Who Is Frank Ocean?

Biography

2005–2010: Career beginnings

Frank Ocean began his career with the producer duo The MIDI Mafia. Ocean joined Los Angeles-based hip hop collective OFWGKTA, whom he met through his connections, at the end of 2009. In late 2009, he met Tricky Stewart, who helped Ocean sign a contract with Def Jam Recordings as a solo artist, however, he was initially unable to build a relationship with the company. In 2010, he changed his name from Christopher Breaux to Christopher Francis William Ocean via a legal website.

2011–present: Nostalgia, Ultra and Channel Orange

Ocean has written songs for Justin Bieber, John Legend, Brandy, and Beyoncé Knowles  Ocean has also worked with Nas (on whose 10th studio album Ocean is expected to feature, along with fellow Odd Future members Tyler, the Creator and Hodgy Beats) and Pharrell Williams. On February 18, 2011, Ocean released his first mixtape, Nostalgia, Ultra, to critical acclaim. His music mostly focuses on interpersonal relationships, personal reflection and social commentary. NPR's Andrew Noz calls Ocean's songwriting "smart and subtle...setting him apart from the pack." Rolling Stone magazine's Jonah Weiner calls Ocean a "gifted avant-R&B smoothie". In an April 2011 interview, Ocean stated that his relationship with Def Jam has strengthened since the release of his mixtape.


Ocean appeared in Tyler, the Creator's music video for the single "She", from Tyler's second studio album Goblin (2011). Ocean first performed with Odd Future at the Coachella Music & Arts Festival in April 2011, then later joined his OFWGKTA bandmates for the first time on tour from May 12 to May 19, 2011. They toured the eastern seaboard of the United States. On May 19, 2011 Ocean's record label Def Jam announced its plans to re-release Nostalgia, Ultra as an EP. The single "Novacane" was released to iTunes on May 31, 2011, and the EP originally was set to be released on July 26, 2011, but through his Tumblr blog on July 24, he stated that it would not be released on that date. In June 2011, Ocean revealed on his Tumblr that he would be working on the upcoming Kanye West and Jay-Z collaborative album, Watch the Throne. Ocean was ultimately a writer and featured artist on the tracks "No Church in the Wild" and "Made in America".

On July 28, 2011, a song titled "Thinking About You" leaked on the internet. It was later revealed the song was a reference track and written for Roc Nation artist Bridget Kelly for her debut studio album. Kelly who has performed an acoustic version of the song, retitled the song "Thinking About Forever".

However, on September 15, 2011, a music video directed by High5Collective for Ocean's version was released, yet the song appeared on Bridget Kelly's debut EP Every Girl. His debut album is set for a release on Def Jam Records in Spring 2012. On March 8, 2012, a re-mastered version of "Thinking About You" leaked, intended to be a single. On April 5, Ocean released the cover art for his upcoming debut studio album's lead single "Thinkin Bout You", revealing the song would be released to digital retailers on April 10.

"It succinctly defines me as an artist for where I am right now and that was the aim," he said of the follow-up to the acclaimed Nostalgia, Ultra. "It’s about the stories. If I write 14 stories that I love, then the next step is to get the environment of music around it to best envelop the story and all kinds of sonic goodness."

Ocean used the entire melody and chords of The Eagles' song "Hotel California", without permission, on his own song, “American Wedding.” When asked about it, Ocean stated that Eagles band member "Don Henley is apparently intimidated by my rendition of 'Hotel California'. He threatened to sue if I perform it again." In response to Ocean's comments, The Eagles released a statement: “Frank Ocean did not merely 'sample' a portion of the Eagles’ 'Hotel California,' he took the whole master track, plus the song’s existing melody, and replaced the lyrics with his own. This is not creative, let alone 'intimidating.' It’s illegal." For the record, Don Henley has not threatened or instituted any legal action against Frank Ocean, although the Eagles are now considering whether they should.” In early 2012, a suit was filed against Frank Ocean for the use of Hotel California.

In March 2012, Coldplay announced that Ocean would perform as an opening act for a number of shows on their European tour in July and August 2012. On June 8, 2012, The song "Pyramids" was made available for download via Frank Ocean's Tumblr. The song is from the upcoming album Channel Orange.

Personal life

On July 3, 2012, Ocean published an open letter on his Tumblr blog revealing that he had fallen in love with a 19-year-old man in the summer of 2006 (when Ocean was also 19), only to realize, upon confessing his love for him, that the other man was already in a relationship. He used the blog to thank the man for his influence, and also thanked his mother and other friends, saying "I don't know what happens now, and that's alrite. I don't have any secrets I need kept anymore...I feel like a free man."^[36] In response, his friend Tyler, The Creator tweeted his support for Ocean, and business magnate Russell Simmons wrote a short congratulatory article in Global Grind saying "Today is a big day for hip-hop. It is a day that will define who we really are.

How compassionate will we be? How loving can we be? How inclusive are we? [...] Your decision to go public about your sexual orientation gives hope and light to so many young people still living in fear."

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