Theophilus London – Tribes feat @JesseBoykins3rd (prod. @Brodinski) cover by @KarlLagerfeld @TheophilusL #NYFW

The single features artwork shot by legendary designer, artist and photographer Karl Lagerfeld who has art directed and photographed all photos for the upcoming release. The two linked up in Paris earlier this year to put the cover together.

“I met Karl maybe three years ago,” London said, explaining that Lagerfeld had asked to photograph him for his 2012 book with Carine Roitfeld, “The Little Black Jacket: Chanel’s Classic Revisited” where the two became friendly enough for London to ask him to work on the art for his sophomore album. “[My agent] called me with Karl on speaker and Karl was like, ‘Yes, I’ll shoot your cover.’ I was freaking out, screaming. I was like a kid. I’ve always admired him. He’s a genius in so many different ways.”

After nearly missing his flight because of a passport fiasco and a snowstorm in New York, London barely made it to Lagerfeld’s photo studio in Paris. “His whole schedule is booked up for the next three years and he was only free for two hours, so we made it work. He brought all the ideas to the shoot. His handwriting is even on the cover.”