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Frank Ocean

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Frank Ocean
Birth nameChristopher Breaux
Also known asChristopher Francis Ocean, Lonny Breaux
Born (1987-10-29) October 29, 1987 (age 36)
New Orleans, Louisiana, US
OriginNew Orleans, Louisiana, US
GenresContemporary R&B, alternative hip hop, hip hop soul, R-Neg-B
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, rapper
Instrument(s)Vocals, keyboards, guitar
Years active2007–present
LabelsOdd Future Records, Def Jam
Websitefrankocean.com

Christopher Francis Ocean (born Christopher Breaux; October 29, 1987), better known by his stage name Frank Ocean, is an American singer-songwriter from New Orleans, Louisiana. He attended John Ehret high school Ocean made an early career as a ghost-writer for artists such as Bridget Kelly and John Legend. In mid 2010 he became a member of OFWGKTA premiering on Domo Genesis' track, "SteamRoller". In February 2011, he released his debut mixtape Nostalgia, Ultra to critical acclaim. He released two singles; "Novacane" and "Swim Good". Both singles achieved chart success. Ocean went on a 7 show tour through North America and Europe promoting the mixtape.

The mixtape caught the interest of recording artists such as Kanye West, Beyoncé Knowles and Jay-Z, and he appeared on Watch the Throne. He wrote the popular track "Thinking About You" for Bridget Kelly. On January 5, 2012, the BBC announced that he had finished in second place in the BBC's Sound of 2012 poll.[1] Ocean is currently working on his debut studio album, set to be released in the first half of 2012, and will appear at Coachella 2012.

Sometime in 2010 he released a collection of 64 songs entitled The Lonny Breaux Collection, although little information is known as to whether the collection was released prior to Ocean joining Odd Future. It can be found for download on various sites on the internet.

Biography

2005-2010: Career beginnings

Ocean was 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.[2][3] 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.[3][4][5] In 2010, he changed his name from Christopher Breaux to Christopher Francis William Ocean via a legal website.[3]

2011-present

Ocean has written songs for John Legend, Brandy,[3] and Beyoncé Knowles ("I Miss You" from the album 4),[6][7] Ocean has also worked with Nas[8] (on whose 10th studio album Ocean is expected to feature, along with fellow Odd Future members Tyler, the Creator and Hodgy Beats)[9] and Pharrell Williams.[10] On February 18, 2011, Ocean released his first mixtape, Nostalgia, Ultra, to critical acclaim.[3][5] His music mostly focuses on interpersonal relationships, personal reflection and social commentary.[3] NPR's Andrew Noz calls Ocean's songwriting "smart and subtle...setting him apart from the pack."[11] Rolling Stone magazine's Jonah Weiner calls Ocean a "gifted avant-R&B smoothie".[12] In an April 2011 interview, Ocean stated that his relationship with Def Jam has strengthened since the release of his mixtape.[2]

Ocean appeared in Tyler, the Creator's music video for the single "She", from Tyler's 2011 studio album Goblin.[13][14] 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.[15] On May 19, 2011 Ocean's record label Def Jam announced its plans to re-release Nostalgia, Ultra as an EP.[16] 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.[17][18] 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.[19] Ocean was ultimately a writer and featured artist on the tracks "No Church in the Wild" and "Made in America".[20][21] On July 28, 2011 a song titled "Thinking About You"[22] was 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.[23] Kelly who has performed an acoustic version of the song, has renamed it "Thinking About Forever".[24] However on September 15, 2011 a music video directed by High5Collective for Ocean's version was released, yet the song ended up on Bridget Kelly's EP Every Girl.[25] His debut album is set for a release on Def Jam Records in Spring 2012.[26] On March 8, a re-mastered version of "Thinking About You" leaked, intended to be a single.[27]

Ocean used the entire melody 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.”[28] In early 2012, a suit was filed against Frank Ocean for the use of Hotel California.

Coldplay announced that for their European tour, Frank will be opening for a number of their shows.

Discography

Main article: Frank Ocean discography

Mixtapes

Albums

  • TBA (2012)

With OFWGKTA

Awards and nominations

Year Organisation Award Result
2012 mtvU Woodie Awards Woodie of the Year Pending
2011 GQ Magazine Rookie of the Year Nominated
2012 BBC Sound of 2012[1] Second
2012 Grammis International Album of the Year[29] Nominated

References

  1. ^ a b http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/soundof/2012/artists/frankocean/
  2. ^ a b Nadeska Alexis (2011-04-21). "Odd Future's Frank Ocean Does Not Make R&B - BlackBook". Blackbookmag.com. Retrieved 2011-04-28.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Baker, Ernest (MAR 18, 2011). "In His Own Words: Who is Frank Ocean?". Complex Magazine. Retrieved 28 April 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ Fennessey, Sean (March 23, 2011). "Love vs. Money: The Weeknd, Frank Ocean, and R&B's Future Shock". The Village Voice. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  5. ^ a b Meatto, Keith (March 15, 2011). "Swimming with Frank Ocean – A review of Nostalgia, ULTRA". FrontPsych.com. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  6. ^ "Frank Ocean in the Studio with Beyoncé". Complex. Retrieved 2011-04-28.
  7. ^ "Beyoncé - 4 (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 2011-06-24. Retrieved 2011-08-18.
  8. ^ "Nas Hits the Studio with Frank Ocean". Rap-Up.com. 2011-04-23. Retrieved 2011-04-28.
  9. ^ Markman, Rob (2011-04-29). "Nas Calls Odd Future's Frank Ocean 'New, Fresh' - Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV. Retrieved 2011-05-20.
  10. ^ Horowitz, Steven (May 2, 2011). "Pharrell In The Studio With OFWGKTA's Frank Ocean , he is married to Makaela Vallecillo http://twitter.com/#!/makfuckingkay". Hip Hop DX. Retrieved 3 May 2011. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  11. ^ Noz, Andrew (April 21, 2011). "Frank Ocean: Smart And Subtle R&B Songwriting". NPR. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  12. ^ By Jonah Weiner (2011-04-28). "The New Wu-Tang Clan: Odd Future | Rolling Stone Music". Rollingstone.com. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
  13. ^ "BTS: Tyler The Creator x Frank Ocean - 'She'". The Source. Retrieved 2011-04-28.
  14. ^ "On Set of Tyler, the Creator and Frank Ocean's 'She' Video". Rap-Up.com. 2010-10-18. Retrieved 2011-04-28.
  15. ^ "Frank Ocean Joining Odd Future For East Coast Tour! | News | Frank Ocean | Artists | Def Jam". Island Def Jam. 2011-04-27. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
  16. ^ "Def Jam To Rerelease Frank Ocean's 'Nostaliga, Ultra'". The Source. Retrieved 2011-05-20.
  17. ^ » by Danielle Canada May 19, 2011, 15:16pm. "Frank Ocean To Release "Nostalgia, Ultra" Mixtape In Stores " Hip-Hop Wired: Keeping You Informed With The Latest on Hip-Hop Culture, Rappers, Hip Hop News, Rap and Entertainment News, Black Politics, Video Vixens, Music Reviews and Urban Lifestyle…". Hiphopwired.com. Retrieved 2011-05-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ "Is nostalgia LITE still dropping 7/26?". 2011-07-24.
  19. ^ » by Mark Iraheta June 11, 2011, 12:43am. "Frank Ocean to Work With Kanye West & Jay-Z on "Watch The Throne"". Complex. Retrieved 2011-06-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  20. ^ "'Watch the Throne' Production Credits Revealed". Rap-Up.com. 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2011-08-18.
  21. ^ "JAY Z* & Kanye West - Watch The Throne (File, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 2011-08-12. Retrieved 2011-08-18.
  22. ^ "MP3: Bridget Kelly – Thinking About Forever - TheNext2Shine:Exclusive RNB Music Downloads". Blog.thenext2shine.com. Retrieved 2011-10-05.
  23. ^ "'Bridget Kelly – Thinking About Forever". 2DopeBoyz.com. 2011-09-15. Retrieved 2011-09-15.
  24. ^ "Bridget Kelly – Thinking About Forever (Acoustic Video)". 2DopeBoyz.com. 2011-09-15. Retrieved 2011-09-15.
  25. ^ "Frank Ocean – Thinking Of You (Video)". 2DopeBoyz.com. 2011-09-15. Retrieved 2011-09-15.
  26. ^ "Frank Ocean's Debut Album Due On Def Jam This Spring". mtv.com. 2012-01-16. Retrieved 2012-02-18.
  27. ^ "Frank Ocean - Thinking About You". cloudmusiq.com. 2012-03-08. Retrieved 2012-03-08.
  28. ^ Did R&B singer steal entire melody of 'Hotel California'?
  29. ^ "Grammi Nominees 2012". Grammis.ca. January 14, 2011. Retrieved 2011-11-16.

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