Migos first formed as a rap group in 2009, calling themselves Polo Club, but it wasn’t until they released their breakout single “Versace” in 2013 that the trio became household names. Together, Quavo, Offset, and Takeoff have helped changed the face of hip-hop in the mainstream thanks to hits such as “Bad and Boujee" and “MotorSport”, but the credit for their success isn’t down to any one member. Quavo, Offset, and Takeoff each add something different to the collective sound of Migos, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise to hear that they’ve all independently found success working away from the group too.
As it’s Quavo’s birthday, we’re shining the spotlight on him today by compiling a list of things that you probably didn’t know about the beloved rapper. However, even if you’re a diehard fan who enjoys stalking his social media accounts on the daily, you might be surprised still by some of the things that we’ve uncovered about Quavious Keyate Marshall.
1. He Almost Became a Football Player
In the same year that Migos was formed, Quavo still played football in high school and had a promising future in the world of sports. During his senior year at Berkmar High School, Quavo’s coach commended his ability as a starting quarterback and he went on to hold the record for most passes in one game. Despite his talent on the field, Quavo dropped out of school a few months before graduating, but has since showcased his athletic talents at the 2018 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, earning the honor of MVP, and at a celebrity flag football game over the weekend where he captained fellow rappers like Lil Yachty and 21 Savage.
2. He Has Had Multiple Run-ins With the Law
Most fans already know that each member of Migos was arrested during a concert in April 2015, charged with possession of narcotics, firearms, and marijuana. The majority of these charges were dropped and Quavo ended up just paying a fine for possession of marijuana, but Offset spent 8 months in prison. Since then, Quavo has also been accused of robbing a famous jeweler called Eric the Jeweler at a Grammys after-party, but it turns out that the Migos star is most embarrassed by a crime he admits to committing way back in the day when he was just 17. Even though he could have just paid for them, Quavo decided to steal from $12 socks from Macy’s to prove that he was “hot”, but has admitted since that he regrets the crime.
3. He's Also an Actor
During his acceptance speech at the 2017 Golden Globes, Donald Glover gave a shout out to Migos for recording the track “‘Bad and Boujee” which he described as “the best song ever.” It’s no coincidence that Glover thought of Migos at this moment, as Quavo appeared on his show Atlanta in the Season 1 episode “Go For Broke”. The young star might have played himself on the show, but Quavo still managed to steal every scene he’s in with some surprisingly impressive comic timing. While rap remains his first love, Quavo has started writing a movie script for Migos to star in and the trio also expressed interest in voicing the hyenas for Disney’s upcoming remake of The Lion King. Whether that works out or not, be prepared for big things from these guys in Hollywood.
4. He Was Named the Most Influential Rapper of 2014
Back in 2014, Migos hadn’t been on the scene for long, but that didn’t stop Complex from singling out Quavo as the most influential rapper of the year. While the outlet admits that Offset is typically seen as the best rapper of the group, Complex argued that Quavo is more influential because of his rhythmic patterns which helped popularize a new and distinctive flow in the mainstream. Since the release of “Versace”, notable artists such as Drake, Future and even Kanye West have all utilized the same distinctive triplet pattern that characterizes most of Quavo’s flow.
5. He Puts Family First
It’s no secret that each member of Migos is related in some way. Quavo and Offset are cousins while Takeoff is Quavo’s nephew, and the trio all grew up together in Atlanta under the same roof. No matter how successful they become though, each Migos star will always put family first. During an interview with New York Daily News, Quavo revealed that if he were to ever become President of the United States, then he would move his entire family into the White House on day one, presumably decked out in Versace gear.
6. He Owns Some Wild Accessories
Migos reportedly carry around some surprising accessories with them everywhere they go, including leather backpacks stuffed with cash, but Quavo in particular keeps some wild items in his luggage. Most notably, he owns a couple of chains that feature two of his favorite characters - Ratatouille’s Remy and Yoda from Star Wars - and he also keeps an extra T-shirt around him in case he makes a mess while eating. Who would have ever guessed that Quavo could be so practical?
7. He Has the Hots for Nicki Minaj
Quavo and Nicki Minaj recently collaborated on the track “She For Keeps” which was taken from Quality Control's compilation record Control the Streets Volume 1. In the promo, the pair share more than just food during a romantic visit to a ‘50s style diner. However, it turns out that the Atlanta rapper had his eye on Minaj long before then. Back in 2014, Quavo revealed to Complex that he had a crush on the “Super Bass” rapper, explaining how she looks “like she can control somebody.” The Migos star went on to describe Minaj in more detail and discuss his reasons for liking her, stating that: “I feel like she hood... I don’t like my girls chasing me and stuff like that. I like to be the dog.” While it’s hard to tell whether the two have ever dated in secret, it’s clear that Quavo still has a soft spot for Minaj, and he even tried to smooth over her beef with Cardi B.
8. His Favorite Rapper Is JAY-Z
Despite collaborating regularly to produce their own collective sound, each member of Migos favors a different rapper over the others. While Takeoff is mad for Kendrick Lamar and Offset is keen on André 3000, Quavo told NME that JAY-Z is “the greatest rapper right now.” After finding solo success with four Top 10 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, is there a chance that Quavo would ever strike out on his own like his rap hero? The ties between the Migos rappers are stronger than most thanks to their family roots, but we wouldn’t be surprised to hear Quavo move away from the group later down the line, channeling the energy fans have already heard in the likes of DJ Khaled's "I'm the One" and Post Malone's "Congratulations".
Read our review of Migos' 'Culture II' right here.
