Christopher Francis “Frank” Ocean Christopher Edwin Breaux was born on October 28, 1987, and is an American singer, songwriter, and rapper.
His works are noted by music critics for featuring avant-garde styles and introspective, elliptical lyrics.
Ocean has won two Grammy Awards and a Brit Award for International Male Solo Artist among other accolades, and his two studio albums have been listed on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (2020).
Ocean began his musical career as a ghostwriter, prior to joining the hip-hop collective Odd Future in 2010. The following year, he released his first mixtape, Nostalgia, Ultra, and subsequently secured a recording contract with Def Jam Recordings.
His first studio album, the eclectic Channel Orange (2012), incorporated R&B and soul styles. At the 2013 Grammy Awards, Channel Orange was nominated for Album of the Year and won Best Urban Contemporary Album; one of its singles, “Thinkin’ Bout You”, was nominated for Record of the Year. He was named by Time as one of the world’s most influential people in 2013.
Ocean’s younger brother, Ryan Breaux, was killed in a car crash on August 2, 2020, at the age of 18.
Who found Frank Ocean?
In late 2009, he met Tricky Stewart, who helped him sign a writing contract with Def Jam Recordings. Ocean felt neglected by the label and began working on a mixtape on his own without their input.
Who did Frank Ocean inspire?
He revealed that he was working with Tyler, the Creator, Pharrell Williams, and Danger Mouse on the record. He later stated that he was being influenced by The Beach Boys and The Beatles.