The moment the cover art for Pop Smoke’s posthumous album Shoot For The Stars, Aim For The Moon was released, Twitter was incensed over Virgil Abloh’s design work. But according to 50 Cent, who’s helming the project, he had already told the late rapper’s manager Steven Victor the artwork wasn’t up to par.
In an Instagram post published Tuesday (June 30), the Power mogul announced new art was imminent while issuing a healthy “told you so” to Victor.
“Hey Virgil, we need new album art, they ain’t going for this bullshit,” he wrote. “Love ya work let’s get to it. Steven, i told you this shit was ewwww. let’s get it right!”
Hey Virgil we need new album art, they ain’t going for this bullshit. Love ya work let’s get to it. ?Steven i told you this shit was ?eww let’s get it right! #bransoncognac #lecheminduroi pic.twitter.com/mE24CtErto
— 50cent (@50cent) June 30, 2020
Victor addressed the Twitter backlash on Monday (June 29) with a simple “HEARD YOU” tweet. From there, he said “BRB” and “MAKING A CHANGE.”
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
The music manager added, “POP WOULD LISTEN TO HIS FANS.”
POP WOULD LISTEN TO HIS FANS ❗️
— Steven-San Victor (@StevenVictor) June 30, 2020
The criticism over Abloh’s cover art comes less than a month after he was slammed for a modest donation to protesters’ bail funds. But apparently it was Pop’s wish the famed designer would handle the job. Shoot For The Stars, Aim For The Moon is expected to arrive on Friday (July 3), so the new cover will presumably have to be revealed prior to that.
Twitter Deems Virgil Abloh’s Pop Smoke Cover Art Disrespectful
The 20-year-old Brooklyn rapper was fatally shot in February inside a Hollywood Hills rental. Investigators initially thought it was a home invasion, but they later surmised it was a targeted hit. His murder remains unsolved.
Shoot For The Stars, Aim For The Moon follows The Woo Vol. 2, which was released shortly before he died. The project featured collaborations with Quavo, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, Lil Tjay and Fivio Foreign.