Westside Gunn paid tribute to his friend and collaborator, Virgil Abloh during his Art Basel debut. Acording to Billboard, FlyGod, the Griselda rapper’s inaugural art exhibit, featured works of art dedicated to Miami legends like DJ Khaled, Trick Daddy, Uncle Luke and Maison Margiela owner Renzo Russo as well as paintings of his favorite rapper Young Dolph and LeBron James. A video of the late designer, with whom he built a close relationship over the years, was also displayed in his honor.
“Virgil was one of those guys that was like a true brother to me behind the scenes. He’s the one who got me to go to Paris in the first place — I had never even left the country, bro. The reason why I went to Paris is because of Virgil,” Gunn explained. “Virgil played my song at the Off-White show. Virgil dressed me for fashion week. Just the inspiration from all of that, I went to the studio and made the first half of Pray For Paris in Paris, because it started as an EP. So the Pray For Paris was made in Paris, and it was all because of Virgil. He did the cover. All that.”
Unfortunately, the Off-White designer passed away after a private two-year battle with an aggressive and rare form of cancer. Aside from honoring Abloh amid his Art Basel debut, Gunn penned a tribute to the fashion icon, who was one of his greatest inspirations in life.
“I love u Bro,” the Flygod rapper wrote on Instagram.”I wanna say so much but I don’t think I could right now. I recently showed u this painting I had @itsmariel paint of u as one of the biggest inspirations ever in my life which is now priceless. Ppl think they know me, but they really don’t. This was my fuckin family right here. We grew a beautiful bond I’ll never forget. A true ICON.”
See his IG tribute below.