro is the largest city and county seat of Bulloch County, Georgia, Bulloch County, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia, United States, located in the southeastern part of the state.
Statesboro is home to the flagship campus of Georgia Southern ...
. The show started at 7:00 pm EDT with local opening acts; however, the group took the stage nearly an hour and a half later than their scheduled 9:00 pm set time. Although their performance contract stipulated a minimum 45-minute set length, the group performed for less than 30 minutes before leaving the stage. The University Police Department, the Statesboro Police Department and the
Bulloch County
Bulloch County is a County (United States), county located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. As of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, the population was 81,099, up from 70,217 in 2010. The coun ...
Sheriff's Office, who were present at the concert as security detail, detected a strong scent of marijuana from the group's vans, and the drivers were questioned by law enforcement. Upon further investigation, the rap trio and 12 members of their entourage were arrested for possession of marijuana and another Schedule II controlled substance, possession of firearms within a school safety zone, possession of firearms during the commission of a crime, and possession of firearms by convicted felons.
While university officials had been aware of Migos' reputation, the group was allowed to perform, as it had received the most votes among the seven bands and artists up for consideration for the spring concert in a student poll, and student fees and ticket sales had been used to pay for the concert.
According to the performance contract, the group were to be paid $30,000 with their promoter Big House Collective receiving an additional $3,000. University officials initially sought to put Migos in
breach of contract
Breach of contract is a legal cause of action and a type of civil wrong, in which a binding agreement or bargained-for exchange is not honored by one or more of the parties to the contract by non-performance or interference with the other party ...
due to the group's late arrival, shortened performance, and possession of contraband on university property; however, the university ultimately paid half of the agreed-upon fees.
On April 20, 2015, Takeoff, Quavo, and six members of their entourage were released on bond by the Bulloch County District Attorney's Office while Offset and six others remained in custody without bond. As a result of their arrests, on April 28, 2015, Migos postponed their Yung Rich Nation Tour until July.
On May 2, 2015, Offset, while in custody, was charged with battery and inciting a riot within a penal facility after attacking another inmate, causing severe injury.
In a bond hearing before Bulloch County Superior Court Judge John R. Turner on May 8, 2015, Offset was formally denied bond based on his prior criminal record as well as the jail fight. During the hearing, two members of Migos' entourage were also denied bonds while four others were granted bonds and were barred from returning to Bulloch County as a condition of their release. Also, Judge Turner directed the four who were released not to make contact with anyone involved in the case. Offset's attorney argued that the rap trio were
unfairly profiled by law enforcement and that officers had failed to prove ownership of the firearms and illicit drugs found within the two vans; however, the prosecution responded that law enforcement were present at the concert for the safety of the students and public at-large due to Migos' history of violence. Upon hearing the decision, Offset shouted obscenities as he was escorted out of the courtroom.
After eight months in custody, Offset was released on December 4, 2015, after accepting an
Alford plea
In United States law, an Alford plea, also called a Kennedy plea in West Virginia, an Alford guilty plea, and the Alford doctrine, is a guilty plea in criminal court, whereby a defendant in a criminal case does not admit to the criminal act and ...
deal. The plea deal dropped the gun, drug, and gang-related charges in exchange for pleading guilty to inciting a riot within a penal facility; paying a $1,000 fine; serving five years' probation; and banishment from
Bulloch,
Effingham,
Jenkins, and
Screven Counties. Takeoff, facing misdemeanor marijuana charges, also accepted a plea deal and was sentenced with 12 months' probation. Quavo pleaded no contest to misdemeanor marijuana charges and received a 12-month sentence, which was suspended based on payment of fines.
Other incidents
On March 17, 2016, Offset was arrested for driving with a suspended license in Atlanta but was released the next day without having charges filed against him.
Offset has since claimed his license was never suspended and the police detained him without probable cause.
On July 7, 2017, Takeoff was asked to leave a flight from
Atlanta
Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...
to
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines () is the capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small part of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines, ...
, after he refused to move his bag from the floor to an overhead storage bin prior to takeoff.
In 2017, South Florida rapper
XXXTentacion
Jahseh Dwayne Ricardo Onfroy (January 23, 1998 – June 18, 2018), known professionally as XXXTentacion, was an American rapper and singer-songwriter. Though a controversial figure due to his widely publicized legal troubles, XXXTentacion ga ...
claimed the group injured him and pulled a gun on him.
In March 2018, the
Washington Avenue Armory
The Washington Avenue Armory, officially known as the Washington Avenue Armory Sports and Convention Arena and listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Washington Avenue (Tenth Battalion) Armory, is now a multi-purpose arena on the c ...
in
Albany, New York
Albany ( ) is the capital of the U.S. state of New York, also the seat and largest city of Albany County. Albany is on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River, and about north of New York City ...
sued the group for allegedly inciting a riot at the venue in 2015, when six people were stabbed. A concertgoer who suffered facial injuries also sued the band and the venue.
Discography
* ''
Yung Rich Nation
''Yung Rich Nation'' is the debut studio album by American hip hop trio Migos. It was released on July 31, 2015, through Quality Control Music and YRN Tha Label, and distributed by 300 Entertainment. The album features guest appearances from Ch ...
'' (2015)
* ''
Culture
Culture () is an umbrella term which encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits of the individuals in these groups.Tyl ...
'' (2017)
* ''
Culture II
''Culture II'' is the third studio album by American hip hop trio Migos. It was released on January 26, 2018, by Capitol Records, Motown and Quality Control Music. ''Culture II'' is a double album consisting of 24 tracks, and features guest app ...
'' (2018)
* ''
Culture III
''Culture III'' is the fourth studio album by American hip hop trio Migos and the last to be released during member Takeoff's lifetime. It was released by Motown Records and Quality Control Music on June 11, 2021. The album features guest appe ...
'' (2021)
Filmography
Notes:
* All three members of the Migos appeared portraying fictionalized versions of themselves.
Awards and nominations
2021 Album of the year Culture 111
, [
, Trio of the year
,
References
External links
Official website*
Migosa
Naija News 247
{{Authority control
Migos,
2008 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)
Musical groups established in 2008
African-American musical groups
American hip hop groups
American musical trios
Southern hip hop groups
Quality Control artists
Musical groups from Georgia (U.S. state)
Rappers from Georgia (U.S. state)
Family musical groups
Mumble rappers
Trap musicians