LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥 Migos rapper Quavo has released his second solo album, 鈥淩ocket Power,鈥 a lively and powerful tribute to his late bandmate and nephew Takeoff.
It is Quavo's first full-length release since outside a private party at a downtown Houston bowling alley in 2022. The pair join forces on the tracks 鈥淧atty Cake鈥 and 鈥淏ack Where It Begins,鈥 released Friday. The latter also features Future.
Young Thug, Babydrill, Hunxho are also featured on 鈥淩ocket Power.鈥
Many of the tracks serve as homages to Takeoff. On 鈥淧atty Cake,鈥 Quavo raps, 鈥淢e and Take pop up like a date / 鈥楥ause we go together anyway / Unc鈥 and 鈥榩hew stickin鈥 like glue / It鈥檚 some dogs runnin鈥 on the loose.鈥
In 2022, Quavo and Takeoff released a collaborative album under the moniker Unc & Phew, a reflection of their close familial bond, without the third Migos member Offset. It was titled
鈥淚 call him twin 鈥檆ause that be my brother," Takeoff rapped about his uncle Quavo on the track
That closeness is felt throughout 鈥淩ocket Power," and the second half of the title track might be the most affecting moment of all. In the final verse, the trap production drops, making way for simple balladic moment. 鈥淢ama, I can鈥檛 sleep / I lost my bro, aw, this just a dream / Eternal nightmares / I don鈥檛 know 鈥檅out how we got here / I wan鈥 go far, but I don鈥檛 know where,鈥 Quavo sings. "But when I go, I ain鈥檛 got no fear / I bet my nephew gon鈥 be right there / I see my niece and nephew cry tears / I told 鈥榚m, 鈥淲ipe your eyes 鈥榗ause unc鈥 here.鈥
It's a potent meditation on grief 鈥 steps of depression, denial, and acceptance rolled into a few seconds. For listeners, it is an emotionality amplified by the fact that this is the sound of Quavo in the studio for the first time since losing both a family member and his closest collaborator.
But would it be a Quavo release if it didn't end on an empowering note? The closer 鈥淕reatness鈥 is a horn-led celebration. 鈥淭his how legends was born / Greatness / I couldn鈥檛 do it without the greatest group in the world / Hmm, greatness / I couldn鈥檛 do it without the greatest nephew in the world,鈥 he raps.
鈥淩ocket Power,鈥 was scheduled to be released two weeks ago, but was delayed to 鈥渞un some more tests before the rocket is ready to launch,鈥 Quavo
Little was known about the album prior to its release. In late May, Quavo teased 鈥淩ocket Power鈥 , 鈥淭his album is for the Rocket our true fans and also this is my therapy. This is album is a true reflection of how I feel right now. Sometimes I鈥檓 Good, sometimes I鈥檓 Down, sometimes I鈥檓 Disappointed, sometimes I fall apart but then I ALWAYS find my strength again.鈥
Takeoff's sole solo album prior to his death, released in 2018, was titled 鈥淭he Last Rocket.鈥
鈥淩ocket Power鈥 follows Quavo's solo debut album, 2018's
In June, Quavo and Migos' made their first major public appearance following Takeoff's death at the . Performing their biggest hit, 鈥淏ad and Boujee,鈥 the duo shouted 鈥淏ET, do it for Take,鈥 near the beginning of their set, as their backdrop switched from the image of a space shuttle to one of Takeoff pointing in the air.
