Those who wondered if or when Migos might perform together again after the tragic death of cofounder Takeoff got their answer on Sunday night, in a total surprise performance by surviving group members Quavo and Offset.
The show returned from a commercial break with a curtain raised on a darkened stage with two shoadwed figures emerging — who turned out to be Quavo and Offset, standing before an image of the Space Shuttle. As a recording of Takeoff’s verse on the song “Hotel Lobby” began (as recorded by his duo with Quavo, Unc & Phew), it became clear who they were and the crowd erupted. “BET!” the announcer shouted. “Doin’ this for Take!” The image of the Space Shuttle took off and was replaced by an image of Takeoff with his hand reaching skyward, and the pair launched into the group’s biggest hit, “Bad & Boujee.”
There was little indication that the reunion would take place Sunday — both were posting photos from Paris just two days ago — or even at any time in the near future. In his Variety cover story last month, Offset became emotional when talking about his friend — who was murdered as an “innocent bystander” in a shooting outside a bowling alley in Houston last November, according to police — and in February, Quavo (who was Takeoff’s uncle, although he was just three years older) seemed to close the door on Migos for good in his Takeoff tribute song “Greatness”: “Don’t ask about the group / He gone, we gone / It can’t come back.”
But immediately after the performance, Offset wrote on Instagram, “Do this shit for the fam cuz this shit bigger than me,” while Quavo wrote “For the Rocket,” Takeoff’s nickname, and then posted photos of the two of them together.
The pair both have new albums on the way, expected this summer. Variety got a preview of several new Offset tracks during the interview for his cover story.
Offset and Quavo reunited at Sunday night’s (June 25) 2023 BET Awards to perform a Migos classic and pay tribute to their late bandmate Takeoff.
The unannounced performance came about an hour into Sunday’s show, when a floor-to-ceiling rocket appeared on the big screens and the two remaining members of Migos walked into a spotlight surrounded by smoke and lasers. Takeoff’s verse from “Hotel Lobby” — a 2022 song from Quavo and Takeoff’s 2022 spin-off project Unc & Phew — played as the duo danced.
“Do it for Take!” they shouted, pointing at the screen, which morphed from the fiery rocket to a photo of the late rapper, who was fatally shot at age 23 in November last year.
The duo then performed Migos’ lone Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit: the 2017 three-week leader “Bad and Boujee,” a 2018 Grammy nominee for best rap performance. The surprise set marks the first performance for Offset and Quavo together since Takeoff’s death. Also, Offset didn’t perform with Migos during their festival dates last year, so he and Quavo haven’t hit the stage together in at least a year.
Offset’s wife, Cardi B, showed her appreciation for the cultural moment on Twitter, writing, “I can’t take it right now,” along with crying emojis. “Proud of the boys.”
In other news – Pabi Cooper’s look at BET Awards 2023 – Photos
Paballo Basetsana Mothapo, famously known as Pabi Cooper returned home with no win from the BET Awards 2023. The South African performer was at the prestigious American event alongside K.O. and Uncle Waffles.
However, they all lost in their various categories. Pabi was nominated for the BET Best New International Act Award, but Libianca (Cameroon) won the category. Learn More
