“What was your favourite part?” A workmate inquired about my recent trip home to Oz.
One might think a typical answer would include “sunshine, family, the beach” etc. Well…
1) The sun greeted me with 3rd degree burns within four hours of my arrival.
2) Family time is great, but is always accompanied by a heavy dose of Christmas dysfunction, which perhaps has nothing to do with Christmas at all.
3) The ocean is full of life-threatening predators that you suddenly become more aware of after moving to a city where your biggest threat is peak-hour travel using public transport.
No, this holiday was filled with a different kind of ocean after an encounter with a handsome gentleman who informed me of the following:
“Frank Ocean is a poet and a story-teller.”
Turns out he was as wise as he was handsome.
This might be old news to fans of Ocean’s work in hip hop collective Odd Future (OFWGKTA). He has also penned songs for Justin Beebs and John Legend, among A-list others. Over the past year MV has featured Ocean’s mixtape releases and collaborations, praising his originality and fresh R&B fusions.
Last year saw Ocean’s solo studio debut with “Channel Orange,” from which came the single “Pyramids” (see above) - a 9+ minute tale of a modern pimpers paradise fitted with a John Mayer guitar solo outro.
Another favourite is “Lost,” which I played on repeat for my entire 45 hour journey back to London, and still can’t get enough of it. Get yourself addicted here.
All in all, I think I need to return home for musical enlightenment more often. Just have to remember to pack more sunscreen.
[MUSIC VIDEO] Tyler The Creator - She (Featuring Frank Ocean)//
As you know we’ve been huge fans of OFWGKTA for a long time. Cooper was posting their best of mixtapes before anyone had even heard of them (including myself) about eight months ago. I’ve been obsessing over the Frank Ocean Nostalgia Mixtape since I first laid ears on it so hearing them work together is fantastic. The icing on the cake is finding this video in Lana Del Ray’s Facebook stream. I think I just fell a little more in love with her.
A few weeks ago I posted about Mr. Ocean’s Nostalgia, ULTRAmixtape. As you may remember I was slightly obsessed and since my obsession has not nearly subsided I’ve decided to share a part of his upcoming video for “Novacane” with you. Enjoy!
I was listening through my exfm stream the other day and I heard a fantastic R&B inspired cover of Coldplay’s, “Strawberry Swing.” I immediately went in to my account to see who this artist was. It was someone who I had never heard of by the name of Frank Ocean. Turns out he rolls around with the Odd Future Crew and has one of the best mixtapes I’ve heard in a long time.
It wouldn’t be a strech for me to say that I don’t know much about R&B, but I know great sound when I hear it and this is it. I might go as far as to say that Frank Ocean is the future of R&B. His songs are lyrically intelligent, progressive and creative. If I had to compare him to another artists I would say he’s hybrid of Trey Songz and Kid Kudi, but really he oozes originality and I can’t stop listening to his mixtape, Nostalgia, ULTRA. My favorite tracks include “Strawberry Swing,” “Nova Cane” and “We All Try.” Have a listen below.
