If you have only casually watched the rise of Migos, Takeoff is the trio’s most anonymous member. Quavo is the most recognizable thanks to his pop instincts and constant cameos; Offset’s relationship with Cardi B has boosted his profile. But Takeoff has kept his head down. Still, the crew’s youngest, least attention-hungry member is also its most talented rapper. His abilities have been clearly visible since at least No Label II but were perhaps most obvious amid the bloat of Culture II. On songs like “Too Much Jewelry” and the original edit of “Motorsport,” he was the most assured and reliably energetic performer. In the run-up to that record, Quavo was happy to admit his nephew was the superior Migo. Offset agreed.
Takeoff’s solo debut, The Last Rocket, arrives on the heels of Quavo Huncho and just ahead of an Offset album next month. His kinfolk are correct: With a tight 12 tracks, Takeoff’s record is significantly more economical than Quavo’s, revealing more of his personality through a diverse set of strongly rapped songs. The lack of an obvious enormous single likely won’t raise his general star, but The Last Rocket helps to demystify the group by clarifying their explicit connections to Southern rap predecessors from Gucci Mane and Big K.R.I.T. to UGK. Many of the Migos’ best songs have been their biggest hits. The Last Rocket, like its creator, is most compelling at its most offbeat and introspective.
A1 | Martian (Intro) | 3:08 |
A2 | She Gon Wink | 3:36 |
A3 | None To Me | 2:31 |
A4 | Vacation | 2:49 |
A5 | Last Memory | 2:42 |
A6 | I Remember | 2:59 |
B1 | Lead The Wave | 3:25 |
B2 | Casper | 3:17 |
B3 | Insomnia | 2:44 |
B4 | Infatuation | 3:41 |
B5 | Soul Plane | 3:18 |
B6 | Bruce Wayne (Outro) | 3:47 |