Quavo & Takeoff Hotel Lobby: Song and AI Trend
"Hotel Lobby (Unc & Phew)" is a 2022 single by Quavo and Takeoff, released on May 20, 2022 as the first single from their album Only Built for Infinity Links. The clip most people recreate in the 2026 "Hotel Lobby AI" trend is not the music video. It is the duo's performance for A COLORS SHOW, where they trade verses at one microphone in front of an orange backdrop. This guide covers who made the song, what the name means, and how the trend started. It also covers how to make your own version without pretending it is the original recording.
Who made "Hotel Lobby"
The song is credited to Unc & Phew, the duo name used by Quavo and Takeoff of Migos. Wikipedia lists the writers as Quavious Marshall (Quavo), Kirsnick Ball (Takeoff), Fabio Aguilar, Shane Lindstrom and Keanu Torres. Production came from Fabio Aguilar, Keanu Beats and Murda Beatz. The track runs 2 minutes 22 seconds and was released through Quality Control and Motown.
Musically it is a trap record, with the two rappers using a triplet flow over the beat. The single was later certified platinum in the United States by the RIAA. It arrived while there were rumors about a Migos breakup, and it introduced the duo as a separate act.
What "Unc & Phew" means
The name is a family reference. Quavo is Takeoff's uncle, so "Unc" is Quavo. "Phew" is the nickname for Takeoff, in the sense of a nephew. The two grew up together, and Takeoff was the youngest member of the Migos trio alongside Quavo and Offset.
Many fans search for the pair by the song title alone, which is why queries such as "quavo takeoff hotel lobby" and "quavo & takeoff - hotel lobby" are so common. If you see "Unc & Phew" in a caption, it points to this duo and this project, not to a separate group.
The album and the music video
Only Built for Infinity Links came out on October 7, 2022, and "Hotel Lobby" is track 3. It debuted at number 7 on the US Billboard 200. It is the only studio album by Unc & Phew, and it was the last project released during Takeoff's lifetime.
The official music video came out with the single on May 20, 2022. According to Wikipedia, it was directed by Keemotion and Quavo and pays homage to the 1998 film Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Quavo plays Raoul Duke and Takeoff plays Dr. Gonzo. That video is a separate thing from the COLORS clip that the trend uses.
Takeoff's death
Takeoff, born Kirsnick Khari Ball, died on November 1, 2022 in Houston, Texas, at age 28. He was shot outside a bowling alley after a private party. Police said they did not believe he was the intended target. This happened 25 days after the album was released, and the album climbed the Billboard 200 afterward.
Because of this, the song carries real weight for many listeners. Fans have said the trend feels different when you remember who is in the original footage. Anyone making their own version should treat the subject with respect and avoid jokes about his death.
The COLORS performance people recreate
Under the Unc & Phew name, Quavo and Takeoff recorded "Hotel Lobby" for A COLORS SHOW in 2022. The clip shows them standing against the show's orange backdrop and trading verses from the same microphone. COLORS first shared it in June 2022 and has reposted it several times since, including in 2025 and 2026.
The setup is simple: two people, one microphone, one plain background, and a lot of movement and lip-sync. That simplicity is exactly what makes it easy to copy. A format with two clear performers is also a good fit for face-swap and image-to-video tools.
How it became the 2026 "Hotel Lobby AI" trend
Complex reports that the trend gained traction in early September 2026 after videos of two cats recreating the performance went viral on TikTok. The format keeps the original movements, lip-sync and audio, and swaps the performers for other people, fictional characters or animals. Versions with public figures, TV characters and footballers followed, and the report said hundreds of thousands of versions were circulating by late September.
Creators used AI face-swap apps and CapCut templates, where you upload two images that get mapped onto the performance. On September 23, Quavo reposted the unaltered COLORS video and called it "The Original," saying they were viral again. Complex notes he has not publicly condemned the memes, while some fans have raised concerns about Takeoff's likeness, consent and copyright.
Make your own version with TapToVideo
If you want to join the trend with your own characters, you can use our Hotel Lobby AI video generator. It offers three modes: Duet, Solo and Pet duet. Videos are vertical 9:16, which suits TikTok and Instagram Reels. One generation costs 50 credits.
Please note what the tool does and does not do. It produces an original, AI-made backing track in a similar mood, and it does not use the real Quavo and Takeoff recording or their voices. If you want the original audio, use the official release or the COLORS upload on the platforms that license it. For a step by step walkthrough, read our guide on how to make a Hotel Lobby AI video. If you like the two-voice format in general, the AI rap duo video generator covers other duet ideas.
Credits are sold as one-time packs, and one HD video is $4.99. You can see the current options on the pricing page.
FAQ
Is "Hotel Lobby" by Quavo and Takeoff from Migos?
Yes. Quavo and Takeoff released it under the name Unc & Phew on May 20, 2022. It is the first single from their album Only Built for Infinity Links. Offset of Migos was not part of the project.
Which video is used in the Hotel Lobby AI trend?
The trend uses the A COLORS SHOW performance, not the Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas style music video. In it, the duo trade verses at one microphone in front of an orange backdrop. COLORS posted it in June 2022 and has reposted it since.
Does TapToVideo use the original song?
No. Our generator creates an original AI backing track and does not use the real recording. If you want the actual song, use the official release.
Can I use my own photos?
Our Hotel Lobby tool is built for your own characters and pets. Use only images you have the right to use, and avoid content that mocks or disrespects real people.