Painter paints mural of Migos rapper Takeoff, gives out copies of drawings

ATLANTA — People are still paying their respects to Atlanta rapper Takeoff, who was recently shot and killed. A local artist created a mural of the rapper, a member of the group Migos. People stopped by the mural hours after his celebration of life at State Farm Arena.

One by one, fans of Takeoff stopped by the mural on the Beltline in Old Fourth Ward, to pay their respects.

Some fans were in tears, while others just stood in silence as they said goodbye.

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“Culture, especially Atlanta culture. When Migos first came out, they definitely changed the scene,” said Ashley Blake.

Blake is among the many Takeoff fans who stopped by on Friday. She couldn’t get a ticket to the service at State Farm Arena, so she said this is the next best thing. “Me and my sister just came down here in our way of showing respect for him,” she said.

Many fans did the same thing, but it was the details of the mural that caught the attention of everyone who stopped by.

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“Honestly, it’s something for the city,” said artist Armondo Monoletti, who created the painting.

He said he had to do something for Takeoff when he found out the rapper was shot and killed in Houston, “I knew immediately as soon as it happened that I need to go put something up, so people can come and pay their respects.”

For those who could not make the service, the artist gave out 50 free samples of the drawing. He told Channel 2′s Larry Spruill that this is his way of giving back. “I just wanted something for everybody to have a piece of him.”

It’s a piece of Takeoff he hopes will provide a piece of comfort to those who loved him. “It’s a warm feeling that people love it. It’s for the people. It’s not for me, it’s for him,” said Monoletti.

Monoletti said it took him four hours to complete the mural. As for the samples, he gave out all 50 copies.

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