Kanye West dedicates Sunday Service to the late Louis Vuitton artistic director Virgil Abloh

Kanye West dedicates Sunday Service to the late Louis Vuitton artistic director Virgil Abloh
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Kanye West celebrated the life of the late Virgil Abloh by dedicating his Sunday Service to the Louis Vuitton artistic director.

Kanye and Virgil worked together for many years, dating back when they were interns for Fendi in 2009. Both grew up in Chicago, and Abloh previously served as a creative director for West. He designed the cover for Kanye and Jay-Z‘s 2011 album, Watch the Throne.

“In loving memory of Virgil Abloh, the creative director of Donda,” the screen read at the service, according to Billboard. As previously reported. Abloh passed away Sunday after a private two-year battle with cardiac angiosarcoma, a rare, aggressive form of cancer. He was 41.

A choir performed Adele‘s “Easy on Me” from her new 30 album, and added new lyrics in honor of Abloh.

In a reworked first verse, they sang: “I know your love flows like a river/ And I could wash myself in it forever/ I know there is hope in these waters/ But I can’t bring myself to swim/ When I am drowning in my sin.”

“Go easy on me, father,” Ye’s choir harmonized on the reworked “Easy on Me” chorus. “I am still your child/ And I need a chance to/ Feel your love around.”

Abloh, was the founder of fashion brand Off-White and the first African American to serve as artistic director for Louis Vuitton.

Numerous stars paid tribute to Abloh. Drake posted a photo of the two of them and commented. “My plan is to touch the sky 1000 more times for you. Love you eternally brother. Thank you for everything.”

Pharrell Williams wrote, “My heart is broken. Virgil you were a kind, generous, thoughtful, creative genius.”

“This is a devastating loss to culture and fashion,” posted Tracee Ellis Ross.

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