Without You (Quavo song)

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"Without You"
Single by Quavo
ReleasedJanuary 4, 2023
GenreGospel
Length4:10
Producer(s)
  • Zaytoven
  • Mike Dean
  • Elyas
  • Eugene

"Without You" is a song by American rapper Quavo. It was released on January 4, 2023, as a standalone single. The song is a tribute to Quavo's nephew and fellow Migos rapper Takeoff who was shot and killed on November 1, 2022.

Background[change | change source]

On November 1, 2022, Migos rapper Takeoff was shot and killed at the age of 28 during a party with about 40 to 50 people at a bowling alley in downtown Houston where he and fellow Migos member Quavo were at. According to the police, there was a fight over a "lucrative" game of dice, but Takeoff was just "an innocent bystander" and not involved.[1] After Takeoff's memorial ceremony in Atlanta on November 11, 2022, Quavo wrote a post in which he recalled their shared childhood collecting WWE action figures and Takeoff's love of music.[1]

Less than a month before his murder, Takeoff and Quavo released their first collaborative album, Only Built For Infinity Links, which was released in October 2022 under their group name Unc & Phew.[2] On January 4, 2023, Quavo released "Without You" as a standalone single with the message "Long Live Take Infinity" on social media.[3][4][5][6] It was not made available on streaming services.[7] "Without You" was Quavo's first song to be released since Takeoff's death.[4] The song was produced by The Zaytoven, Mike Dean, Elyas, and Eugene.[8]

Music and lyrics[change | change source]

Musically, "Without You" is a gospel track.[9] Jordan Darville for The Fader said the song is a "raw transmission of the memories, regrets, and hopes that have been swarming through Quavo's mind since Takeoff's passing".[10] Grant Rindner of GQ described "Without You" as a "slow, pensive" track that was a "departure from the usual musical style of Quavo and Migos".[7] Alex Hudson for Exclaim! said the song is a "soulful expression of loss".[11] Aron A. of HotNewHipHop said that Quavo "delves into his auto-tuned harmonies for a heartbreaking dedication over Murda Beatz’s production".[12]

The song begins begins with an intro from American rapper Vory.[4][9] Quavo sings using auto-tune over a reflective, minimal beat with melancholy production.[11][13][14][15] He sings about both the good and bad moments he had with Takeoff,[11][13] including "smoking big blunts", performing live at Coachella, and growing up in Atlanta's Northside together.[4][16] Quavo makes a promise that he will see Takeoff in heaven repeatedly throughout the song while singing over a gloomy guitar accompaniment.[2][11] He then sings about Only Built For Infinity Links and makes reference to Takeoff's mother's suffering due to her son's death.[9][7][17][18] He mentions that Takeoff's absence is felt most deeply around Christmas and birthdays, saying it greatly affected those who loved him.[2][19] Quavo later raps about wanting to bring Takeoff back on a time machine, but knows it is not possible.[19] Quavo ends the song by saying Takeoff's name in a long sigh before concluding, "Take, I'm sorry."[2][20]

Music video[change | change source]

On the same day as the single, a lyric video for "Without You" was made available.[5] The minimalist video was shot in one-take in black-and-white monochromatic and made in greyscale.[4][7][21] The lyric video shows Quavo as he sits in a chair in a music studio, smoking a blunt while his eyes are closed and lost in his thoughts.[4][21][22][23] His thoughts are expressed through lyrics that scroll across the bottom of the video.[21] The video ends with the song's lyrics written on a piece of paper with Takeoff's name on the side that is folded origami-style into a rocket ship that blasts out to space,[21][24][25] a tribute to Takeoff's rocket mantra.[26] Amber Corrine of Vibe magazine called the video "simple, yet poignant" and said it has "emotional raw footage".[21] Alli Patton of American Songwriter said the blunt Quavo was smoking was like a "votive candle to the late rapper".[27]

Reception[change | change source]

Patton called the song's beat "haunting".[27] Writing for HipHopDX, Andy Bustard called "Without You" a "tender, somber track".[4] Clash magazine described the song as a "profoundly moving experience, a naked exploration of sudden loss".[28] Gil Kaufman of Billboard stated that the track is a "somber homage and a tear-stained list of cherished memories".[9] The staff of TMZ claimed the song was "incredibly moving material".[26] Jack Irvin of People magazine called the track "an emotional tribute",[29] while Regina Cho for Revolt called it a "heartfelt offering".[30] Matt Moen for Paper magazine said the song was Quavo's "more somber offerings".[31] Sarah Kearn of Hypebeast called it a "moving new single".[32]

References[change | change source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Brisco, Elise (January 5, 2023). "Quavo releases new song 'Without You' to honor Takeoff after his death: Read full lyrics". USA Today. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Hosken, Patrick (January 5, 2023). "Quavo Celebrates His 'Angel' Takeoff In New Tribute Song 'Without You'". MTV. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  3. ↑ Pendleton, Tonya (January 5, 2023). "Quavo releases song 'Without You' in tribute to Takeoff". United Press International. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 Bustard, Andy (January 5, 2023). "Quavo Mourns Takeoff's Death On New Song 'Without You'". HipHopDX. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Pierre, Alphonse (January 5, 2023). "Migos' Quavo Shares New Takeoff Tribute Song 'Without You': Watch the Video". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  6. ↑ Graye, Megan (January 5, 2023). "Quavo releases 'Without You' track in tribute to Takeoff". The Independent. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Rindner, Grant (January 5, 2023). "Quavo Pays Tribute to Takeoff With Emotional New Song 'Without You'". GQ. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  8. ↑ Vernon Coleman II, C. (January 5, 2023). "Quavo 'Without You' Takeoff Tribute Song Lyrics". XXL. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Kaufman, Gil (January 5, 2023). "Quavo Pays Tribute to Takeoff on Emotional Single 'Without You'". Billboard. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  10. ↑ Darville, Jordan (January 5, 2023). "Quavo shares Takeoff tribute track 'Without You'". The Fader. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Hudson, Alex (January 5, 2023). "Quavo Shares Takeoff Tribute 'Without You'". Exclaim!. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  12. ↑ A., Aron (January 5, 2023). "Quavo Pays Tribute To Takeoff On 'Without You'". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Fu, Eddie (January 5, 2023). "Quavo Pays Tribute to Takeoff with New Song 'Without You': Stream". Consequence. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  14. ↑ Chelosky, Danielle (January 5, 2023). "Quavo Grieves Takeoff In His Powerful, Vulnerable New Song 'Without You'". Uproxx. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  15. ↑ Guy, Zoe (January 5, 2023). "Migos' Quavo Remembers Takeoff in Moving Tribute Song". Vulture. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  16. ↑ Romano, Nick (January 5, 2023). "Migos rapper Quavo releases heartbreaking Takeoff tribute song 'Without You'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  17. ↑ Krol, Charoltte (January 5, 2023). "Quavo shares emotional song in tribute to Takeoff, 'Without You'". NME. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  18. ↑ Madarang, Charisma (January 5, 2023). "Quavo Releases 'Without You' in Moving Tribute Song to Takeoff". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Del Rosario, Alexandra (January 5, 2023). "Quavo turns mourning into music in new Takeoff tribute: 'I'll see you again some day'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  20. ↑ Aswad, Jem (January 5, 2023). "Quavo Posts Heartbreaking Tribute Song to Takeoff, 'Without You'". Variety. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 Corrine, Amber (January 5, 2023). "Quavo Emotionally Tributes Takeoff In 'Without You' Music Video". Vibe. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  22. ↑ Maldonado, Daisy (January 5, 2023). "Quavo Honors Late Nephew Takeoff in Emotional New Song 'Without You'". E!. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  23. ↑ Respers France, Lisa (January 5, 2023). "Quavo releases moving Takeoff tribute song". CNN. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  24. ↑ McRady, Rachel (January 5, 2023). "Quavo Honors Takeoff in Moving Tribute Song 'Without You'". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  25. ↑ McRady, Rachel (January 5, 2023). "Quavo Honors Takeoff in Moving Tribute Song 'Without You'". Entertainment Tonight Canada. Archived from the original on January 5, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 "Quavo Spills Emotions On New Tribute Song". TMZ. January 5, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Patton, Alli (January 5, 2023). "Quavo Pens Heartbreaking 'Without You' in Honor of the Late Takeoff". American Songwriter. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  28. ↑ Murray, Robin (January 5, 2023). "Quavo Pays Tribute To Takeoff On Emotional Song 'Without You'". Clash. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  29. ↑ Irvin, Jack (January 5, 2023). "Quavo Releases Emotional New Song 'Without You' in Tribute to Late Fellow Migos Rapper Takeoff". People. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  30. ↑ Cho, Regina (January 5, 2023). "Quavo releases heartfelt 'Without You' tribute to Takeoff". Revolt. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  31. ↑ Moen, Matt (January 5, 2023). "Quavo Pays Tribute to Takeoff in 'Without You'". Paper. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  32. ↑ Kearns, Sarah (January 5, 2023). "Quavo Pays Tribute to Takeoff in Emotional Track 'Without You'". Hypebeast. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
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