The foundations of a hip-hop empire shook as J Prince Sr., a figure synonymous with unshakeable power, publicly crumbled under the weight of a single, searing statement about the night Takeoff was ki@@ed.
In a raw and emotional interview, the Rap-A-Lot Records founder placed the blame for the Migos rapper’s death squarely on one man, a decision that has ignited a firestorm of scrutiny as the accused murderer now retains Prince’s own former attorneys for his defense.
“I wish that bullet would have hit him instead of Takeoff because he was the one that deserved that,” Prince declared on the Million Dollaz Worth Of Game podcast, his voice heavy with grief and anger. The target of his fury was Willie Bland, an associate of Quavo’s, whom the Prince family alleges started the fatal chain of events.
Takeoff, born Kirsnick Khari Ball, was shot and killed in the early hours of November 1, 2022. The 28-year-old artist died outside a Houston bowling alley after a private party hosted by J Prince Jr. in honor of his own “J Prince Jr. Day” celebration by the city.
Houston police confirmed Takeoff was an innocent bystander, not involved in the dice game argument that sparked the violence. The shooting left two others injured and sent shockwaves through the music world.
For the Prince family, the tragedy was compounded by instant suspicion. A viral video clip showed J Prince Jr. walking past Takeoff’s body in the aftermath, a moment the family says was grossly mischaracterized. Online, conspiracy theories exploded, alleging everything from loaded dice scams to orchestrated hits.
J Prince Jr. addressed the clip directly, explaining he was heading to a restroom so his cousin, Mike Prince, could wash Takeoff’s blood from his hands. “They took 3 seconds of a situation… and turned it into what they wanted it,” he stated.
The official investigation moved separately from the social media frenzy. Patrick Xavier Clark was arrested and charged with murder on December 1, 2022. Prosecutors cited surveillance footage they say shows Clark firing a gun while holding a wine bottle, which was left at the scene.
Clark posted a $1 million bond in early 2023 and was released with an ankle monitor. His trial, after years of delays, is currently scheduled to begin in November 2026.
It was a legal maneuver earlier this year that supercharged the conspiracy theories. In March 2026, court records revealed Clark had hired a new defense team: attorneys Kent Schaffer, Anthony Osso, and Dan Cogdell.
Schaffer and Osso have represented J Prince Sr. in past high-profile matters. Their entry into the case created an immediate and glaring optics issue, fueling speculation of a hidden connection between the defendant and the powerful Houston family.
The question now haunting the court of public opinion is why the man accused of killing Takeoff at a Prince family event is being defended by the Prince family’s lawyers. For many online, this was perceived as confirmation of a deeper, more sinister narrative.
J Prince Sr. has spent years vehemently rejecting any family involvement. His lengthy Instagram post days after the shooting offered condolences while issuing a stark warning to the responsible party. On the podcast, his grief was palpable, particularly for Takeoff’s mother.
“To lose your child is a whole different… kind of pain,” he said, describing it as “unnatural.” He expressed unwavering love for Quavo but issued a pointed warning to Offset about public comments, revealing a man both mourning and fiercely defending his legacy.
The family’s core argument remains unchanged: Bland’s decision to punch someone at the dice game, despite allegedly knowing others were armed, was the “root” cause. Prince Sr. compared it to a bank robbery where responding police hit a bystander; the charge, he argued, lies with the robbers who created the dangerous situation.
“If he don’t make that move, then the night is everybody’s still here,” Prince Sr. said, painting a picture of a night meant for celebration, destroyed by one person’s actions.
Yet, the lawyer switch has cast a long shadow over this defense. It presents potential conflicts of interest and adds a layer of profound complexity to a case already burdened by celebrity, tragedy, and intense public speculation.
The upcoming trial of Patrick Xavier Clark will now be scrutinized not only for evidence of murder but also for any glimpse into the relationships and power dynamics that conspiracy theorists have dissected for years.
J Prince Sr.’s breakdown was a moment of human vulnerability from a figure who rarely shows it. His wish that a different man had been shot was a raw expression of a grief-stricken mentor. But in the harsh light of the ongoing legal saga, every word he has uttered is now being re-examined as something more strategic.
As the November 2026 trial date approaches, the hip-hop world watches, waiting for answers that might finally quiet the rumors or confirm its darkest suspicions. The truth of what happened that night will be decided in a Houston courtroom, but the battle over the narrative has been raging for years, and the Prince family remains at its center.