Frank Ocean, the winner of two Grammy Awards and a Brit Award for the International male solo artist is an American singer, songwriter, and rapper. His mixtape releases Nostalgia and Ultra helped him secure a contract with Def Jam Recordings.
| Name | Frank Ocean |
|---|---|
| Birthdate | October 28, 1987 |
| Birthplace | Long Beach, California, USA |
| Birth Name | Christopher Edwin Breaux |
| Occupation | Singer, Songwriter, Rapper, Producer |
| Genres | R&B, Alternative R&B, Hip Hop, Soul |
| Labels | Def Jam, Boys Don’t Cry |
| Years Active | 2005 – Present |
| Associated Acts | Tyler, The Creator, Earl Sweatshirt, Jay Z, Beyoncé |
| Notable Projects | Nostalgia, Ultra (2011), Channel Orange (2012), Blonde (2016) |
| Awards | 4 Grammy Awards, 1 Brit Award, 2 BET Awards, 1 MTV Video Music Award |
| Notable Singles | “Novacane” (2011), “Thinkin Bout You” (2012), “Pyramids” (2012), “Nights” (2016) |
Frank Ocean, also known as Christopher Edwin Breaux, was raised by his mother after his parents divorced when he was six years old in Long Beach, California. Ryan Breaux, his younger brother, was killed in a vehicle accident in 2020. As a former heroin user who later served as a mentor at AA and NA meetings, Ocean’s grandfather, Lionel McGruder Jr., served as a father figure to him. He enrolled in the University of New Orleans after graduating from John Ehret High School but had to switch to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette since Hurricane Katrina destroyed his house and recording studio. Later, he left school to concentrate on his singing career.
Ocean moved to Los Angeles in 2006 and established himself as a songwriter under the name Lonny Breaux. Ocean wrote songs for well-known artists such as Beyonce, Brandy, and Justin Bieber. He joined the hip-hop collective Odd Future in 2009, and his friendship with Tyler, the Creator reinvigorated his songwriting. Ocean signed a writing contract with Def Jam Recordings but felt neglected by the label, so he released his critically acclaimed mixtape Nostalgia, Ultra in 2011, which focuses on personal reflection, interpersonal relationships, and social commentary.
Following the success of his mixtape, Frank strengthened his relationship with Def Jam and collaborated with Jay-Z and Kanye West on their album, Watch the Throne. He also appeared in Tyler, the Creator’s music video, and performed with Odd Future at Coachella. Def Jam announced plans to re-release Nostalgia, Ultra as an EP, and the single “Novacane” was released. Ocean’s song “Thinkin Bout You” which leaked on the internet, was originally a reference track for Roc Nation artist Bridget Kelly. The song had a music video directed by High5Collective and appeared on Kelly’s debut EP Every Girl.
According to Variety, Blink-182 and the DJ group Skrillex, Four Tet, and Fred Again took Frank Ocean’s spot as Coachella Weekend 2’s major headliner. After nearly ten years apart, Blink-182 shocked fans by performing with their original lineup again during Weekend 1. The band members expressed their joy and thanks for the chance to perform once more, including Tom DeLonge, who left the group in 2015 but returned in 2022. Skrillex, Four Tet, and Fred Again were named as Coachella’s Sunday night headliners on April 20.
Frank Ocean’s highly-anticipated headlining set at Coachella Festival 2023 was delayed by an hour and then cut short by the festival curfew, sparking disappointment among his fans. YouTube had earlier hinted that Frank’s set might be streamed, but then deleted the tweet and later confirmed that he was not scheduled to appear.
Fans who had queued for hours to get a spot at the barricade reported mixed reviews of the performance. Despite Frank paying tribute to his brother, who died in 2020, and performing a cover of “At Your Best (You Are Love)”, he was forced to end the set abruptly after being told of the curfew. On Monday, TMZ reported that Frank had injured his ankle before his set and had to change his production plans.
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