Virgil Abloh Says His Cover Design Was Inspired by a Conversation with Pop Smoke

The first posthumous Pop Smoke album is set to drop on Friday and Virgil Abloh had the honor of doing the cover, but the fans think he fumbled. After the cover was destroyed on Twitter, Smoke’s manager Steven Victor said he will change the cover because the late rapper would listen to fans.

Now, Virgil has hit Instagram and revealed the inspiration for his design.

“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,” said Virgil. “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.”

Is that a good enough reason for you? Should his design be the cover art with these details? Let us know below.