After the extremely tragic and untimely death of Virgil Abloh at age 41 this Sunday, the hip-hop and fashion worlds are reeling over the loss of such a monumental talent. Kanye West dedicated his latest Sunday Service to his long-time collaborator, and artists like Tyler The Creator have already praised Virgil’s influence on them, and though he barely posts on social media at all anymore, Frank Ocean has also poured out his heart honoring the late designer on Instagram today.
As usual, there’s no one better at putting the most important things into words than Frank, so I’ll let his words speak on their own.
“In 2018 I believe it was I called V and asked him how it was possible to play hundreds of shows a year and do numerous fashion collections a year and be a father and a husband and return EVERYONE’s texts with enthusiasm and emojis and encouragement and seemingly with ease. I cannot remember how he responded verbatim but I’m sure it was quotable what ever he said… he was always quotable. But the gist of his response was that he was interested in living and living to the maximum extent of his level … which proved to be impossible today because he was BEYOND.
I’ll miss you. When Ryan went to his prom you got him some pieces from your new collection at LV and he was GEEKED. Couldn’t get him to take it off. When I went to Miami and you played a set on the beach in 2016 you played “White Ferrari” — a song with no drums or bass anywhere to be found lol — and started a sing a long. When I played you demos of shit I was working on or showed you Homer way before it was ready you put the battery in my back. When my brother passed I never said anything because it was way too much but he loved you and really looked up to you. He was going to fashion school and everything. He wanted to be a designer. My family was proud of you like you were our family. I know grief is love that you don’t get to express so this is an attempt at expressing it. Love you V. You’re a hero.”
Check out the post from the @blonded Instagram story below:
