Nas opened up about Takeoff’s passing at the launch party for his new album, Illness of King III.
The New York rapper joined many other members of the Hip-Hop community to offer his condolences to the family before issuing some words of wisdom.
“I have to say Rest in Peace to Takeoff,” Nas began before adding, “We’re trying to tell these people here, man, that we’re here for a purpose. We can’t destroy each other for b#### ###. Look at these little brothers and be like don’t shoot; don’t waste your life. It’s not worth it. There’s something to live for, something to be here for.
Nas then urged listeners to understand their purpose.
“All that hard ### s is cool when you grow up, but we have to learn that we’re here for a purpose, and there’s a design that’s there to make sure we don’t grow, to make sure that we’re not going to make it,” he said. “And we have to recognize that there’s something trying to stop the youth of the neighborhood from growing up for their own purpose.” Listen to Nas below.
Takeoff’s life was tragically cut short after he was fatally shot in a bowling alley in Houston earlier this month.
On Friday, Nov. 11, his peers celebrated his life alongside the rapper’s friends and family during a memorial service at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
Justin Bieber performed in front of the crowd which included Gucci Mane, City Girls JT and Yung Miami, YG, Lil Yachty, Teyana Taylor and Russell Simmons. Drake also gave a speech before TakeOff’s Uncle Quavo and Cousin Offset addressed the audience, speaking for the first time since the rapper’s death.
Nas speaks after Takeoff’s death
