Frank Ocean

Frank Ocean

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Biography

Frank Ocean (born Christopher Breaux, 28.10.1987) Frank Ocean is an American R&B singer songwriter who rose to fame on the release of his debut album 'Channel Orange' which charted at number two in the US Billboard 200 in 2012.

Childhood: Frank Ocean was born in Long Beach, California but later moved to New Orleans, Louisiana when he was five. As a teenager he took up numerous small jobs in order to save money to record his music in a studio. He attended the University of New Orleans where he continued to record his music, even setting up his own studio. In 2005, following the disaster that was Hurricane Katrina, he found his recording studio had been looted and flooded.

Musical Career: Frank Ocean moved to LA after University where he signed a songwriting deal and subsequently became a ghost writer for artists such as Brandy, Justin Bieber and John Legend. In 2009 he became a member of the hip hop collective OFWGKTA (aka Odd Future) and released his critically acclaimed 'Nostalgia, Ultra' mixtape alongside charting singles 'Novacane' and 'Swim Good'. Soon after, he signed a deal with Def Jam recordings and legally changed his name to Christopher Francis Ocean inspired by 1960 movie 'Ocean's 11'. In 2011, he featured on Kanye West and Jay Z's 2011 album 'Watch The Throne' contributing on the tracks 'No Church in the Wild' and 'Made In America'. His debut album 'Channel Orange' came out in July 2012 a week earlier than had been announced. It debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200. It was promoted with three singles: 'Thinkin Bout You', 'Pyramids' and 'Sweet Life'. He came second in the BBC's Sound of 2012 poll and has performed at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival as well as Lollapalooza. He has collaborated with artists such as Nas, Pharrell Williams and Tyler, The Creator over his relatively short career. Frank Ocean: Personal Life Before the release of his album, Frank Ocean became one of the first African-American R&B artists to come out as having had homosexual relationships. He announced the fact in a blog on Tumblr thanking those who have stood by him for their support and commented: '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.' Frank Ocean: Legal Issues Frank Ocean sampled The Eagles' hit song 'Hotel California' for his track 'American Wedding' without asking the band's permission. Frank suggested the band felt 'intimidated' by his rendition but they retorted that what he did was illegal. Having initially not considered taking legal action, the band are rethinking their decision.



Biography by Contactmusic.com

Frank Ocean In Legal Battle With 'Blonde' Producer


Frank Ocean

Frank Ocean has entered into a legal battle with his former producer Om'Mas, whom he is suing for claiming songwriting rights to the singer's 2016 album 'Blonde'. It seems that despite a verbal agreement they had, the latter is refusing to acknowledge that he was not a co-writer on the album.

Frank Ocean at the Time 100 GalaFrank Ocean at the Time 100 Gala

The lawsuit that Frank has filed alleges that Om'Mas Keith - with his company Keith's Analog Genius Corporation -  attempted to register as a songwriter for the album with ASCAP on eleven album cuts despite a verbal agreement with Frank that he would not be co-writing on any of the songs.

Continue reading: Frank Ocean In Legal Battle With 'Blonde' Producer

Frank Ocean Enchants Fans With 'Moon River' Cover


Frank Ocean

Frank Ocean has unveiled a surprise contemporary cover of the pop standard 'Moon River' this week, and the internet has gone absolutely insane over it. Still, it's difficult to know what this release means for the rest of the year and whether or not it's one step closer to a new album.

Frank Ocean at Way Out West FestivalFrank Ocean at Way Out West Festival

The now iconic 30-year-old singer has just released his stunning rendition of the Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer penned tune 'Moon River', which was first performed by screen legend Audrey Hepburn in the 1961 film 'Breakfast at Tiffany's'. It has since been covered numerous times, notably by Andy Williams, but this is definitely the most unique variation we've heard yet.

Continue reading: Frank Ocean Enchants Fans With 'Moon River' Cover

Frank Ocean Is Sitting On A New Album


Frank Ocean

Frank Ocean has teased he has created a new album.

The 'Swim Good' hitmaker has admitted he finished making an LP ''before'' he turned 30 last month, but he has yet to release the compilation, although he has not given a reason why he has held back on unveiling his work.

Alongside a note posted on his Tumblr page, he wrote: ''In a note on his Tumblr page posted on Monday night. he wrote: 'I made the album before 30. I just aint put that b***h out. (sic).''

Continue reading: Frank Ocean Is Sitting On A New Album

Calvin Harris Joins Rihanna And Kendrick Lamar At Third Diamond Ball


Calvin Harris Taylor Swift Katy Perry Ariana Grande John Legend Snoop Dogg Nicki Minaj Frank Ocean

Calvin Harris has been confirmed to perform at Rihanna's third Diamnond Ball alongside Kendrick Lamar.

The superstar DJ - who collaborated with the Bejan beauty on hits 'This Is What You Came For' and 'We Found Love' - has signed up to the charity fundraiser taking place at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City on September 14 in aid of the Clara Lionel Foundation.

Rihanna said in a statement: ''I'm ecstatic to add my longtime collaborator and friend Calvin Harris to the stellar line-up at this year's Diamond Ball. Calvin's music will bring the perfect mix of energy and excitement to the evening as we celebrate the Clara Lionel Foundation.''

Continue reading: Calvin Harris Joins Rihanna And Kendrick Lamar At Third Diamond Ball

Parklife 2017 Preview


The Parklife Weekender Frank Ocean Anderson .Paak Fatboy Slim The 1975

Parklife, brings some serious class and style to the amazing city of Manchester, whose history of music deserves such a stella line up! Having Frank Ocean headlining on Sunday night, pretty much sums up the quality of Parklife these days. Parklife 2017 will not disappoint and seems like a big contender in the plethora of premier music festivals in the UK this year. Parklife would appear to be a brilliant way to start the summer. The festival is held at Heaton Park which is rapidly becoming a place of musical legend!

Parklife 2017

I attended the festival years ago at Platt Fields Park and though it was in its early years, it had great potential. Being a music lover, I can't believe how much the festival has evolved and grown into major festival. With a capacity of 70,000, as well as a VIP area and eight stages, Parklife looks to be firing on all cylinders!

Continue reading: Parklife 2017 Preview

Frank Ocean, Lana Del Rey And Many More Announced For Way Out West Festival 2017


Frank Ocean Lana Del Rey Way Out West Festival

Frank Ocean is the latest headliner to be announced for Way Out West Festival this summer, adding the event to his ever growing list of upcoming summer festival appearances this year. The xx and Chance The Rapper have also been announced alongside already confirmed acts Lana Del Rey and Pixies.

Frank OceanFrank Ocean to headline Way Out West 2017

The festival, which takes place at Slottsskogen Park in Gothenburg, Sweden between August 10th and 12th, has already been announced to host acts such as Lana Del Rey, Major Lazer, Pixies and Young Thug, but Ocean joins the list of top billed artists in his very latest festival booking.

Continue reading: Frank Ocean, Lana Del Rey And Many More Announced For Way Out West Festival 2017

Are Kanye West, Justin Bieber And Drake Boycotting "Irrelevant" Grammys?


Justin Bieber Kanye West Drake Frank Ocean

Kanye West, Justin Bieber and Drake are reportedly not going to be attending next month’s Grammy Awards.

According to reports the three artists will be no shows at the February 12 ceremony, despite receiving multiple nominations each.

Justin BieberJustin Bieber picked up his first Grammy last year

Continue reading: Are Kanye West, Justin Bieber And Drake Boycotting "Irrelevant" Grammys?

Top 10 Music Videos Of 2016


David Bowie Frank Ocean Aphex Twin Ok Go Radiohead Jamie XX Stylo G

2016 has been a strange year. Starting off with the death of David Bowie (pictured below) and ending with nobody in the world quite sure what is going it has been a constant journey of ups and downs. 

David Bowie seen in the moving video for LazarusDavid Bowie seen in the moving video for Lazarus

But still, there has been some excellent music videos created to match this state of confusion; from Bowie to Anohni, there has always been a constant source of inspiration available in the ever-changing climate. Here we do a recap of our favourite videos of the year, good luck 2017 in trying to match some of these...

Continue reading: Top 10 Music Videos Of 2016

Jim Pusey's Top Ten Albums Of 2016


David Bowie Radiohead Butch Walker Frightened Rabbit Bon Iver Frank Ocean Angel Olsen

Yet the shifting social landscape and loss of musical icons doesn't seem to have galvanised any one artistic movement in response, surely that's on the horizon for 2017. But while this annus horribilis may not be remembered for a particular genre or artist capturing the cultural zeitgeist, it did reinforce the simple point that the concept of an album is not dead yet. From Bowie and Cohen quite brilliantly using the format as a last will and testament, Beyonce's lavish visual album for Lemonade, to Kanye and Frank Ocean bypassing some methods of traditional distribution, it's clear that the digital age of single song downloads hasn't killed the album as an artistic statement. Vinyl has helped to massively bolster sales of physical products too, emphasising the artistic merits of the album beyond simply the music on the record.

With that in mind, many well-established artists delivered records vying for position with their best work. Bands such as Weezer, Green Day, Biffy Clyro, and Against Me! may not be making many end of year top ten lists, but their output in 2016 has been impressively solid. Even Metallica returned with a record that lived up to its hype. Elsewhere other artists produced records that at an earlier point in the year would certainly have made my list; Ray LaMontagne, Brian Fallon, Iggy Pop, Shearwater, Wye Oak, A Tribe Called Quest, Bob Mould, PJ Harvey, Joseph Arthur, and St. Paul & The Broken Bones, all comfortably fit into that category. Of particular note was the album, which kept appearing on my list and then just falling frustratingly into a lower position. Underworld's Barbara Barbara, We Face A Shining Future is a glorious album. It's two men at a very different point in their lives using the music of their youth to paint a portrait of life post 50, and the result is uplifting and hopeful in a way that many other albums weren't this year. I'm delighted that Underworld has picked up a Grammy nomination for such a great record.

One final mention before sharing my ten favourite records of 2016 is for Jimmy Broomfield. Performing under the name Heart Of Oak, his debut EP, aptly titled EP 1, was released this year. It's a collection of songs that are deeply personal and wonderfully intimate with their bare bones performances. His song-writing is both clever and witty and if you're looking for some home-grown talent with a promising future you need look no further than Heart Of Oak's website.

Continue reading: Jim Pusey's Top Ten Albums Of 2016

Frank Ocean Recorded New Album At Abbey Road Studios


Frank Ocean Abbey Road Studios

Frank Ocean's hugely anticipated second album appears to have been recorded, in some part at least, at Abbey Road Studios in London. The French pianist Christophe Chassol told the BBC's Gilles Peterson that he collaborated with Ocean on new material at the famous venue.

Frank OceanFrank Ocean recorded some of his new album with Rick Rubin at Abbey Road Studios

"Ocean invited me to Abbey Road to record on his album. I asked him how he heard about me. He told me his friend Diplo was listening a lot to [my album]Indiamore, and they started to listen to it, and they were wondering how I was doing the speech harmonization, so he called me. He asked me to do some speech harmonization on a song with him," Chassol told Peterson. "After a while, it was cool and he was like, 'yeah, but we have to find another way because you already did it'."

Continue reading: Frank Ocean Recorded New Album At Abbey Road Studios

Frank Ocean

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Frank Ocean

Date of birth

28th October, 1987

Occupation

Musician

Sex

Male

Height

1.83






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