Frank Ocean Shares Moving Tribute to 'Hero' Virgil Abloh: 'You Were Our Family'

Frank Ocean has shared a moving tribute to his "hero" Virgil Abloh after the fashion designer passed away this week.

The fashion visionary died from an aggressive form of cancer at the age of 41 after being diagnosed in 2019.

The sudden passing of the Louis Vuitton artistic director and founder of the Off-White fashion label has left the fashion industry reeling as numerous high-profile figures pay tribute to Abloh's life and talent.

Among the fashion names paying tribute are a number of celebrities from other industries as Abloh's influence was felt across the entire spectrum of pop culture in recent years.

Singer Frank Ocean penned a heartfelt tribute to his late friend who he said inspired and helped him creatively and was also a hero to his younger brother, Ryan, who passed away in a car crash last year at just 18 years old.

"In 2018 I believe it was I called V and asked him how it was possible to play hundreds of shows a year and do numerous fashion collections a year and be a father and a husband and return EVERYONE's texts with enthusiasm and emojis and encouragement and seemingly.. with ease," Ocean began in a statement posted to his Instagram story.

"I cannot remember how he responded verbatim but I'm sure it was quotable whatever he said," Ocean continued. "He was always quotable. But the gist of his response was that he was interested in living and living to the maximum extent of his level... which proved to be Impossible today because he was BEYOND."

Ocean continued: "When Ryan went to his prom you got him some pieces from your new collection at LV and he was GEEKed. Couldn't get him to take it off," Ocean wrote.

The "Thinkin Bout You" hitmaker went on to write: "When my brother passed I never said anything because it was way too much but he loved you and really looked up to you. He was going to fashion school and everything. He wanted to be a designer."

Ocean then spoke of Abloh's help with his 2016 album, "Blonde" and the launch of his new company, Homer.

"When I went to Miami and you played a set on the beach in 2016 you played 'White Ferrari'—a song with no drums or bars anywhere to be found lol—and started a sing-along," he wrote. "When I played demos of shit I was working on or showed you Homer way before it was ready you put the battery in my back."

Ocean concluded his tribute with: "My fam was proud of you like you were our family.

"I know grief is love that you don't get to express so is an attempt at expressing it. Love you V. You're a hero."