What Does Virgil Mean In Rap? (Explained!)

A “Virgil” in rap refers to a unit of 50 of something, usually $50. This comes from the late Virgil Abloh, a fashion designer and entrepreneur who drew criticism during the 2020 BLM protests by posting a screenshot showing he had donated only $50 to an art collective for protestors legal funds.

While Abloh went on to show that he had made much more than this $50 donation, many felt that due to his wealth, his donation and public posting of it were insulting as he could have been doing so much more.

Whatever you may think about this particular incident and the person, this is where the term “Virgil” meaning $50 comes from in rap.

Let’s find out more.

What does Virgil stand for in rap?

“Virgil” is a slang term used in rap that refers to a unit of 50, typically of $50.

This is based on a complex series of events that occurred around the fashion designer Virgil Abloh, but we will get more into the details of that shortly.

In terms of how the term is used, it can be both a slang word used in rap songs and just a slang term used in general conversation.

Among many black Americans, it does not even have anything to do with rap—it’s just a widespread slang term referring to $50.

Even many of those who are not aware of the original story still use the term. “I only have a virgil left in my bank,” for example.

You might even refer to multiples of 50 as “virgils”.

It can more broadly be used just as a unit of 50 in any context where you might use figures.

This could be in measurements, amounts of things, or just about anything.

Again, though, most commonly it is used in the context of money, and the vast majority of people exclusively use it this way.

We will see why shortly.

This is a term used across the United States by all demographics to some extent, though it is much more commonly used among black communities.

It isn’t very commonly used outside of the U.S., and indeed it is perhaps just as common in day-to-day slang speech among certain subsets of the population as it is in rap specifically.

Many rappers do use the term, but this arises out of a general sense of the slang rather than specifically as a rap slang term.

Where does this term come from, then?

Where does “Virgil” come from in rap?

There is a very specific story that is the origin of this slang phrase, both in the way it is used generally and the way it is used in rap.

As mentioned, Virgil Abloh was a black American fashion designer and entrepreneur, indeed one of the most repsected and well-known designers of his time.

He tragically passed away in November of 2021 at the age of only 41.

In 2020, huge protests broke out in the United States over the murder of George Floyd.

These protests resulted in mass arrests across the country.

Many funds were set up by charitable and independent organisations to help pay the legal costs, such as bail fees, of those arrested.

Around this time, Abloh posted a screenshot showing a donation he had made of $50 to an art collective called (F)empower, which was taking donations to help the legal costs of arrested protesters.

This drew immediate criticism as many felt that Abloh, wealthy as he was, was merely making a token donation when he was one person who could have helped a great deal more.

He went on to say that he had in fact made donations totaling over $20,000 and that he would continue to donate as things went on.

Some suggested he had merely donated more in response to the backlash.

In any case, he became known for what many saw as a tiny donation, and so his name came to mean $50.

Is Virgil Abloh a rapper?

Virgil Abloh was not a rapper. He was primarily a fashion designer, though he had also been a DJ since he was young.

He enjoyed DJing and mixing music for performances, but he himself was not a rapper.

The reason that “Virgil” has been taken up by rappers to such an extent is that rappers, in particular, are often so close to these kinds of social issues, and so it became heavily associated with rap.  

Is “Virgil” an insult in rap?

Virgil isn’t really used as an insult in rap in the sense that when you say it to another person you are insulting them. however, most would generally agree that it is meant to be something of an insult against Virgil Abloh himself—however bad taste you may feel that to be in since his untimely death in 2021.

Sometimes, though, it may be used as an insult in cases where someone feels $50 is not a sufficient amount of money for the given context.

Naturally, there are many situations where this might be the case, and in such a case, Virgil may be used as an insult.

It’s a somewhat complex topic, then.

Many felt that Abloh was rightfully criticized for doing much less than was needed to help and then simply doing more once people criticized him.

On the other hand, many feel that it is pointless to criticize those who are just trying to help.

Either way, the term has become more or less cemented in rap as a slang term for $50 with a slightly tongue-in-cheek sense.

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