The late fashion designer Virgil Abloh, who passed away on November 28, 2021 after a private battle with a rare form of cancer, was honored at Grammy Awards 2022. Memam calls him a “hip hop fashion designer,” and fans are taking issue with the discount label. Of course, hip-hop is one of the most influential genres in music history, and Abloh has certainly been friendly with a number of hip-hop artists and even designed artwork for them. Kanye West and JAY-Z’s “Watch The Throne” album. But that’s not all he did. As creative director of Off White, artistic director of menswear Louis Vuitton and creative director of Kanye West’s company Donda, Abloh’s contribution to the world is extraordinary and far-reaching – and that’s exactly why viewers feel a problem when he is put in the box.
When Tyler, The Creator won Best Rap Album of 2019, his speech pointed to the Recording Academy’s history in placing certain labels on Black artists. “It’s so bad that whenever we – and I mean guys like me – do anything genre-bending or whatever, they always categorize it as rap or urban. . I don’t like that word ‘urban’ – it’s just a politically correct way of saying it to me,” he said.
Now, Twitter users are comparing Tyler’s message – which Abloh retweeted in support at the time – and the Grammys 2022 tribute to Abloh. “I can never expect #Grammys to acknowledge exactly who Virgil Abloh is and continues to be. Anything done by someone Black is considered incorrect hip hop,” said one user. Written.
Perhaps the one who is more grateful than last night is BTS come on the red carpet in coordinating clothes from Abloh’s final product for Louis Vuitton. It was a stylish move that could have been expected, given the group’s close relationship with fashion housebut it is also intentional and to honor Abloh’s lasting impact.
Ahead, check out some of the reactions from the 2022 Grammys honoring Abloh.
