Virgil Abloh Addresses Controversial Pop Smoke Cover

Fashion designer Virgil Abloh has defended his recently panned cover art for the upcoming posthumous Pop Smoke album.

“The last conversation I had with @realpopsmoke was about what we were gonna do in the future. This album cover was one of like 5 things we talked about. He mentioned his story felt like the metaphor of a rose & thorns growing from the concrete of his hood in Canarsie, Brooklyn. In your memory, I just finished it yesterday,” he explained.

After Smoke’s label unveiled the artwork, Twitter trashed the art, calling it “disrespectful” and demanding that it be changed. Steven Victor, the head of the late rapper’s album then issued a statement saying that they would be redesigning the cover.

 Victor tweeted they are “MAKING A CHANGE. B R B. H E A R D Y O U,” before offering up a lengthier response via Instagram.

“As pop’s label & as his friends/family, it is our obligation to bring his vision to life,” he wrote. “he wanted virgil to lead creative, we fulfilled his wishes however, unfortunately, he’s not here to give his final approval his fans, are. You know why you love pop your voices are loud and clear he loved his fans and listened to his fans.”