Migos () were an American hip hop group originating from Lawrenceville, Georgia, founded in 2008. The group was originally composed of rappers Quavo, his nephew Takeoff, and Offset. Quavo is from Athens, Georgia and Offset and Takeoff were born and raised in nearby Lawrenceville. As a group, they were managed by Coach K, the former manager of American rappers Gucci Mane and Jeezy, and frequently collaborated with producers such as DJ Durel, Murda Beatz, Zaytoven, and Buddah Bless. Recognized for their contribution to trap music in the 2010s, Billboard 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" 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" (2015), and their four Billboard Hot 100 top 10 entries "Bad and Boujee" (featuring Lil Uzi Vert) (2016), reaching the top, "MotorSport" (with Nicki Minaj and Cardi B) (2017), peaking at number 6, "Stir Fry" (2018), peaking at number 8, and "Walk It Talk It" (featuring Drake) (2018), peaking at number 10.
Migos released their debut album Yung Rich Nation in July 2015, through Quality Control Music and 300 Entertainment. In 2016, the group portrayed fictionalized versions of themselves in the first season of the Donald Glover comedy-drama television series Atlanta. Their second album, Culture, 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 and Capitol Records in February 2017, and put out the album Culture II in January 2018, giving the group their second number 1 album in the United States. In 2021, the trio released their fourth album, Culture III, the final installment in their Culture trilogy.
On November 1, 2022, Takeoff was shot and killed in Houston, Texas.
Early life
The trio were raised together by Quavo's mother, Edna Marshall, in the suburbs of the neighboring town city of Lawrenceville, Georgia. They grew up listening to Outkast, Gucci Mane, Hot Boys, Lil Wayne, and Master P.
Career
2008–2012: Formation and early releases
Migos was formed in 2008, by Quavo (born Quavious Keyate Marshall), Takeoff (born Kirshnik Khari Ball), and Offset (born Kiari Kendrell Cephus), and they originally called themselves the Polo Club. The name 'Migos' is a take on 'Three Amigos', as the three members grew up together. Takeoff was Quavo's nephew, and Offset and Quavo are cousins. The three of them grew up together in suburban Atlanta, approximately 30 minutes northeast of Downtown in Gwinnett County. "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 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 "Versace". The single was produced by Zaytoven and peaked at number 99 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Later that year, Canadian rapper Drake brought the single more recognition when he remixed the song, adding a verse, which he would later perform at the 2013 iHeartRadio Music Festival. On June 13, Migos released their mixtape Y.R.N. (Young Rich Niggas), which features the lead single "Versace", to critical acclaim. Brandon Soderberg of Spin 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, Soulja Boy, and Future.
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 XXLs "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's "The Top 100 Tracks of 2013" and number 69 on Rolling Stones "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.