Quavo Meets with Kamala Harris, Brings Gun Violence Advocacy to Congress After Nephew Takeoff's Shooting Death (2024)

Quavois turning the trauma of losing his nephewTakeoff to gun violence last year into advocacy.

The Migos musician, 32, headed to Washington on Wednesday to meet with members of Congress to take a stand against gun violence, per the Associated Press.

“Music is storytelling and no one can tell my story better than me. For me and my family, the fight against gun violence is personal and not something we are going to forget,” Quavo told CNN in a statement. “We are coming to DC, bringing the voices of millions of families with us that have been hurt by this kind of violence.”

During his visit, Quavo met with several political leaders including Vice President Kamala Harris and discussed the issue during the Congressional Black Caucus legislative conference in Washington on Wednesday. He attended with his sister and Takeoff's mother, Titania Davenport.

“I feel like your calling comes at the least expected times,” he said, according tothe outlet. “You don’t think nothing is going to happen [to you]. I have to do something about it, so it won’t happen to the masses — especially in our culture. I don’t want this to happen to the next person. I want to knock down these percentages.”

On the panel, Quavo was joined byDemocratic Sen. Raphael Warnock, Rep. Lucy McBath — who lost her teenage son to gun violence — and Greg Jackson of the Community Justice Action Fund. According to the AP, "it was a solutions-oriented conversation on community intervention strategies, the battle with gun violence and the power in advocacy."

“We need to do better with the control of guns,” Quavo said, according to the AP. “We need to figure out how do we keep these types of incidents from happening to people going anywhere and thinking they can hurt somebody where it shouldn’t happen.”

He also revealed he found himself questioning “How do we use [guns] safely?” following Takeoff's death.

“And how do you keep them out of the hands of people that make bad decisions?” he added. “I’m kind of in a half-and-half place. Even police have guns. Unfortunately, some of the people in our culture and loved ones have been lost to police brutality. It’s all about choices and how we can put a filter on who can use these guns.”

Jackson, who was shot in 2013, praised Quavo for trying to create tangible change.

“His voice and commitment around community violence intervention could provide more resources for those who are most at risk,” said Jackson, whose Community Justice organization teamed up with Quavo for the panel.

Together, the "Nothing Changed" rapper and Jackson are trying to pass the Break the Cycle of Violence Act, "which would provide a $6.5 billion federal grant to communities to curb gun violence, create prevention programs, job training and workforce development for youths," per the AP.

This isn't Quavo's first time fighting against gun violence. Last year, he and his family honored Takeoff by creating the Rocket Foundationwhere he pledged $2 million for "community violence intervention." Per the AP, Quavo wants to "develop more after school programs in areas where community centers have been shut down and basketball goal rims were taken down."

But to enact change, he "needs resources."

“I feel like after going to the White House, I need resources,” he said. “I need a bag of goodies, so I can take back and say ‘Here, this is for the culture.’ We have that extension cord. We are plugged into that type of environment. I don’t think no one else in our stature is that connected. In order for things to change, we need resources.”

Takeoff, whose real name was Kirsnick Khari Ball, wasshot and killed outside the front door of a downtown bowling alley in Houstonin November 2022. He was 28.

Takeoff was at a private party with Quavo when an altercation broke out, but his uncle wasn't injured.

Patrick Xavier Clark, the suspectarrested late last yearforTakeoff's killing, was indicted on a murder charge by a grand jury in Texas in March and is currently awaiting trial.