Frank Ocean, solo artist and member of the hip hop collective Odd Future, is not afraid to break the mold. Emerging as one of the newest and freshest faces in R&B, Frank just released his critically acclaimed album “nostalgia, Ultra” for free on his Tumblr and has worked with artists like Brandy and Justin Bieber. Now Frank is in the studio with none other than Beyonce.
Frank’s smooth vocals, slick soul beats and lyrics that are both funny and heartbreaking set him apart from his contemporaries and prove that inside and outside the studio, Frank emanates unmatched swagger, talent and musical vitality.
The 23-year-old New Orleans-bred singer stems from California’s own Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All (aka Odd Future), a young group that gets tongues wagging with their outrageous performances and raunchy lyrics. Yet Frank has attracted attention from the masses as a sensual crooner among the chaos. He already has inked a deal with Island Def Jam and appeared in The New York Times. But Frank is surprised at the overwhelmingly positive reaction to his music.
“The first thing that was shocking to me — as a person that grew up with the Internet and knowing how vicious people can be, especially when they are anonymous — early on, there was no hate,” Ocean told MTV, “There was nothing negative. Everything I was thinking about from the marketing prospective was as far as how to start a fire, because you don’t expect a response, because who the fuck am I? I’m just another guy putting out another collection of music and telling you to download this.”
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But Frank is not just another random guy. The refreshing thing about his music is that it is equal parts classic and rebellious. Frank melds old-school 808 beats with decidedly new school topics. On “Bitches Talkin,” Frank bemoans women who have no idea who Radiohead is, but always want to listen to Jodeci. On “There Will Never Be Tears” he explores his own feelings towards an absent father. The Odd Future website describes his record, “nostalgia, Ultra” as “Smooth Ass Music About B*tches, Relationships And Being A Rich Young Nigga…But In A Swagged Out Way.” A perfect and hilarious depiction.
People are responding to Frank’s music accordingly. On every YouTube rip of the “nostaglia” tracks, fans spout words of love, claiming he is their new favorite R&B artist. Beyonce has tapped Frank for a new project and Frank tweeted a photo of the two at work, “This is the room i’m working in this day. not to brag but man, this is surreal. like..she’s singing…” he tweeted. No word on whose project this will end up on, but we know it’s going to be good.
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With his hands in both hip-hop and R&B, people have compared Frank’s style to Drake, a fact that doesn’t bother him in the least. “I respect Drake as not only a creative person, but as a business mind as well,” he told Complex magazine, “I think Drake’s Important. The moral of the story is Drake’s ill, and I’m ill.”
With comparisons like those, Frank is on the right track. “My music definitely comes from a place of experience,” she says, “Everything connects to a truth. Heartbreak, I imagine has been the same emotion since the beginning of it all.” Frank sure does turn that heartbreak into some innovative, “future”-istic music.
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Frank Ocean is leading the new school class of R&B on the heels of his new album “nostalgia, Ultra.”
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Frank Ocean is leading the new school class of R&B on the heels of his new album “nostalgia, Ultra.”
