Who Is the Alpha-Migo?

Quavo, Offset, and Takeoff have all shined, but there can only be one alpha-dog

The most complicated aspect of the three-man hip-hop group has always been the delicate balance of skill between each member. No rap trio has achieved greatness without an established hierarchy comprised of an alpha-dog, sidekick, and third banana. For Run-DMC, it was Run (alpha-dog), DMC (sidekick), and Jam Master Jay (third banana); A Tribe Called Quest had Q-Tip (alpha-dog), Phife Dawg (sidekick), and Ali (third banana); Geto Boys, Scarface (alpha-dog), Bushwick Bill (sidekick), and Willie D (third banana).

The most famous rap group on the planet — Migos — is an exception to the rule. The Migos’ food chain has constantly changed throughout their rise, as each member of the Atlanta trio (Quavo, Offset, and Takeoff) has ascended to superstar status. In a way, the group draws comparisons to the Thunder’s Big Three (Durant-Westbrook-Harden) in the early-2010s.

In 2016, following a streak of stellar guest verses, Quavo, a la Durant circa 2010, became the group’s alpha-dog; later that year, “Bad and Boujee”, like Westbrook’s performance in Game 4 of the 2012 NBA Finals, solidified Offset’s superstar potential, before a heat-check during the second-half of 2017, much like Westbrook’s breakout season in 2013, placed Offset in…