Virgil Abloh-Designed Cover for Pop Smoke's Posthumous Album Scrapped After Backlash

Shortly after Virgil Abloh revealed the cover he designed for Pop Smoke‘s debut album, fan backlash has forced the Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon artwork to be scrapped. Fans on social media have questioned the quality of the work, noting the aesthetic elements and overall design.

Virgil’s now removed Instagram post read, “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. 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. As evidence of the whole idea, the t-shirt insinuates it’s mandatory we put an and to this cycle of violence that plagues us, we need to shoot for the moon & aim for the stars. As heavy as it is we are celebrating your life the whole way thru. ⁣⁣Rest in peace young one.”

Steven Victor of the Victor Victor label recently responded to the backlash with “Making a change,” to announce that they would be changing the cover. Adding simply, “Pop would listen to his fans.” Victor reiterated his Tweets and noted that a new cover artwork will be ready for the release of Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon set for July 3.

Check out the scrapped Virgil Abloh-designed cover for Pop Smoke’s upcoming posthumous album above.

H E A R D YOU

— Steven-San Victor (@StevenVictor) June 30, 2020

B R B

— Steven-San Victor (@StevenVictor) June 30, 2020

MAKING A CHANGE

— Steven-San Victor (@StevenVictor) June 30, 2020

POP WOULD LISTEN TO HIS FANS ❗️

— Steven-San Victor (@StevenVictor) June 30, 2020

our last conversation brought to life, rest easy POP Smoke 🙏🏾✨ ~ every Rose has its thorns… even the one from the concrete in Canarsie… pic.twitter.com/FKDXc8QUNR

— virgil abloh (@virgilabloh) June 30, 2020