The days of @wheresitatfrank Twitter and Instagram handles are finally over -Elena Ruiz

The rumors of a new album began in April 2015, when Frank Ocean uploaded a picture of himself holding a magazine titled “Boys Don’t Cry.” The picture was captioned “I got two versions. I got twoooo versions,” and included the hashtags #ISSUE1 #ALBUM3 #JULY2015. The promise of a new album seemed to be even more legit when Billboard confirmed that Ocean’s new album and a zine would indeed surface later in July. However, July came and went with no album, leaving scores of fans disappointed—and inspiring a wave of memes to surface on the internet.

After the numerous rumors that Ocean’s Album was going to drop with no confirmation from Ocean himself, the New York Times posted an article on August 1st claiming just that. Once again social media was set aflame. Frank Ocean’s album would finally drop Friday, August 5th. As fans patiently waited, they were disappointed again as it took another fourteen days for the visual album, Endless, to appear on Apple Music.
Endless, a visual album filmed completely in black and white, shows Ocean building a staircase in what seems to be a warehouse. The visual album is not really an album at all. The songs with lyrics are rather short, and the others are instrumentals. Many fans believed they had been waiting four years just to see Ocean build a staircase, but the excitement did not stop there.
Endless, a visual album filmed completely in black and white, shows Ocean building a staircase in what seems to be a warehouse. The visual album is not really an album at all. The songs with lyrics are rather short, and the others are instrumentals. Many fans believed they had been waiting four years just to see Ocean build a staircase, but the excitement did not stop there.

On August 20th, Frank Ocean released his long waited for, second studio album, Blonde. The wait was well anticipated since Channel Orange’s release in 2012. Yet with the release came the burning question: Why so long?
There are multiple possibilities for Ocean’s prolonged album release. One major possibility being that Ocean himself was unhappy with his contract on the record label Def Jam Records.
After the release of Endless, Frank Ocean fulfilled the terms of his contract to create two studio albums. Meaning he was officially free. There’s a chance, the wait took so long because he was trying to find a way to play his record company and take part of a project he was actually passionate about. Which seemed to be his album Blonde. Blonde was not released on Def Jam Records, but on Frank Ocean’s new record label Boy’s Don’t Cry. Being the more publicized album, Blonde is accessible on multiple music streaming websites, unlike Endless, which is only available on Apple Music.
There are multiple possibilities for Ocean’s prolonged album release. One major possibility being that Ocean himself was unhappy with his contract on the record label Def Jam Records.
After the release of Endless, Frank Ocean fulfilled the terms of his contract to create two studio albums. Meaning he was officially free. There’s a chance, the wait took so long because he was trying to find a way to play his record company and take part of a project he was actually passionate about. Which seemed to be his album Blonde. Blonde was not released on Def Jam Records, but on Frank Ocean’s new record label Boy’s Don’t Cry. Being the more publicized album, Blonde is accessible on multiple music streaming websites, unlike Endless, which is only available on Apple Music.
Blonde even got better sales than Endless. According to Spin Magazine, Endless was ineligible for the Billboard 200 album chart, while Blonde was expected to top number one on that weeks Billboard 200. After that multiple songs such as “Nikes”, “Ivy”, “Pink + White”, Solo, and “Nights” topped the Billboard 100, more than doubling his total career of Hot 100 entries.
The album features multiple artists such as Beyonce, Kendrick Lamar, Andre 3000, Yung Lean, and Kim Burrell. Along with multiple artists who contributed to the song writing, and samples Ocean used for multiple songs. Overall, every aspect that came together to create the album was genius.
The album features multiple artists such as Beyonce, Kendrick Lamar, Andre 3000, Yung Lean, and Kim Burrell. Along with multiple artists who contributed to the song writing, and samples Ocean used for multiple songs. Overall, every aspect that came together to create the album was genius.

In comparison to Ocean’s other albums, Nostalgia Ultra and Channel Orange, Blonde is unexpected. All of the songs are soft and harmonic. This album mainly focuses on Ocean’s voice while experimental bass-filled instrumentals fill the background.
The album features three small interludes with the same background music. One of which is “Solo,” a voicemail from Ocean’s mom. This is a reoccurring theme in Ocean's albums as it's similar to “Not Just Money” an interlude on Channel Orange. Which for Channel Orange listeners, makes a sweet moment of nostalgia.
The second is a small interlude titled, “Facebook Story” told by SebastiAn. SebastiAn, a musician with a thick French accent, tells a story of a breakup over the creation of Facebook. Giving a modern take on love in the digital age.
The third, is an interlude in the middle of the last song on the album “Futura Free”, which features Ocean, members of OFWGKTA, and Sage Elsesser interviewing Ocean’s younger brother Ryan. Definitely a treat for Odd Future fans.
The album features three small interludes with the same background music. One of which is “Solo,” a voicemail from Ocean’s mom. This is a reoccurring theme in Ocean's albums as it's similar to “Not Just Money” an interlude on Channel Orange. Which for Channel Orange listeners, makes a sweet moment of nostalgia.
The second is a small interlude titled, “Facebook Story” told by SebastiAn. SebastiAn, a musician with a thick French accent, tells a story of a breakup over the creation of Facebook. Giving a modern take on love in the digital age.
The third, is an interlude in the middle of the last song on the album “Futura Free”, which features Ocean, members of OFWGKTA, and Sage Elsesser interviewing Ocean’s younger brother Ryan. Definitely a treat for Odd Future fans.

The song “Nikes” was especially popular as the video released the same day as Endless on iTunes. The video includes bright lights, strippers, a woman on a horse, and many other vivid images all filmed with a retro filter.
A couple songs on the album in particular, take you on a sonic and rather emotional journey.
“Skyline to”
As the poetic lyrics commence in silence, Ocean’s soothing voice sings “This is joy, this is summer,” immediately setting the mood. As the soft guitar works in counter part with his voice, there is an overall arousing sensation with the lyrics “We’re alone, making sweet love taking time.” This feeling emanates the energy of intimacy. The listener begins to vicariously experience the essence of Ocean’s lover. It’s almost as if Ocean is personally singing to you. The harmonies create a warm inviting presence just as the beat becomes uptempo and he sings “In comes the morning,” as the listener's mood is almost refreshed by the song.
“Nights”
This more up tempo jam goes through three changes. The changes almost symbolize the three key elements of a good night out: excitement, intoxication, and the come down. The intro is an upbeat instrumental full of kick drums, hi hat and guitar. Ocean cheerfully rap-sings to the rhythm which is definitely the pre-gaming of the beats to come. The second transition incorporates heavy synth sounds as an added component to the original beat. This beat becomes more trance like, and Ocean begins to start singing a hook that continues into the next section. The tempo of the song immediately places the listener in a different mind state than the beat before. The third section flips the beat completely to a slow groove full of bass. Ocean’s voice is pitched up, then brought back down as he returns to the hook to sing “Boys wanna see me bummed out stressed out, that’s everyday shit” in a sadder melody, or the emotional peak, which usually signifies the end of the night.
“White Ferrari”
Ocean’s voice is layered as he begins to sing over futuristic synth noises. It’s almost as if being placed into a spaceship as he sings “ Bad luck to talk on these rides.” Yet remaining grounded is not hard as his relatable lyrics of becoming so close with someone only to let them go, deeply impact the listener. Ocean remains in the spaceship as the lyrics “You will find me” are repeated in between melodies as the listener can physically hear his voice drift away through an extraterrestrial filter. The tempo slows and the song is condensed to guitar and Ocean’s voice. His voice becomes extremely vulnerable as his harmonies follow the earlier trend of layering and the lyrics paint vivid images, “One too many years some tattooed eyelids on a facelift, mind over matter it’s magic, I do magic”.
Blonde, overall was an album worth waiting for. Ocean’s progression as an artist has obviously improved, and the contributions from other artists have taken the album to the level needed to exceed his previous work. Everyone knows four years was too long, but with the product finally out, fans have been nothing but appreciative of the content. So even though it took forever, Frank Ocean deserves a thank you, along with a big hug.
“Skyline to”
As the poetic lyrics commence in silence, Ocean’s soothing voice sings “This is joy, this is summer,” immediately setting the mood. As the soft guitar works in counter part with his voice, there is an overall arousing sensation with the lyrics “We’re alone, making sweet love taking time.” This feeling emanates the energy of intimacy. The listener begins to vicariously experience the essence of Ocean’s lover. It’s almost as if Ocean is personally singing to you. The harmonies create a warm inviting presence just as the beat becomes uptempo and he sings “In comes the morning,” as the listener's mood is almost refreshed by the song.
“Nights”
This more up tempo jam goes through three changes. The changes almost symbolize the three key elements of a good night out: excitement, intoxication, and the come down. The intro is an upbeat instrumental full of kick drums, hi hat and guitar. Ocean cheerfully rap-sings to the rhythm which is definitely the pre-gaming of the beats to come. The second transition incorporates heavy synth sounds as an added component to the original beat. This beat becomes more trance like, and Ocean begins to start singing a hook that continues into the next section. The tempo of the song immediately places the listener in a different mind state than the beat before. The third section flips the beat completely to a slow groove full of bass. Ocean’s voice is pitched up, then brought back down as he returns to the hook to sing “Boys wanna see me bummed out stressed out, that’s everyday shit” in a sadder melody, or the emotional peak, which usually signifies the end of the night.
“White Ferrari”
Ocean’s voice is layered as he begins to sing over futuristic synth noises. It’s almost as if being placed into a spaceship as he sings “ Bad luck to talk on these rides.” Yet remaining grounded is not hard as his relatable lyrics of becoming so close with someone only to let them go, deeply impact the listener. Ocean remains in the spaceship as the lyrics “You will find me” are repeated in between melodies as the listener can physically hear his voice drift away through an extraterrestrial filter. The tempo slows and the song is condensed to guitar and Ocean’s voice. His voice becomes extremely vulnerable as his harmonies follow the earlier trend of layering and the lyrics paint vivid images, “One too many years some tattooed eyelids on a facelift, mind over matter it’s magic, I do magic”.
Blonde, overall was an album worth waiting for. Ocean’s progression as an artist has obviously improved, and the contributions from other artists have taken the album to the level needed to exceed his previous work. Everyone knows four years was too long, but with the product finally out, fans have been nothing but appreciative of the content. So even though it took forever, Frank Ocean deserves a thank you, along with a big hug.