Quavo and Takeoff spent most of their lives side by side: in the same house as kids, in Migos for a decade, and finally as a duo called Unc & Phew. With the Hotel Lobby AI trend bringing their 2022 performance back into people's feeds, a lot of new viewers are asking the same questions. Are they related? Is Offset family too? What does "Unc & Phew" mean?
This post answers those questions with the facts that are on the record, and points out where the record is mixed.
Quick facts
| Quavo | Takeoff | |
|---|---|---|
| Real name | Quavious Keyate Marshall | Kirsnick Khari Ball |
| Born | April 2, 1991, Athens, Georgia | June 18, 1994, Lawrenceville, Georgia |
| Relationship | Uncle | Nephew |
| Groups | Migos, Unc & Phew | Migos, Unc & Phew |
| Duo album | Only Built for Infinity Links (October 7, 2022) | Same |
How are Quavo and Takeoff related?
Quavo is Takeoff's uncle, and Takeoff is Quavo's nephew. The age gap is small, about three years, which is why many people assume they are brothers or cousins.
They grew up together in Gwinnett County, the suburbs northeast of Atlanta. Quavo's Wikipedia entry says the two were raised together by Quavo's mother. Offset has described the three of them spending time in the basement of Quavo's mother's house as kids, which is where they worked out the triplet flow that later defined Migos.
Some articles go further and name which side of the family connects them. Sources do not agree on the details, so we leave that out. The uncle and nephew relationship itself is not in dispute.
Is Offset related to Quavo?
This is where you will see two different answers online.
For years, Offset was described as Quavo's cousin, and news coverage at the time of Takeoff's death still called him Takeoff's cousin. In a 2023 interview with Variety, Offset said that is not the case: he and Quavo were classmates, and he is not biologically related to either Quavo or Takeoff.
The three still grew up as close as family and have called each other brothers and cousins since childhood. So the accurate answer is: Offset is not a blood relative, but he was family in every other sense that mattered to the group.
How Migos started
Migos formed in 2008 in Lawrenceville, Georgia, in Gwinnett County. The three first called themselves Polo Club before switching to Migos, a play on "Three Amigos."
Their 2013 single "Versace" was their breakthrough, helped by a Drake remix. "Bad and Boujee" (2016, with Lil Uzi Vert) reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and the albums Culture (2017) and Culture II (2018) both debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
Unc & Phew
In 2022, amid reports that Migos was splitting up, Quavo and Takeoff began releasing music as a duo. They called it Unc & Phew: "Unc" for uncle, "Phew" for nephew.
- "Hotel Lobby (Unc & Phew)" came out on May 20, 2022, as the duo's first single.
- On June 17, 2022, COLORS released their performance of the song on A COLORS SHOW: the two of them against an orange wall, sharing one hanging microphone.
- More singles followed: "Us vs. Them" (July 29), "Big Stunna" (August 26), "Nothing Changed" (September 30) and "See Bout It" (October 7).
- Their only album, Only Built for Infinity Links, was released on October 7, 2022, through Quality Control Music and Motown. It debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard 200.
"Hotel Lobby" peaked at No. 55 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was later certified Platinum. For the full story of the song and the COLORS video, see our post on the "Hotel Lobby" song.
Takeoff's death
Takeoff was shot and killed outside 810 Billiards & Bowling in downtown Houston in the early hours of November 1, 2022. He was 28. Quavo was there that night and was not hurt.
Houston police said they had no reason to believe Takeoff was involved in anything criminal. A man, Patrick Xavier Clark, was charged with murder and has maintained his innocence. As of this writing, local news reports that his trial is scheduled for November 2026.
Only Built for Infinity Links was the last project released in Takeoff's lifetime. It came out 25 days before he died.
From Unc & Phew to the Hotel Lobby AI trend
In September 2026, the COLORS performance came back as an AI trend. People started replacing the two rappers with friends, couples, coworkers and pets while keeping the orange wall and the shared mic. Quavo reposted the original performance as the clips spread.
Reactions have been mixed. Many fans enjoy seeing the format everywhere. Others are uncomfortable with AI recreations of Takeoff, who cannot weigh in. If you want to take part, the respectful option is to put your own faces in the booth, not the artists'.
You can read more on the Hotel Lobby AI page and the Migos AI page.
Making your own version
RapVideo AI turns two photos, one photo of both people, or a single photo (Solo) into a duo rap video in your browser, in about 2 to 3 minutes. You can pick the orange Hotel Lobby stage (the default), Luxury Lobby or Studio Booth, and add a topic of up to 120 characters. The rap follows the topic's language.
There are two styles. Original remake uses the real "Hotel Lobby" recording, so platforms may mute or limit it. New song writes original lyrics and music about your topic.
The voices are AI voices, and there is no voice cloning, so a New song video will not sound like Quavo or Takeoff. A standard video costs 10 credits (the single pack is $9.99 for 12 credits), and failed renders are refunded.
RapVideo AI is independent and not affiliated with Migos, Quavo, Takeoff, Offset, COLORS or the song's rights holders.
FAQ
Are Quavo and Takeoff related?
Yes. Quavo is Takeoff's uncle.
Is Takeoff Quavo's nephew or his cousin?
His nephew. They are only about three years apart, which is why people often guess cousin or brother.
Is Offset related to Quavo or Takeoff?
Not by blood. Offset was often called Quavo's cousin, but in 2023 he told Variety that he and Quavo were classmates and that he is not biologically related to either of them.
What does Unc & Phew mean?
It is short for "uncle" and "nephew," the name Quavo and Takeoff used for their 2022 duo.
What album did Unc & Phew release?
Only Built for Infinity Links, released October 7, 2022. "Hotel Lobby" was the first single.
When did Takeoff die?
November 1, 2022, in Houston, Texas. He was 28.
Where did Quavo and Takeoff grow up?
In Gwinnett County, Georgia, northeast of Atlanta. Migos formed in Lawrenceville in 2008.