Takeoff: Alleged Killer’s Lawyer Believes He Has Valid ‘Self-Defense Claim’

Takeoff's alleged killer's lawyer believes that he has a valid "self-defense claim" according to a report from Rolling Stone. Patrick Xavier Clark, the man suspected of killing Takeoff last year, appeared in court on Thursday (Oct. 26).

"We do believe that he has a valid self-defense claim. I don’t think they can say with any degree of certainty that it was Patrick who actually fired the shot that took Takeoff’s life,” his attorney Letitia Quinones-Hollins told the publication.

Quinones-Hollins says that her client was in the "same position" that Takeoff was in and was just trying to get out of the Houston bowling alley alive. She argued that her client was in the "wrong place at the wrong time" once weapons began firing.

Takeoff died on the floor outside the venue which the medical examiner determined was from a "penetrating gunshot wounds of head and torso into arm."

Two other victims — a 23-year-old male and 24-year-old female — checked themselves into a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, per Billboard. It was later reported that the 23-year-old male victim was Quavo's Assistant, Joshua 'Wash' Washington, per TMZ.

Clark’s next court date is set for January 23, 2024.

Takeoff's death shocked the hip-hop community but the way this tragedy impacted the life of Migos members Quavo and Offset was like none other. Quavo, who is Takeoff's uncle, was there the night of his passing but was left unharmed. Prior to the release of Rocket Power, a tribute album created by Quavo released in August, the Head Honcho wrote, "Think About You All The Time I’ll Never Forget About You!!!," he wrote on Instagram. "I Miss U So Much And NoOne Will Take Yo Spot Twin U My Left Hand [left hand emoji] Come On Now!!! OTHERSIDE BOYS."

Offset followed up with a touching tribute as well days after his death.

"Dear Take," Offset began the note on Instagram. "The pain you have left me with is unbearable. My heart is shattered and I have so many things to say, but I can't find the words. I've been going to sleep and waking up hoping that all of this is a dream, but it's reality, and reality feels like a nightmare."

Hip-Hop has been fighting to get a No. 1 hit single on the Billboard Hot 100 all year. We have not yet topped the charts this year - which is 50th anniversary of the genre. But that doesn't mean that there have not been great songs this year.

Hip-Hop has had several features from Ice Spice, Nicki Minaj, J. Cole, this year. Ice Spice released her debut EP Like..? in January. It had one feature from fellow Bronx emcee Lil Tjay on "Gangsta Boo." The six-track EP also contained "Princess Diana," "Bikini Bottom," "In Ha Mood," "Actin a Smoochie," and her breakout hit "Munch (Feelin' U)." Nicki Minaj also hopped on "Princess Diana" with Ice Spice in April. The two linked up again to release "Barbie World" together in June for the Barbie film soundtrack.

As for Nicki, her only solo song of the year is "Red Ruby Da Sleeze" but she has stayed in the studio. Besides her feature on "Princess Diana," she has also hopped on Kim Petras' "Alone," Sexyy Red's "Poundtown Remix," YoungBoy Never Broke Again's "WTF," and Machel Montano and Destra's "Shake The Place."

The latest has been her feature on Uzi's "Endless Fashion," and Young Thug's "Money" with the late Juice WRLD.

J. Cole has since released "Procrastination (Broke)" and has hopped on Summer Walker's "To Summer From Cole (audio hug)" from her Clear 2: Soft Life EP as well as Lil Durk's "All My Life."

R&B, however, has had a better chart record this year as SZA's SOS hit "Kill Bill" stayed on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for 16 weeks. It beat Mary J. Blige's "Be Without You" as the longest-running No. 1 single by a solo female artist prior to SZA's "Kill Bill."

Take a look at the best hip-hop and R&B songs that have been released this year so far:

Nicki Minaj hopped on Ice Spice's "Princess Diana" back in April. This was the first time the two collaborated on a song together. The original "Princess Diana" is from the Bronx rapper's EP Like..? which was released in January.

Latto and Cardi B have a "Song of the Summer" contender with "Put It On Da Floor Again." Latto released the original version of the song in April. The duo followed up with the remix in June. This was the first time the pair collaborated together on a song.

Ice Spice and PinkPantheress set TikTok on fire with "Boy's a liar Pt. 2." Three weeks after the release "Boy's a liar Pt. 2" climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was first No. 1 hit for both artists.

Metro Boomin recruited The Weeknd, Diddy and 21 Savage for "Creepin' Remix." The song samples the 2004 hit "I Don't Wanna Know" by Mario Winans, Diddy, and Enya. The song is found on Metro Boomin's album Heroes & Villains.

Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar surprised fans when they dropped the remix to "America Has A Problem." The original is found on Beyoncé's seventh studio album Renaissance. This was the duo's third collaboration.

Drake hopped on J Hus' "Who Told You" which dropped in June. This was Drake's third song of the year following "Search & Rescue" and his feature on Popcaan's "We Caa Done." This is the first time the two rappers collaborated.

Nicki Minaj released "Red Ruby Da Sleeze" in May. This is the rapper's only solo song of 2023 thus far. She's previously been on songs with Ice Spice, Uzi, Sexyy Young Thug, and the Juice WRLD.

Kali dropped "Area Codes" in March where she received her first top 10 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The rapper also scored her first appearance on the Billboard Hot 100 when the song debuted at No. 54. The song interpolates the 2001 song of the same name by Ludacris featuring Nate Dogg.

Gunna returned to music with "Bread & Butter." In the song, he addresses the "snitch" allegations since his December release from jail. The song was the lead single to A Gift & A Curse.

Doja Cat made her 2023 solo debut with "Attention." The song serves as her lead single to her forthcoming album First of All. Her other offering of 2023 thus far was her feature of SZA's "Kill Bill" remix.

J. Cole joined Summer Walker on "To Summer From Cole (audio hug)," the first track on her EP Clear 2: Soft Life. On the song, Cole teased that he is working on his album The Fall Off. This is the pair's first collaboration.

Toosie brought Khalid in for the remix of "Favorite Song." The record is found on his album NAUJOUR which was released back in June. Future also joined Toosie with another remake of the song titled "Favorite Song (Toxic Version)." Toosie earned his first No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Rap Songs chart with "Favorite Song."

Janelle Monáe became a trending topic when they dropped "Lipstick Lover." The video was repeatedly shared online due to its NSFW content but helped market their fourth studio album The Age of Pleasure. "Lipstick Lover" followed Monáe's "Float" which was released in February.

Beyoncé released a remix of her popular track "Cuff It." The "Cuff It (Wetter Remix)" is a slow-downed more sexualized version of the poppy track off of Renaissance. The "Cuff It (Wetter Remix)" was the first official remix off of Renaissance.

Kendrick Lamar and Baby Keem linked up for "The Hillbillies." The cousins have collaborated together multiple times, including their Grammy-winning "Family Ties."

"Pelle Coat" debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Pelle Coat" is found on Lil Durk's Almost Healed. Almost Healed debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart making it the Chicago rapper's fourth leader.

Doechii might be a rising artist but she has proved that she is here for the long haul with her song "What It Is (Block Boy)." The song features Florida rapper Kodak Black. "What It Is (Block Boy)" samples TLC's 1999 hit "No Scrubs."

Doja Cat made her first appearance of 2023 with her feature on SZA's SOS hit "Kill Bill Remix." The original "Kill Bill" from SZA's SOS made history by staying on top the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for 16 weeks. Mary J. Blige's "Be WIthout You" was the longest-running No. 1 single by a solo female artist prior to SZA's "Kill Bill." The song title references Quentin Tarantino's 2003 film, starring Uma Thurman of the same name.

"All My Life" was the lead single to Durk's Almost Healed. The record topped the Rhythmic Airplay Chart making it Durk's first No. 1 as the lead artist. This is the first time Durk and J. Cole appear on a song together.

"Without You" was Quavo's first song of 2023. The song is about the passing of his former Migos groupmate and nephew Takeoff. Takeoff was shot and killed in Houston in 2022.

"Pull Up" is from Summer Walker's EP Clear 2: Soft Life. The music video features her boyfriend Lil Meech who stars in 50 Cent's BMF. EP Clear 2: Soft Life follows Clear which the singer released in 2019.

"Dogtooth" is from Tyler, The Creator's CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST: The Estate Sale. The deluxe edition of the album arrived on March 27, 2023. The songs added to the project never got a chance “see the light of day” Tyler noted on Twitter on the day of the release.

Kali Uchis' Red Moon in Venus arrived on March 3 which included "Moonlight." The track is the R&B singer's second single from the album. Red Moon in Venus has songs in both Spanish and English.

Diddy grabbed The City Girls (consisting of JT and Yung Miami) and Fabulous for their summer of the song contender. The song is about having someone your dating fund your activities like vacations, shopping, expensive meals, etc. This the first time all four artists have been together on a song.

"Gangsta Boo" is from Ice Spice's debut EP Like..?. Lil Tjay was the sole feature on the six-track EP. The project arrived in January.

Chlöe released her debut solo In Pieces which "Pray It Away" is found on. Her project had guest appearances from Chris Brown, Future, and Missy Elliott. She previously has three studio albums with the latter being Grammy-nominated with her younger sister Halle Bailey.

"Summer Too Hot" is Chris Brown's 2023 "Song of the Summer" contender. This is Brown's first solo song of 2023. The song was released in June.

Cordae recruited Anderson .Paak for "Two Tens." The song is about trying to get with two friends who are both "tens." This is the first time the two have collabed together.