Where would we be if Migos broke up? That’s the question we were forced to ask ourselves last week, when Joe Budden and DJ Akademiks hosted a segment of Everyday Struggle called, “Should Quavo leave Migos for a solo career?”
I sat there for a few moments, appalled. The Migos have made such a major impact on music. And they did it all years after their initial splash in the music industry. It was 2013 when Drake hopped on the “Versace” remix. “Fight Night” arrived in 2014, but Offset’s stint in jail slowed the group’s momentum, and it wasn’t until “Bad and Boujee” topped the Billboard Hot 100 that Migos finally shook off any notion of one-hit-wonder gimmickry. They’re rap’s comeback kids, dismissed as “mumble rappers” before it became a buzzword, derided for a new delivery by those unable to recognize the fresh sound and style they had brought to hip-hop and its culture.
But if the last two years have taught us anything about the group, it’s that Offset's flow, Takeoff's lyrics, and Quavo’s melodies cannot be faithfully reproduced by other artists. And together, they are greater than the sum of their parts, whether ad-libbing during each other’s verses or acting en masse in Donald Glover's Atlanta. In a word, they have chemistry. At this moment in the their career, all eyes are on Migos. But will their individual success tear the band apart?
OFFSET'S FLOW, TAKEOFF'S LYRICS, AND QUAVO'S MELODIES CANNOT BE FAITHFULLY REPRODUCED BY OTHER ARTISTS. AND TOGETHER, THEY ARE GREATER THAN THE SUM OF THEIR PARTS.
The murmurs started after Takeoff didn’t have a verse on “Bad and Boujee.” That omission led to questions about his purpose in the group, and the chatter continued as Quavo and Offset began to appear elsewhere with guest verses. Last week, Joe Budden, co-host of Complex’s new show Everyday Struggle, questioned if Takeoff will ever take off in the music industry. In response to his co-host DJ Akademiks’ comparison of Quavo to Beyonce, however, Budden demurred: “They have a brotherhood amongst them which is rare,” he said, “so I don’t think homeboy is leaving.”
The music press enjoys this kind of script—especially in entertainment, where theoreticals can make headlines. The proposed Migos narrative goes like this: now that Migos has reached the top, success will go to their heads, and they'll all want to be the group's centerpiece, which will eventually break the group apart. The group is still hot, but the media needs a new storyline, not the same old success story. Outlets are stirring the pot with headlines like, “Is Migos Holding Quavo Back From Becoming a Breakout Solo Star?” and “With and Without Migos, Quavo Commands the Billboard Charts.”
And yet there’s been nothing of substance to spur the rumors. The only evidence people are working off of are their guest verses. Undoubtedly, Quavo has been getting the most attention in the group. He’s been unstoppable, appearing on the year’s hottest tracks (“Slide,” “Pick Up The Phone,” and “Good Drank” among them). And even when he appears alongside a fellow Migo—Offset’s verse on “Slide” may even be the song’s best moment—Quavo’s solo career becomes a topic of conversation.
They’re even calling Quavo the Beyoncé of the group. But let’s remember Beyoncé’s origin story: she was raised as a performer, attending a Montessori school before she was a part of one of the hottest girl groups of all time in Destiny’s Child. She was always the group’s lead singer—they even changed out the supporting cast after the group’s first two albums, an acrimonious split that eventually led to Destiny’s Child’s indefinite hiatus after their third album in 2001. She started acting and appearing alongside big names like Jay Z, then dropped her debut solo album, which went platinum and won five Grammys.
INSTEAD OF LOOKING FOR WAYS TO DECONSTRUCT THEIR SUCCESS, LET'S APPRECIATE MIGOS' ABILITY TO BUILD A SECOND LIFE IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY.
In short, she was raised to be a superstar. Quavo’s ascension didn’t happen because he craved the spotlight. His vocals don’t take up most of the records, and he’s not the only Migos member doing music outside of the group—Offset has appeared on Cardi B’s “Lick” and Cousin Stizz’s “Headlock,” among others. He even dropped a solo record last month.
But the Migos owe their success, in part, to sticking together. There is no talk of swapping out members—just the opposite, in fact. Offset spent two album drops in prison, the very moments when Migos should have taken over the music world. They might have been forgiven by the press had they found a third member. But that was never the case, and they waited it out.
“I was proud, watching them do their thing.” Offset told FADER upon his release in 2016. “That’s my family. It made me feel good because I knew that when I touched down, the ball would still be rolling. I could get in with the group, we stick together.”
The Migos are family, in the literal sense. Takeoff is Quavo’s nephew, and Quavo is the cousin of Offset, both of whom grew up without their fathers in the picture. They were raised together and developed music together as a group. Family sticking together is a cliché for a reason, and The Migos have given no indication that there’s a rift.
After watching social media call Quavo the Beyoncé of the group, I had enough of the Migos break-up chatter. I understand it feels too good to be true, and that their solo careers are a logical next step, but why can’t we all just believe that it is okay for a band member to step out for a second and make music on their own? Some space in a relationship is healthy. Let’s also not forget when Offset was in jail, Takeoff was really holding the group down, saving money for him and spitting show-stealing verses on songs like “Chinatown.”
Instead of looking for ways to deconstruct their success, let’s appreciate Migos' ability to build a second life in the music industry. The Migos are truly a breath of fresh air when it comes to their flows, energy, and chemistry. The group truly benefits hip-hop’s culture. Let’s let them enjoy their shine and remember that they’ll remain family no matter what the future holds.
