21 Savage: Why He & Drake Didn’t Delay Album After Takeoff’s Death

21 Savage revealed why he and Drake decided not to delay Her Loss any further after learning about the tragic death of Migos rapper Takeoff. On DJ Akademiks'  Off the Record podcast he said that the duo decided not to put off releasing Her Loss so fans could have "something to look forward to" and help their grieving process of the late Migos rapper.

"It was just so much going on, like so much negative, sad energy. We was just like, 'Maybe this will give muthaf----- a smile or a lift-up, give the world a lift-up, something to look forward to type s---,'" 21 said.

"'Cause at first we was saying we was gonna push it back, but it was like, 'Well, s---. What’s that gonna do? Just keep muthaf----- in this mind-state for a little longer?' Versus trying to move forward type s---."

21 said that hearing of Takeoff's death was heartwrenching. He noted that the late rapper always kept to himself.

"It’s the worst one. I don’t know if it’s ’cause I know him... but this is one of them ones where it’s like, 'Damn! Him?!'" he added. "N----- say that every time … but he really one of them ones like, 'Damn! What the f---?!'"

"Never gonna see him argue. If he fighting, he fighting to help his brothers. This the worst one that I’ve seen in my life where it’s like, a n---- who really didn’t deserve that s---."

Drake also took the time to address Takeoff's death on his podcast ahead of the release of Her Loss.

"I’d just like to send our deepest condolences from the family to the entire QC, to our brother Quavo, to our brother Offset, to the friends and loved ones of the legendary, unprecedented TakeOff—a guy that I knew for a long, long time,” Drake stated. “I’m sure people know how we started, of course, with ‘Versace.’ And from there, you know, we formed a brotherhood. I always talk about the fact that this was one family. My friends in the music industry are not friends, they’re family. So, our deepest condolences—tragic loss for all of us and, you know, a dark cloud over this business that we love so much."

He added: "I just encourage everybody to lock into that mindset, no matter where you are, you know?" Drake said. "It’s just really…it’s a life that’s worth living, and everybody deserves that chance. It’s unfortunate that one of our dear, dear brothers had to leave us this week."

Takeoff (born Kirshnik Khari Ball) was shot and killed outside a bowling alley in Houston, Texas on November 1. An argument reportedly broke out during a dice game that ended in gunfire. According to an autopsy report the late rapper was hit in the head and torso and was pronounced dead at the scene. Quavo was with Takeoff at the time of his death but he was unharmed.

A memorial service will be held for Takeoff at the State Farm Arena in his home city of Atlanta on Friday Nov. 11.

Earlier this morning, we reported on the tragic and senseless death of rapper Takeoff from Migos. Takeoff, whose real name was Kirshnik Khari Ball, was killed in an early morning shooting in Houston.

Gossip site TMZ reported on the story. They noted that law enforcement sources, and multiple witnesses, said that the fatal incident occurred shortly after 2:30 AM when police got the call for a man shot at a bowling alley called 810 Billiards & Bowling Houston. According to their reports, Takeoff and Migos' Quavo were there playing dice when an altercation broke out and that's when someone opened fire, shooting Takeoff. They reported that he was shot "either in the head or near to his head." They said that he was pronounced dead on the scene. Takeoff was 28 years old.

TMZ also posted photos that were slightly blurred but which showed Takeoff lying on the ground.  Many were upset that TMZ and others shared horrifying footage. The writer Kimberly St. Julian-Vernon tweeted, "I think it’s disgusting that TMZ monetizes the deaths of Black men: Kobe’s accident, now Takeoff’s murder." Civil rights lawyer Sherrilyn Ifill said, "No human being or their family deserves to have published the kind of crime scene photos I glimpsed. A disgrace TMZ." Writer Rotimi Adeoye expressed, "I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. TMZ is disgusting. Posting death photos is beyond cruel. They did the same exact thing when Kobe died."

Rapper Cadence Weapon tweeted, "TMZ posted Takeoff’s dead body when reporting his murder. Would they do the same for a white country artist? Or would they be more respectful? Where does the impulse to film and post a lifeless dead Black body come from? Maybe this is why Black death has become so normalized." A twitter account called NBA Slime said, "TMZ y’all gotta stop showing “EXCLUSIVE” footage of people’s last moments Please man! Getting the scoop is enough, you guys don’t need to show that stuff anymore! It’s getting sick! You know what you’re doing and you know it’s wrong! Stop doing it!!!" See more reactions below.