James Corden pays tribute to a musical legend. The Late Late Show’s 44-year-old British presenter took a moment on Tuesday’s broadcast to pay tribute to the late rapper Takeoff.
Noting that he was “utterly devastated” to learn of Takeoff’s death at the age of 28, Corden shared some personal views on the Migos rapper, whom he characterized as “funny and kind.”
“My biggest feeling when I was around him was how much he loved music. He lived for it,” Corden said. “And it was that love of music that essentially willed Migos into existence.”
Corden claimed Takeoff “affected the whole globe” and “helped define trap music,” noting that Takeoff was “extremely proud” of what his rap group accomplished.
The late-night host also gushed about his own memories with Takeoff, saying, “I got to spend some unforgettable moments with Takeoff over the past few years. He was an incredible guy, warm and generous. Whenever I’d see him, he’d always call me ‘Big Drip,’ and he knew how much I loved that. And I loved being around him and every member of Migos.”
He ended the message by saying, “Our thoughts are with his family and all of his friends. We have lost someone incredibly special today.”
Migos has made many appearances on The Late Late Show in recent years. The group’s most notable visit was in 2018, when they joined Corden for a humorous Carpool Karaoke session.
Takeoff, whose true name is Kirshnik Khari Ball, was killed in a gunshot in Houston, Texas, early Tuesday morning.
Migos’ label, Quality Control, released a statement on Tuesday, saying, “It is with broken hearts and deep sadness that we mourn the loss of our beloved brother [Kirshnik] Khari Ball, known to the world as Takeoff. Senseless violence and a stray bullet has taken another life from this world and we are devastated.”