Who is Takeoff and why has LeBron James put him as his Instagram profile picture: All you need to know

LeBron James recently changed his profile picture on Instagram to pay tribute to a rapper who recently passed away. Takeoff, one-third of the famous rap group Migos, was shot dead in Houston on November 1. The incident took place outside a bowling alley called 810 Billiards & Bowling Houston. According to TMZ, the incident took place around 2:30 AM.

Moments before the shoot out, Quavo apparently got into an argument with some people in the bowling alley. TMZ posted a video of what took place. It's ironic how Takeoff was on the receiving end of the bullets when he was clearly not involved in the altercation.

As seen in the clip, everybody ran away the moment the shooters pulled out their guns. Unfortunately for Takeoff, he ran from a position where he got cornered by the gang. Sources told TMZ that both Takeoff and Quavo were playing dice, which eventually led to a heated argument. The youngest Migos rapper then got shot somewhere in the head several times.

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LeBron James and the rest of the NBA pay tribute to Takeoff

The LA Lakers' homage to rapper Takeoff during warm-ups before their game against the New Orleans Pelicans tonight moved the NBA community to tears. The Lakers only played Migos music during the pregame warm-up.

The atmosphere was emotional during the warm-ups. Fans in attendance expressed their emotions online as well as in the stadium. Some NBA stars, both past and present, also reacted on Twitter.

LeBron James and other superstars either posted a picture of Takeoff on their social media accounts or reposted the breaking news.

There is an unspoken connection between the NBA and the hip-hop scene. Over the years, numerous NBA players have been spotted socializing with rappers and hip-hop artists.

Fans will recall LeBron James and other stars for their close relationships with well-known rappers in the business. James frequently posts videos of himself singing along to rap songs on social media.

In fact, in 2018, LeBron participated in a performance by rappers Drake and Travis Scott. Drake asked James to come up on stage before rapping to one of their hits, "SICKO MODE". This sequence of events alone is living proof of how much the NBA and the hip-hop industry love to interact with each other.

It's always sad news to hear about a celebrity's death. Takeoff was not only a talented rapper, but a friend to many. The people that matter to him will definitely miss him. RIP Kirshnik Khari Ball.