Applaud West for winning Grammy’s Rap Album of the Year award three times, and he’ll only point out that he’s been unfairly shut out for the big prize, overall album of the year, on as many occasions.Īnd so this famously unsatisfied, irrepressible and often insufferable temperament, fresh off a trilogy of albums likely to be remembered as some of the most innovative and endearing in the history of hip-hop, has produced 2008’s biggest musical conundrum, the hurried and ill-conceived Auto-Tune experiment 808s & Heartbreak. In West’s world, each success is overshadowed by a disappointment imagined larger than it actually is, and every artistic breakthrough is only a stepping stone to something even more coherent, polished and universal.
From the very beginning he has shown an utter disdain for running victory laps or patting himself on the back. If such an instant of self-congratulation has existed for West, though, we’ll probably never know about it. Date it early (the out-of-nowhere ubiquity of The College Dropout) or late ( Graduation’s dominance of 50 Cent’s Curtis during the first-week sales showdown of last fall) at some point West has to have rested on his Luis Vuitton-labeled laurels for at least a millisecond and savored the fact that his singular styles of production and emceeing, not to mention dressing, have left irreplaceable impressions on hip-hop as well as the culture at large.
We thank you all for your love and support, and we ask for privacy as we grieve and celebrate Virgil’s life.There must have been a moment when Kanye West was actually content with being the most potent and essential personality in hip-hop. He often said, “Everything I do is for the 17-year-old version of myself,” believing deeply in the power of art to inspire future generations. Virgil was driven by his dedication to his craft and to his mission to open doors for others and create pathways for greater equality in art and design. Through it all, his work ethic, infinite curiosity, and optimism never wavered. He chose to endure his battle privately since his diagnosis in 2019, undergoing numerous challenging treatments, all while helming several significant institutions that span fashion, art, and culture. For over two years, Virgil valiantly battled a rare, aggressive form of cancer, cardiac angiosarcoma. He is survived by his loving wife Shannon Abloh, his children Lowe Abloh and Grey Abloh, his sister Edwina Abloh, his parents Nee and Eunice Abloh, and numerous dear friends and colleagues. "We are devastated to announce the passing of our beloved Virgil Abloh, a fiercely devoted father, husband, son, brother, and friend.
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