Comments on: Welcome Out, Frank Ocean

By: Timothy (TRiG)

Timothy (TRiG) — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 20:20:59 +0000

I’m not sure whether you’ve heard of Jay Smooth. He’s a video blogger who has a radio show about rap and hip hop, and has built up a reputation as an astute cultural commentator. (He even spoke once at TEDx.)

Anyway, here’s his response to Frank Ocean, wherein he contrasts Anderson Cooper’s simple declaration “I’m gay” with Frank Ocean’s unlabeled narrative.

TRiG.

By: Brady

Brady — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 14:53:24 +0000

His coming out letter, “Thank You’s” is quite moving. It captures the essence of coming out, even to one’s self quite eloquently. The part about this taboo relationship was especially moving for me.

By: Blake

Blake — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 14:36:13 +0000

All I know is that Loiter Squad makes me laugh. I’m not sure Frank Ocean’s coming out just yet. Hipsters have a way of defying expectations. But y’all are probably right.

By: Jim Burroway

Jim Burroway — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 02:52:58 +0000

I fixed the typo.

By: MCB

MCB — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 23:43:17 +0000

Jay-Z, not Jaz-Z. He’s gone on record supporting Obama’s support of gay marriage: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/14/jay-z-gay-marriage-obama_n_1516614.html

Kanye West, meanwhile, was one of the first mainstream rappers to openly voice criticism of the homophobia in rap and hip-hop culture, and though he hasn’t been 100% perfect in all his lyrics, he didn’t have any homophobic slurs that I could hear* in last year’s magnum opus, “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,” which is a rarity in today’s rap culture.

Hopefully they’ll both step up for Frank Ocean, and as two of the biggest names in rap music, that’s a big boon.

*I really like that album. Kanye West is a jerk, but he makes good music.

By: tristram

tristram — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 19:34:06 +0000

I was only vaguely aware of this guy before this story broke. But I agree with those who see this as an act of considerable courage and a BIG THING. Hip-hop/R&B has a huge following and the whole milieu has not been gay-friendly. There is a perception – similar to that in high-level sports – that coming out would probably end one’s career. This act of a young, rising-but-not-established artist to bare his soul in an open letter (rather than cryptic lyrics)is sure to change hearts and minds.

Ocean’s letter, entitled “Thank You’s” is readily available on the internet. It’s well worth tracking down and reading. He chronicles not just his coming to terms with his true self, but finding and losing his first love – and moving on (something that can be more difficult for some of us than coming out in the first place).

By: Regan DuCasse

Regan DuCasse — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 16:44:38 +0000

The NYTimes has an article about Frank Ocean up today.
With samples of his lyrics.

I have to say, unlike most young artists today, he does impress with them.

And perhaps the angst that comes with being gay, gives him the soulful edge he has.
Given him an inner life a lot of young performers don’t have.

We shall see.