He's Poetic.

He's cute as a button.

He's soulful as all get out.

But he's got an indie bent a mile long and is woefully under-appreciated on the org?

His follow-up to the timeless "Channel Orange" comes out this week, four "long" years after said classic.

Will he ever win over the general public and the org?

>

Frank Ocean’s Long-Awaited ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ Is Due on Friday

Photo

Frank Ocean Credit Chad Batka for The New York Times

The long wait for a new Frank Ocean album may nearly be over.

Mr. Ocean, the innovative and enigmatic R&B singer, is set to release his next album, “Boys Don’t Cry,” on Friday through an exclusive deal with Apple Music, according to a person with knowledge of the release plans. The release is also expected to include a major video and a printed publication called “Boys Don’t Cry” that will be distributed at Apple stores.

Mr. Ocean’s album is expected to remain exclusive to Apple for only two weeks before becoming more widely available, according to that person, who was not authorized to discuss the release plans and therefore spoke on condition of anonymity. But it is another coup for Apple, which has struck a series of deals with artists including Drake, Future, Chance the Rapper and the band The 1975, that have each given the company’s streaming service an early lock on a hot new record.

A spokesman for Mr. Ocean’s label, Def Jam, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“Boys Don’t Cry” is one of the year’s most anticipated new albums, and Mr. Ocean’s first since “Channel Orange” in 2012, which was widely hailed by critics and nominated for six Grammy Awards (it won one, for best urban contemporary album). Mr. Ocean himself first announced the new title three years ago, and seemed to play with the long wait when he included the image of an old-school library due-date slip labeled “Boys Don’t Cry” on a website connected to the album, with a series of stamped dates going back over a year. Given the number of delays the album has already had, it seems possible that Mr. Ocean could decide to put off the release beyond Friday.

On Monday, a mysterious video appeared on the same website showing a pair of workbenches in a large empty room. There was little other information — although the director Francisco Soriano briefly took credit for the video itself early Monday in an Instagram post that was later deleted — but many viewers did notice the Apple Music logo in a watermark on the feed.

Recently Mr. Ocean has mostly relegated himself to guest duty while his fans awaited a new album, popping up as an almost spectral presence on “The Life of Pablo” by Kanye West and as a co-writer on the latest album from the British singer James Blake. Mr. Ocean’s most recent solo releases are a cover of the Isley Brothers’ “At Your Best (You Are Love)” in January 2015 and “Memrise,” a skeletal lo-fi recording posted to Tumblr in November 2014.

Mr. Ocean spoke up sparingly during his retreat from music.In April, he responded to Prince’s death with a blog post. In June, after the attack on a gay nightclub in Orlando that killed 49 people, Mr. Ocean again surfaced on his personal Tumblr with a longer piece of writing.

“I heard on the news that the aftermath of a hate crime left piles of bodies on a dance floor this month,” he wrote. “Many hate us and wish we didn’t exist. Many are annoyed by our wanting to be married like everyone else or use the correct restroom like everyone else.” (In 2012, around the time of the release of “Channel Orange,” the highly private Mr. Ocean wrote a note to fans explaining that his first love had been a man, adding a personal layer to his emergence as a cult figure.)

“Boys Don’t Cry” would be the latest high-profile album to secure an exclusive deal with a major streaming service, reflecting the intense competition among Apple, Spotify and Tidal (the service controlled by Jay Z) to lure new users and ingratiate themselves with top artists.

But the business of exclusive content has itself come under attack. In a series of Twitter posts over the weekend, Mr. West said that the competition between Apple and Tidal — in which exclusives play a major part — was hurting “the music game” and asked Apple to “give Jay his check for Tidal now,” which some people saw as corroboration of rumors that Apple was interested in buying Tidal.

Apple did not respond to a request for comment.

>

Throwbacks:

CynicKill said:

He's Poetic.

He's cute as a button.

He's soulful as all get out.

But he's got an indie bent a mile long and is woefully under-appreciated on the org?

His follow-up to the timeless "Channel Orange" comes out this week, four "long" years after said classic.

Will he ever win over the general public and the org?

>

Frank Ocean’s Long-Awaited ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ Is Due on Friday

By BEN SISARIO and JOE COSCARELLIAUG. 1, 2016

Continue reading the main story Share This Page

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• Tweet


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• More


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Photo

Frank Ocean Credit Chad Batka for The New York Times

The long wait for a new Frank Ocean album may nearly be over.

Mr. Ocean, the innovative and enigmatic R&B singer, is set to release his next album, “Boys Don’t Cry,” on Friday through an exclusive deal with Apple Music, according to a person with knowledge of the release plans. The release is also expected to include a major video and a printed publication called “Boys Don’t Cry” that will be distributed at Apple stores.

Mr. Ocean’s album is expected to remain exclusive to Apple for only two weeks before becoming more widely available, according to that person, who was not authorized to discuss the release plans and therefore spoke on condition of anonymity. But it is another coup for Apple, which has struck a series of deals with artists including Drake, Future, Chance the Rapper and the band The 1975, that have each given the company’s streaming service an early lock on a hot new record.

A spokesman for Mr. Ocean’s label, Def Jam, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“Boys Don’t Cry” is one of the year’s most anticipated new albums, and Mr. Ocean’s first since “Channel Orange” in 2012, which was widely hailed by critics and nominated for six Grammy Awards (it won one, for best urban contemporary album). Mr. Ocean himself first announced the new title three years ago, and seemed to play with the long wait when he included the image of an old-school library due-date slip labeled “Boys Don’t Cry” on a website connected to the album, with a series of stamped dates going back over a year. Given the number of delays the album has already had, it seems possible that Mr. Ocean could decide to put off the release beyond Friday.

On Monday, a mysterious video appeared on the same website showing a pair of workbenches in a large empty room. There was little other information — although the director Francisco Soriano briefly took credit for the video itself early Monday in an Instagram post that was later deleted — but many viewers did notice the Apple Music logo in a watermark on the feed.

Recently Mr. Ocean has mostly relegated himself to guest duty while his fans awaited a new album, popping up as an almost spectral presence on “The Life of Pablo” by Kanye West and as a co-writer on the latest album from the British singer James Blake. Mr. Ocean’s most recent solo releases are a cover of the Isley Brothers’ “At Your Best (You Are Love)” in January 2015 and “Memrise,” a skeletal lo-fi recording posted to Tumblr in November 2014.

Mr. Ocean spoke up sparingly during his retreat from music.In April, he responded to Prince’s death with a blog post. In June, after the attack on a gay nightclub in Orlando that killed 49 people, Mr. Ocean again surfaced on his personal Tumblr with a longer piece of writing.

“I heard on the news that the aftermath of a hate crime left piles of bodies on a dance floor this month,” he wrote. “Many hate us and wish we didn’t exist. Many are annoyed by our wanting to be married like everyone else or use the correct restroom like everyone else.” (In 2012, around the time of the release of “Channel Orange,” the highly private Mr. Ocean wrote a note to fans explaining that his first love had been a man, adding a personal layer to his emergence as a cult figure.)

“Boys Don’t Cry” would be the latest high-profile album to secure an exclusive deal with a major streaming service, reflecting the intense competition among Apple, Spotify and Tidal (the service controlled by Jay Z) to lure new users and ingratiate themselves with top artists.

But the business of exclusive content has itself come under attack. In a series of Twitter posts over the weekend, Mr. West said that the competition between Apple and Tidal — in which exclusives play a major part — was hurting “the music game” and asked Apple to “give Jay his check for Tidal now,” which some people saw as corroboration of rumors that Apple was interested in buying Tidal.

Apple did not respond to a request for comment.

>

Throwbacks:

I Adore Frank! and Channel Orange has been sticking with me in life since it came out in 2012. But i'm annoyed his people constantlyannounce the album and it never comes

nah pass im good on him

nextedition said:

What are you talking about? The org adores Frank.

I really like his music. Really looking forward to BDC.

laurarichardson said:

CynicKill said:

He's Poetic.

He's cute as a button.

He's soulful as all get out.

But he's got an indie bent a mile long and is woefully under-appreciated on the org?

His follow-up to the timeless "Channel Orange" comes out this week, four "long" years after said classic.

Will he ever win over the general public and the org?

>

Frank Ocean’s Long-Awaited ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ Is Due on Friday

By BEN SISARIO and JOE COSCARELLIAUG. 1, 2016

Continue reading the main story Share This Page

• Share
• Tweet
• Pin
• Email
• More
• Save

Photo

Frank Ocean Credit Chad Batka for The New York Times

The long wait for a new Frank Ocean album may nearly be over.

Mr. Ocean, the innovative and enigmatic R&B singer, is set to release his next album, “Boys Don’t Cry,” on Friday through an exclusive deal with Apple Music, according to a person with knowledge of the release plans. The release is also expected to include a major video and a printed publication called “Boys Don’t Cry” that will be distributed at Apple stores.

Mr. Ocean’s album is expected to remain exclusive to Apple for only two weeks before becoming more widely available, according to that person, who was not authorized to discuss the release plans and therefore spoke on condition of anonymity. But it is another coup for Apple, which has struck a series of deals with artists including Drake, Future, Chance the Rapper and the band The 1975, that have each given the company’s streaming service an early lock on a hot new record.

A spokesman for Mr. Ocean’s label, Def Jam, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“Boys Don’t Cry” is one of the year’s most anticipated new albums, and Mr. Ocean’s first since “Channel Orange” in 2012, which was widely hailed by critics and nominated for six Grammy Awards (it won one, for best urban contemporary album). Mr. Ocean himself first announced the new title three years ago, and seemed to play with the long wait when he included the image of an old-school library due-date slip labeled “Boys Don’t Cry” on a website connected to the album, with a series of stamped dates going back over a year. Given the number of delays the album has already had, it seems possible that Mr. Ocean could decide to put off the release beyond Friday.

On Monday, a mysterious video appeared on the same website showing a pair of workbenches in a large empty room. There was little other information — although the director Francisco Soriano briefly took credit for the video itself early Monday in an Instagram post that was later deleted — but many viewers did notice the Apple Music logo in a watermark on the feed.

Recently Mr. Ocean has mostly relegated himself to guest duty while his fans awaited a new album, popping up as an almost spectral presence on “The Life of Pablo” by Kanye West and as a co-writer on the latest album from the British singer James Blake. Mr. Ocean’s most recent solo releases are a cover of the Isley Brothers’ “At Your Best (You Are Love)” in January 2015 and “Memrise,” a skeletal lo-fi recording posted to Tumblr in November 2014.

Mr. Ocean spoke up sparingly during his retreat from music.In April, he responded to Prince’s death with a blog post. In June, after the attack on a gay nightclub in Orlando that killed 49 people, Mr. Ocean again surfaced on his personal Tumblr with a longer piece of writing.

“I heard on the news that the aftermath of a hate crime left piles of bodies on a dance floor this month,” he wrote. “Many hate us and wish we didn’t exist. Many are annoyed by our wanting to be married like everyone else or use the correct restroom like everyone else.” (In 2012, around the time of the release of “Channel Orange,” the highly private Mr. Ocean wrote a note to fans explaining that his first love had been a man, adding a personal layer to his emergence as a cult figure.)

“Boys Don’t Cry” would be the latest high-profile album to secure an exclusive deal with a major streaming service, reflecting the intense competition among Apple, Spotify and Tidal (the service controlled by Jay Z) to lure new users and ingratiate themselves with top artists.

But the business of exclusive content has itself come under attack. In a series of Twitter posts over the weekend, Mr. West said that the competition between Apple and Tidal — in which exclusives play a major part — was hurting “the music game” and asked Apple to “give Jay his check for Tidal now,” which some people saw as corroboration of rumors that Apple was interested in buying Tidal.

Apple did not respond to a request for comment.

>

Throwbacks:

//// No because he sucks

sounds like you're mad jealous.

frank is an extremely talented and humble individual. can't wait to hear his new record.

scratch said:

its 1:44 pm est what happen to the apple exclusve release

Frank Ocean is a talented songwriter but he is a tad over hyped. Channel Orange was meh outside of some songs. The only song I liked by him was "Thinkin Bout You" but even that song isn't "amazing". However, I do prefer him over Miguel, Weeknd, etc. I do appreciate he is at least an artist and writes his own music.

mjscarousal said:

MotownSubdivision said:

mjscarousal said:

Frank Ocean is a talented songwriter but he is a tad over hyped. Channel Orange was meh outside of some songs. The only song I liked by him was "Thinkin Bout You" but even that song isn't "amazing". However, I do prefer him over Miguel, Weeknd, etc. I do appreciate he is at least an artist and writes his own music.

Miguel and The Weeknd write their own music to unless they're those kinds of acts that change a few words around and stake claim to a full writing credit. In any case, while Miguel isn't extraordinary, I'd rank him higher than Frank.

Why would you rank him higher? I know Miguel and Weeknd write their own music but I think Frank Ocean is a better overall songwriter than them

mjscarousal said:

MotownSubdivision said:

mjscarousal said:

Why would you rank him higher? I know Miguel and Weeknd write their own music but I think Frank Ocean is a better overall songwriter than them

Miguel's music isn't a drag to sit through like Frank's music (Channel Orange at least). Frank may be the better songwriter but his songwriting isn't going to help him if the sound of his music doesn't keep me interested.

I hear you.

They both are not interesting to me if I am honest. I will say Miguel is the better singer out of the three but that isn't saying much.

Friday came and went. No album in sight!

smoothcriminal12 said:

Friday came and went. No album in sight!

>

I smell another "Black Messiah" game here.

I'm not playing.

CynicKill said:

smoothcriminal12 said:

Friday came and went. No album in sight!

>

I smell another "Black Messiah" game here.

I'm not playing.

I'm inclined to believe that it's coming soon - the stream is still running, and Apple would sue the shit out of Frank if he cancelled last minute. Something is definitely on the way - the timeline is just sketchy since we have no idea what's going on.

Frank Ocean is not all that. And he's busy doing underwear ads instead of making and releasing music. If he weren't gay he'd be getting less attention from the media.

Conor said:

Frank Ocean is not all that. And he's busy doing underwear ads instead of making and releasing music. If he weren't gay he'd be getting less attention from the media.

-------

Exactly, try actually putting out some decent music instead babbling about being gay.

Damn misread thought it was Billy Ocean.

[Edited 8/16/16 10:35am]

According to MTV, his producer, Malay, addressed the delay in an AMA on Reddit bby babbling on about how "art can't be rushed" and the "making sure the perfect aesthetic for the situation" is "reached."

I liked Channel Orange, and was looking forward to BDC. But after reading that trope, maybe the folks roasting FO on this thread have a point.

namepeace said:

MotownSubdivision said:

You don't give a release date, not stick to it and then play the "you can't rush art/ perfection" card when people take you to task for it.

That's some steaming bull if there ever was any.

IKR????

This sounds like a royalty dispute dressed up with pretentious artsy babble.

this guy is hot garbage...

namepeace said: