So Frank Ocean Is Gay

[BigBucs]

He picked a perfect era to do it in. A generation of emasculated kids wearing womens jeans and releasing albums named Im gay.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

During a slow day at work I had some time to think about this situation. I might be exaggerating it in my head a bit but I think this is HUGE for the hip-hop/r&b culture as a whole and also for the Millennial generation. I can't really think of any other artist from my generation that has come out of the closet mid-career. There are always rumors of Ne-Yo, Dr. Dre, etc. being gay but nothing ever comes of it.

I believe Frank Ocean just broke a barrier in the culture. If this does not negatively alter his career, he will have paved the way for other artists to come clean about their sexuality. The fact that Frank is not flamboyantly homosexual certainly helps him here, too. Also, as the older generations, with their old-school, ignorant way of thinking, continue to fade into oblivion, the concept of "coming out of the closet" will not be the type of news headline it is today. Millennials appear to be more acceptive of this lifestyle.

---

In regards to Frank Ocean's music, it's inevitable that every time I listen to a new song of his from this point forward, I'll be listening closely to see if he is talking about a man. That's just the way it's gonna be. This could negatively impact my enjoyment of the songs, but for me, I typically don't listen to R&B for the lyrics or storytelling, I listen more for the vibes, feelings and emotions. Good vocals are more important than good lyrics to me in R&B, as opposed to rap in which the level of importance is about equal. That said, I still expect Channel Orange to be one of the best albums of the year, regardless of lyrical content that I don't necessarily support.

Wait, is "Millennials" really a thing?

 

[Houston]

He got that thuggin' luv.

 

[MvP]

Wait, is "Millennials" really a thing?

That was the first time I've ever used that term. It has practically become a buzzword at this point...Forbes and other business sites use it to describe the younger generation all the time.

 

[Lumpkin]

During a slow day at work I had some time to think about this situation. I might be exaggerating it in my head a bit but I think this is HUGE for the hip-hop/r&b culture as a whole and also for the Millennial generation. I can't really think of any other artist from my generation that has come out of the closet mid-career. There are always rumors of Ne-Yo, Dr. Dre, etc. being gay but nothing ever comes of it.

I believe Frank Ocean just broke a barrier in the culture. If this does not negatively alter his career, he will have paved the way for other artists to come clean about their sexuality. The fact that Frank is not flamboyantly homosexual certainly helps him here, too. Also, as the older generations, with their old-school, ignorant way of thinking, continue to fade into oblivion, the concept of "coming out of the closet" will not be the type of news headline it is today. Millennials appear to be more acceptive of this lifestyle.

---

In regards to Frank Ocean's music, it's inevitable that every time I listen to a new song of his from this point forward, I'll be listening closely to see if he is talking about a man. That's just the way it's gonna be. This could negatively impact my enjoyment of the songs, but for me, I typically don't listen to R&B for the lyrics or storytelling, I listen more for the vibes, feelings and emotions. Good vocals are more important than good lyrics to me in R&B, as opposed to rap in which the level of importance is about equal. That said, I still expect Channel Orange to be one of the best albums of the year, regardless of lyrical content that I don't necessarily support.

Honeslty I disagree, I don't think he's really breaking any barriers or paving the way for other artists. I think him coming out is more of a reflection of the increasingly accepting times in which we live. Coming out as gay or bi or whatever isn't as big as a risk as it was 15-20 years ago where it could mean career suicide. I'd even say that it's actually a pretty good move from a marketing stand point. As beloved as he is online and by critics and stuff, Frank Ocean really isn't in the "mainstream conscience." By coming out, (a few weeks before the new album drops) he has brought himself into the mainstream news and is getting his name out to people who have never heard of him. He is creating more buzz around his name and possibley bringing in a new demographic (i.e. the gay community).

Now the negative to this is that he could isolate some of his current fan base and lose some of his current supporters but honestly I don't see that happening at least not on a mass level. The people who are going to reject his music soley on the basis of his sexuality, probably already wrote him off as soft prior to this. For the most part his fan base will just continue to listen as long as he makes good music. And as for it hurting his working relationship with other artist, its possible that maybe a few big names avoid him because he came out, but if it ever came out publically they'd have a PR nightmare on their hands.

So in short, what I'm saying is he isn't really breaking down barriers as much as showing that the barriers of the past are already gone (or at least greatly weakend)

 

[NAHSTE]

I can't really think of any other artist from my generation that has come out of the closet mid-career.

Sup.

Wait, is "Millennials" really a thing?

Every Girls review I've ever read insists on calling "us" that, so yeah, I guess.

 

[Saluki]

Honeslty I disagree, I don't think he's really breaking any barriers or paving the way for other artists. I think him coming out is more of a reflection of the increasingly accepting times in which we live. Coming out as gay or bi or whatever isn't as big as a risk as it was 15-20 years ago where it could mean career suicide. I'd even say that it's actually a pretty good move from a marketing stand point. As beloved as he is online and by critics and stuff, Frank Ocean really isn't in the "mainstream conscience." By coming out, (a few weeks before the new album drops) he has brought himself into the mainstream news and is getting his name out to people who have never heard of him. He is creating more buzz around his name and possibley bringing in a new demographic (i.e. the gay community).

Now the negative to this is that he could isolate some of his current fan base and lose some of his current supporters but honestly I don't see that happening at least not on a mass level. The people who are going to reject his music soley on the basis of his sexuality, probably already wrote him off as soft prior to this. For the most part his fan base will just continue to listen as long as he makes good music. And as for it hurting his working relationship with other artist, its possible that maybe a few big names avoid him because he came out, but if it ever came out publically they'd have a PR nightmare on their hands.

So in short, what I'm saying is he isn't really breaking down barriers as much as showing that the barriers of the past are already gone (or at least greatly weakend)

I feel like R&B artists being seen as kinda soft as a whole will ease this blow for the industry. But if a rapper like say Drake or Lil Wayne came out as gay i feel like there would be a much bigger deal made about it.

 

[Rudi]

I feel like R&B artists being seen as kinda soft as a whole will ease this blow for the industry. But if a rapper like say Drake or Lil Wayne came out as gay i feel like there would be a much bigger deal made about it.

I don't think many people would be that shocked if one of those guys came out and was gay/bi.

 

[j.hen]

My suspicions began when I heard this lyric:

A tornado flew around my room before you came
Excuse the mess it made, it usually doesn't rain
In Southern California, much like Arizona
My eyes don't shed tears, but, boy, they bawl

:shifty:

 

[EmpireWF]

A tornado flew around my room before you came
Excuse the mess it made, it usually doesn't rain
In Southern California, much like Arizona
My eyes don't shed tears, but, boy, they bawl

So he's the black, homosexual version of Ace...

 

[Trmszczykowski]

My suspicions began when I heard this lyric:

A tornado flew around my room before you came
Excuse the mess it made, it usually doesn't rain
In Southern California, much like Arizona
My eyes don't shed tears, but, boy, they bawl

:shifty:

I let that slide, because it was a cover.

 

[Agent]

I think he should have waited a little longer before doing this or doing his album like that. To those who don't keep with music daily, the most shine he's ever gotten is featured on WTT.

I love Frank Ocean's music and I'll continue to listen (probably going to buy Channel Orange) but I just think he was too early in coming out.

 

[Maestro]

I think he should have waited a little longer before doing this or doing his album like that. To those who don't keep with music daily, the most shine he's ever gotten is featured on WTT.

I love Frank Ocean's music and I'll continue to listen (probably going to buy Channel Orange) but I just think he was too early in coming out.

I think he would have liked in the journalist kept his or her mouth shut about the lyrics but o'well. I'll still get Channel Orange but like others said it will be weird with the whole Bi thing going on.

 

[Tailback U]

I think some of you are overanalyzing this and blowing it out of proportion.

It's not a big deal. Nobody really gives a fuck. I certainly don't. The only reason why this has any affect on me whatsoever is because I listen to Frank Ocean in the shower sometimes and like to sing along. Now if he's singing to dudes, ala "he's working at the pyramids tonight," I'm probably not going to listen to that song.

LOL @ people being "proud" of him for this. Like you know him and are friends with him or something. Like coming out is something to be proud about. I'm straight, are you proud of me for being straight? Who gives a fuck.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

People were telling me in the chatbox that this guy isnt really famous and is more of an underground artist. Yet it seems like everybody knows who this is, and we have people singing his shit in the shower.

Is this site full of R&B hipsters, or is this guy more famous that the goofs in the chatbox were letting on? I was asking people I know about him and nobody knew who he was, but to be fair I don't exactly roll with the types who turn the lights down, light a fire, and chill to smooth R&B on a bearskin rug.

 

[Tailback U]

He's somewhat popular to people who follow hip-hop and r&b but if you don't listen to that genre you're probably not going to know who he is.

Hell, I know who he is and enjoy his music but I probably can't even name 10 songs by him.

 

[NAHSTE]

People were telling me in the chatbox that this guy isnt really famous and is more of an underground artist. Yet it seems like everybody knows who this is, and we have people singing his shit in the shower.

Is this site full of R&B hipsters, or is this guy more famous that the goofs in the chatbox were letting on? I was asking people I know about him and nobody knew who he was, but to be fair I don't exactly roll with the types who turn the lights down, light a fire, and chill to smooth R&B on a bearskin rug.

He's a pretty promising up and coming artist, but no he's not "famous" by any stretch. His most notable achievements to date are a few solid independent releases and some guest work on Kanye and Jay-Z's joint album. He sings the hook on the Kanye/Jay-Z song that was used for the last Denzel movie, so you've probably heard it during a TV commercial, but I don't think he's ever going to be a household name or anything.

 

[Realist]

People were telling me in the chatbox that this guy isnt really famous and is more of an underground artist. Yet it seems like everybody knows who this is, and we have people singing his shit in the shower.<br />
<br />
Is this site full of R&B hipsters, or is this guy more famous that the goofs in the chatbox were letting on? I was asking people I know about him and nobody knew who he was, but to be fair I don't exactly roll with the types who turn the lights down, light a fire, and chill to smooth R&B on a bearskin rug.

Imo, its a little bit of both. He isn't as known as say Usher or Chris Brown. He's still fairly new to mainstream. Only true, deep, hip hip heads know who he is. So for that, yes he's still more underground, but just recently he's started to get his name out there more when it became known that he was working and writing for big name artist like JayZ and Kanye plus some songs that he has released like Novacane.

 

[MvP]

If you have even slightly kept up with hip-hop/r&b at all in the past year, you should know who Frank Ocean is. For everyone else, there's a great chance you've never heard of him.

Also NAHSTE, Lance Bass kind of came out post-career, not mid. I don't know anything he's done past NSYNC. If he came out while they were in their prime popularity-wise, it would have probably been disastrous for the band.

 

[NAHSTE]

If you have even slightly kept up with hip-hop/r&b at all in the past year, you should know who Frank Ocean is. For everyone else, there's a great chance you've never heard of him.

Also NAHSTE, Lance Bass kind of came out post-career, not mid. I don't know anything he's done past NSYNC. If he came out while they were in their prime popularity-wise, it would have probably been disastrous for the band.

Yeah, I just wanted to post someone slightly more successful than Clay Aiken.