Virgil Abloh (September 30, 1980 – November 28, 2021) was an American creative designer and DJ best known as the founder of the Milan-based fashion label Off-White, as well as the Creative Director for Louis Vuitton’s menswear line. He served as the art director for Jay-Z and Kanye West’s joint 2011 album Watch the Throne, which received a Grammy nomination for Best Recording Package.

Before launching Off-White in 2014, Abloh founded a streetwear label called Pyrex Vision in Chicago, IL in 2012, then shut it down the next year. He also joined forces with several DJs to design streetwear pieces for the brand Been Trill, which was discontinued in 2015.

In addition to being a DJ, Abloh worked on music videos for songs like Lil Uzi Vert’s 2017 hit “XO Tour Llif3” and Pop Smoke’s 2020 track “Shake The Room.” He also appeared on Lupe Fiasco and Kaelin Ellis' “SHOES,” contributing a spoken interlude. Throughout his career, he received praise and acknowledgement for influencing hip-hop even without being a rapper.

On November 28, 2021, at the age of 41, it was announced that Abloh passed away after a long private battle with cardiac angiosarcoma.

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