Renowned artist, Frank Ocean, released album Channel Orange in 2012 which labeled him as one of the most talented singer/songwriters of the year. As fans waited for his next big thing, artist like Beyonce, Rihanna and Drake released albums that spoke about issues of empowerment and strength. Whether it was through social media or through their songs, stating their opinions about racial prejudice was huge for their careers. As for Frank Ocean’s, many feared that his voice would no longer be heard, that he disappeared from the business of entertainment. Until 2016, when Ocean released album Blonde after four years of silence. Fans raved for this news and the question among critics rose. Was Oceans new album worth the wait? Did it really life up to the expectations of the public, and to his own expectations? Truth is both albums are full of talent, but are both very different. Channel Orange was eclectic and saturated with life, while Blonde was subtle and transparent. His voice was brought to life once again and he was now along side fellow artists with their stand on the acts of violence against the African American community. His song “Nikes” was one of the most controversial for it mentioned the tragedy of Trayvon Martin. This then showed the silent but deadly side of Oceans music, that the wait only allowed him to reach the surface of issues arising in our country. Blonde is considered raw and clear and ultimately shows that although not everyone can put their fans on hold and still release a pristine album, Frank Ocean can.
Melody Ocasio // A&E Editor
