ASAP Rocky Honored With Virgil Abloh Award, Recalls Late Designer Recognizing Pre-Fame Crew as ‘Trendy Ones’

ASAP Rocky was honored with the Virgil Abloh Award at Harlem's Fashion Row's annual Fashion Show & Style Awards. During his acceptance speech at the Apollo, Rocky recounted how Virgil Abloh had discovered his crew before they gained fame.

Rocky mentioned that Abloh spotted them in SoHo when they were trying to get into a club but were too young. Abloh recognized them as the "trendy ones" from Harlem. This revelation surprised Rocky and his crew, as they hadn't realized that the fashion world knew about them.

A year later, Rocky collaborated with Abloh on his debut studio album, "Long. Live. ASAP," and its accompanying tour.

Rocky acknowledged the courage it takes to be a trendsetter and thanked Abloh for recognizing their potential.

The Virgil Abloh Award, which celebrates individuals who embody Virgil's spirit and contributions to culture, was presented by LVMH CEO Anish Melwani and LVMH North America Chief Human Resource Officer Gena Smith. Issa Rae was the inaugural recipient of this award last year.

Rocky is also preparing to release his upcoming album, which will be his first since 2018's "Testing."