Christopher Edwin Breaux, more widely known as Frank Ocean, was born Oct. 28, 1987, in Long Beach, California. He is credited with being one of the most influential artists of our generation.
His music has redefined the genres of R&B and pop, while also creating emotional and experimental projects.
When he first started making music, Hurricane Katrina destroyed his studio in New Orleans, which caused him to move to Los Angeles. This tragedy would be a blessing in disguise because it helped him get discovered in the music industry.
He was originally supposed to stay in Los Angeles for six weeks, but stayed longer because of the connections he made in the music industry. He would record demos and share them through the city. By 2008, he was already writing for stars like Justin Bieber, Brandy, Beyoncé, John Legend and Pharrell.
In 2009, Ocean met a man named Tricky Stewart. Stewart admired Ocean’s storytelling ability and got him signed to Def Jam Records. However, Ocean didn’t like the way he was being treated and eventually joined a group called Odd Future.
The group consisted of other famous rappers before they were as popular as they are today. Some artists include Tyler the Creator, Earl Sweatshirt and Syd.
Although Ocean had released music before this point, his debut album was released in 2012 and was entitled “Channel Orange.”
“The first song I heard was ‘Thinkin Bout You.’ It was different than typical sad music, and I feel like it’s a song for everyone, no matter their taste in music,” said sophomore Serenity Webster.
The following year, he was nominated for six Grammys. One of his wins was for best urban contemporary album and the other was for a collaboration he did with Kanye West and Jay-Z.
“You rarely hear this type of music on the radio, and he wasn’t afraid to be different,” said senior Ivy Reeves.
In 2016, Ocean released an iconic and timeless album titled “Blonde.” When it was released, it was heavily praised and earned the title “Album of the Year” from Time magazine.
“Blonde” is a concept album, meaning the album as a collective is a story, and every song tells a different part.
Through “Blonde”, Ocean found a way to openly share his personal experiences and relate to his audience.
“He makes music that’s authentically him,” said Reeves.
The songs are a reflection of heartbreak, nostalgia, and personal growth. His untraditional structure and sound of the album are ultimately what drew listeners in and made it so memorable.
Even though he and his music have made a great impact on an entire generation, over time, Ocean started to disappear.
He has always been an under-the-radar type of artist, but lots of time has passed.
“I think he eventually will release music, but it should be on his own time and healing process,” said Webster.
One detrimental factor to the potential release of new music was the passing of his brother, Ryan Breaux. Ocean has always been very particular about when his music comes out, but this tragedy caused an even larger setback.
Ocean has yet to release any projects since 2016, but he has made occasional appearances, such as the Met Gala in 2021, and small features on other artists’ albums, such as Drake and Tyler the Creator.
Ocean returns to social media every so often, which continues to give fans hope that he will eventually release more music.
Although the majority of his fans respect his hiatus, his music will continue to be appreciated and recognized for its vulnerability and impact on the R&B scene.
