resolving in my head the little knowledge that i have of frank ocean is what really intrigues me about him, i think. i first heard of frank ocean peripherally through alt/weird-rap provocateurs odd future wolfgang kill them all. i may have d/led frank oceans mixtape, nostalgia/ultra, but i dont think i really gave it the time of day @ that point. still, the idea of a straight-up - @ the very least, non-baiting - r&b singer affiliated w/ odd future was pretty compelling to me.
fast-forward half a year. odd future is creeping out of the underground, w/ nearly all the buzz centered around tyler, the creator. yet, somehow, frank ocean is tapped to be on watch the throne, the collaborative album by jay-z & kanye west, two of the most monolithic figures in pop music over the past 10-15 years. given odd future's buzz, i suppose its not unrealistic to think that jay-z & kanye are simply trying to reach for relevancy. (see, e.g., the transparent dubstep influence throughout the album.) watch the throne largely did nothing for me, but thankfully it reminded me of frank ocean.
this is probably my favorite song from nostalgia/ultra. the beat continually lurches forward, & frank ocean is all over it.
he also sounds baby smooth over the eagles
though theres plenty of mass appeal on nostalgia/ultra, it still doesnt shed light on his role w/ odd future. i havent read much on the subject, but musically, he adds depth & warmth to what can otherwise be dissonant & unsettling music, like in this song off tyler the creator's goblin.
it will be interesting to see if, as odd future's & frank ocean's exposure increase, whether frank ocean distances himself from odd future's self-seeking controversy or whether he continues to serve as a bizarre, but essential foil to the odd future rappers.
