TL;DR: Quavo and Takeoff were uncle and nephew — Quavo is the brother of Takeoff's mother. "Unc & Phew" was their 2022 duo name. Takeoff was killed in Houston on November 1, 2022, at age 28. A 2026 AI video trend built on their song "Hotel Lobby" has pushed the pair back into feeds worldwide.
Yes, they were blood family. Quavo, born April 2, 1991, is Takeoff's uncle, and the two grew up in the same Georgia household — which is why they recorded as "Unc & Phew."
Are Quavo and Takeoff related?
Directly, by blood. Quavo is the uncle; Takeoff — born June 18, 1994, as Kirshnik Khari Ball — was his nephew. Just three years apart in age, the two felt more like brothers and learned to rap together in the same house.
The third Migos member, Offset, extends the family tree. He is Quavo's cousin, which made him Takeoff's cousin too. The three grew up around Atlanta and formed Migos in 2008 in Lawrenceville, Georgia.
So the short version people search for: Quavo = uncle, Takeoff = nephew, Offset = cousin.
What does "Unc & Phew" mean?
"Unc" is slang for uncle. "Phew" was a family nickname for Takeoff, the nephew.
In 2022, while Migos sat quiet, the uncle and nephew recorded as a two-man team and put that bond right in the billing. Every release that year carried the tag "Unc & Phew."
What did Quavo and Takeoff release together?
Their joint run was short but busy, all inside 2022:
- "Hotel Lobby" (May 20, 2022) — the single that later powered the 2026 AI trend; see our song breakdown for its meaning.
- "Us vs. Them" with Gucci Mane, that summer's follow-up.
- "Big Stunna" with Birdman in August.
- Only Built for Infinity Links (October 7, 2022) — an 18-track joint album, released four weeks before Takeoff died.
Before the duo project, of course, the two shared the whole Migos catalog, including the Culture albums that made the group famous.
What happened to Takeoff?
On November 1, 2022, Takeoff was shot and killed outside a private party at a bowling alley in Houston, Texas. He was 28. Police arrested a suspect within weeks and charged him, and the case then moved through the courts.
A public celebration of his life followed on November 11, 2022, at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, where family, friends, and fellow artists gathered. Quavo paid tribute, describing growing up with his nephew as a dream.
What has Quavo done since?
Grief became work. Quavo's solo album Rocket Power (August 2023) carries dedications to Takeoff, and he performed the tribute song "Without You" at the 2023 Grammy Awards. He also backs the Rocket Foundation, which funds community-safety and gun-violence-prevention programs in Takeoff's memory.
In 2026 the attention returned for a strange reason: an AI video trend. Millions have watched edits that recast the duo's orange "Hotel Lobby" performance with other faces — cats, sitcom characters, grandparents. Quavo discussed the wave, and the feelings it stirs, in an Associated Press interview on October 2, 2026.
That trend needs one boundary note. Takeoff was a real man, mourned by a real family, and AI makes it easy to place him anywhere. Respectful practice: keep late artists out of scenes they never lived, get consent before using anyone's photo, and label AI video as AI.
Honor the format, not the likeness
The safest way to enjoy the trend is to borrow its shape — two people trading verses — with your own cast: an uncle and nephew, two cousins, a granddad and grandson.
RapDuo's AI rap generator does exactly that. Upload two photos, describe the theme, and receive an original two-person rap video with new lyrics and fresh audio — no copied voices, no borrowed faces. If the duo format inspires you more broadly, our best rap duos roundup has more fuel.
Quavo and Takeoff FAQ
Was Takeoff Quavo's nephew or cousin?
Nephew. Quavo is the brother of Takeoff's mother, which also makes Offset — Quavo's cousin — Takeoff's cousin.
What does "Unc & Phew" stand for?
"Unc" means uncle. "Phew" was a family nickname for Takeoff. Together, the phrase was the billing the uncle-and-nephew team used across their 2022 releases.
How old was Takeoff when he died?
- He was born June 18, 1994, and killed on November 1, 2022, in Houston.
What was the last project Quavo and Takeoff made together?
Only Built for Infinity Links, released October 7, 2022 — four weeks before Takeoff's death. It stands as the final chapter of Unc & Phew, with "Hotel Lobby" its best-known track.
Are Quavo, Takeoff, and Offset all related?
Yes. Quavo and Offset are cousins, and Takeoff was Quavo's nephew. That family core was part of Migos' story from day one.