Frank Ocean may have some of the most cultish, fervent supporters in the entire music industry. Born as Christopher Edwin Breaux, the 37-year-old singer’s fan-base — and influence — far exceed the quantity of his music. Though he hasn’t released an official studio album since 2016, every year there seems to be rumors that Ocean has a new life-altering masterpiece on the way. His fans read into every bit of his life, analyzing his Instagram feed, his mom’s birthday message and even recently a masked figure on Tyler the Creator’s music video for a desperate sign of new music. I, for one, have a bootleg vinyl of his unreleased songs — and I’m not even a mega fan. This kind of obsessive behavior is normalized throughout Ocean’s fanbase. Safe to say, fans would give up an arm and a leg to hear another second of Ocean’s sweet melodies.
Yet, he should disregard us. Ocean should retire, never release another album — hell, never release another song. In doing so, he would cement his legacy and go against recent trends of quantity over quality.
Fans are greedy nowadays, and singers are more than happy to satisfy their relentless cravings. Artists like Drake release commercial albums almost every year, willing to sell their mediocre melodies for some quick cash. Others like Elton John taint their legacy, releasing albums even as their voices dwindle into obscurity. Of course, there is no shame in continuing to make music as a passion project. However, music shouldn’t be thrown about haphazardly. Sometimes it’s okay to take your time. With seven Grammy nominations, two Grammy wins and two albums — “Blonde” and “Channel Orange” — that have been placed on best-of-all-time lists, Ocean has more than cemented his legacy in the music game. He has inspired the sound of countless artists across genres, with singers like Lorde and Khalid citing him as inspiration. He has created a platform for black men to be open about their sexuality. Ocean has even personally helped me process my emotions through his heart-felt lyrics and beautiful melodies.
Recently, Ocean has expanded his horizons. He has created a high-end jewelry brand in Homer, and even has plans to make his directorial debut. By pursuing his current passions, Ocean will make waves in different industries, depriving fans of his beautiful music.
I would absolutely love another Frank Ocean album — so I obviously don’t want him to retire. Yet, I think Ocean serves as a reminder to live on your own terms. There is something to be said about appreciating what we have. If there is less music to listen to, we begin to appreciate the genius of each and every song. Since Ocean has such a small discography, each lyric and melody holds a special significance. His exclusivity is part of what makes him so powerful. In an effort to find more of his music, you have to watch “Endless,” a 45-minute video. In order to listen to a song off of “Nostalgia, Ultra” — Ocean’s mixtape — you often have to dig to find the title released under a moniker; even then, you can only listen to it until it ultimately gets banned by the Apple Music gods. I have sadly watched many of my favorite artists release new mediocre music, making me question their talent in the process. While legacy should not be a barrier for releasing new music, impact — and the power of saying less — should be.
While we await a new release from Ocean, we should explore new genres and new artists. Ocean’s lyrics from his song “Sweet Life” can serve as a warning on the downfalls of sauntering in one’s comfort: “You’ve had a landscaper and a house keeper since you were born / The starshine always kept you warm / So why see the world, when you got the beach? / Don't know why see the world, when you got the beach / The sweet life.” While always getting your way with new music is nice, Ocean challenges this beautiful beach of sweet new melodies. In doing so, he challenges us to both enjoy our beach — his discography — and explore the world of new music.
