Are Quavo and Takeoff Related? The Uncle and Nephew Story
Are Quavo and Takeoff related? Yes: Quavo is Takeoff’s uncle, only about three years older, and Quavo’s mother raised them under one roof. In 2022 the pair recorded as Unc & Phew. Offset, Migos’ third member, is not family to either of them, although he is often called their cousin. Sources follow each fact.
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FAMILY & MUSIC
Quavo & Takeoff
How Quavo and Takeoff are related
Quavo is the uncle and Takeoff the nephew, with three years between them. Raised in the same house by Quavo’s mother, they started Migos together in Lawrenceville, Georgia, in 2008, at first calling themselves Polo Club (Wikipedia: Quavo, Wikipedia: Migos).
And Offset?
Not a relative. For years he was described as a cousin, but he later explained that he is related to neither of them and went to school with Quavo (Wikipedia: Migos).
Three Migos, side by side
| Rapper | Birth name | Born | Family tie |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quavo | Quavious Keyate Marshall | April 2, 1991, Athens, Georgia | Uncle of Takeoff |
| Takeoff | Kirsnick Khari Ball | June 18, 1994, Lawrenceville, Georgia | Nephew of Quavo; died November 1, 2022 |
| Offset | Kiari Kendrell Cephus | December 14, 1991 | None; Quavo’s schoolmate |
From Wikipedia: Quavo, Wikipedia: Takeoff, Wikipedia: Offset and Wikipedia: Migos. Some credits spell Takeoff’s first name Kirshnik.
Unc & Phew: the duo name explained
“Unc” means uncle, Quavo; “Phew” means nephew, Takeoff. They debuted the name in May 2022 with “Hotel Lobby”, at a time when people were whispering that Migos had split (Wikipedia: Unc & Phew).
| Release | Format | Date |
|---|---|---|
| “Hotel Lobby” | First single | May 20, 2022 |
| “Us vs. Them” with Gucci Mane | Single | July 2022 |
| “Big Stunna” with Birdman | Single | August 2022 |
| “Nothing Changed” | Single | September 2022 |
| Only Built for Infinity Links | Their only album, no Offset | October 7, 2022 |
The album’s title plays on Raekwon’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx and on the family bond between them; it opened at No. 7 on the Billboard 200 (Wikipedia).
Watch Quavo and Takeoff perform together in the original COLORS session.posted by COLORS · View on YouTube
Examples from around the web, credited and linked to the original post.
Takeoff’s death in Houston
On November 1, 2022 Takeoff was shot and killed outside a bowling alley in Houston. Police said they did not think he was the person being targeted (Wikipedia).
Migos since 2022: split, tribute, reunion
- June 25, 2023: at the BET Awards, Quavo and Offset shared a stage for the first time since the split, paying tribute to Takeoff (Wikipedia: Migos).
- October 5, 2023: Offset told Hot 97 that Migos had officially broken up (Wikipedia: Migos).
- May 5, 2026: the Migos Instagram account announced that Quavo and Offset had brought the group back, with a last Migos album said to be on the way (Wikipedia: Migos).
How the uncle and nephew ended up in an AI trend
In June 2022 the duo performed “Hotel Lobby” for A COLORS SHOW, on an orange set with a single hanging mic (COLORS). Four years later, in September 2026, people began using AI to drop other pairs onto that set, a meme also known as Migos AI or the AI rap duo trend, and Quavo reshared the original on September 23 (Complex). The record’s own story is in The “Hotel Lobby” song.
Most of these clips begin with two photos: a video model places both faces on the set and copies the original choreography. Some keep the record; others replace it with an AI rap written about the new pair, so the clip is about them and not about Quavo and Takeoff.
FAQ
Is Takeoff Quavo’s son or his brother?
Neither. Takeoff was Quavo’s nephew, and Quavo is his uncle, roughly three years older.
Is Offset their cousin?
No. The cousin story stuck for years, but Offset has said he is not related to Quavo or Takeoff; he and Quavo were classmates.
What does Unc & Phew stand for?
Uncle and nephew: “Unc” is Quavo and “Phew” is Takeoff. It was their duo name in 2022.
Did Quavo and Takeoff release anything without Offset?
Yes. As Unc & Phew they put out “Hotel Lobby”, three more singles and the album Only Built for Infinity Links (October 7, 2022), all without Offset.
Who raised Quavo and Takeoff?
Quavo’s mother raised both of them in the same household in Georgia.
Are Migos still together in 2026?
Offset said in October 2023 that the group had disbanded. On May 5, 2026 the Migos Instagram account said Quavo and Offset had reunited, with a final album announced.
How did Quavo react to the Hotel Lobby AI trend?
According to Complex, on September 23, 2026 he reposted the untouched COLORS performance, noting they were viral again and calling it the original.
References
Up next
“Hotel Lobby” Song Meaning, Story and Charts (Unc & Phew)
The “Hotel Lobby” song meaning and story: what Quavo and Takeoff rap about as Unc & Phew, the release, the orange COLORS set, the charts, Takeoff’s death and the 2026 AI trend
How to Do the Hotel Lobby Trend: 3 Routes Compared (2026)
How to do the Hotel Lobby trend with two portraits, an AI video prompt or an editor template, including costs, free options and posting steps
Hotel Lobby Video is an independent app with no ties to Quavo, Takeoff, Migos, Quality Control Music, Motown or COLORS.