There is no bigger fan of Frank Ocean than yours truly, and for nearly the past seven months I’ve been singing the praises of this soon-to-be icon of the hip-hop world. My love affair first began when I fell head over heels for Frank’s phenomenal track “Novacane”, and continues to this day with my latest Ocean favorite: the 10 minutes of bliss known as “Pyramids” off Frank’s upcoming 17-track album Channel Orange set for release on July 17th (you can pick up your own copy on that day by visiting IslandDefJam.com). Earlier today Frank came out of the closet after This Is Max posted a review of Channel Orange, in which they speculated that through his song lyrics he was opening up about his sexuality. Frank Ocean responded to the rumors last night by going on Tumblr and posting what was originally intended to be the liner notes for the album, a letter which he wrote on a plane back in December. The letter will now be forever known as one of the most incredible moments in hip-hop history. The following is an excerpt:
“4 summers ago, I met somebody. I was 19 years old. He was too. We spent that summer, and the summer after, together. Everyday almost. And on the days we were together, time would glide. Most of the day I’d see him, and his smile. I’d hear his conversation and his silence … until it was time to sleep. Sleep I would often share with him. By the time I realized I was in love, it was malignant. It was hopeless. There was no escaping, no negotiating with the feeling. No choice. It was my first love, it changed my life. Back then, my mind would wander to the women I had been with, the ones I cared for and thought I was in love with. I reminisced about the sentimental songs I enjoyed as a teenager.. The ones I played when I experienced a girlfriend for the first time. I realized they were written in a language I did not speak yet. I realized too much, too quickly. Imagine being thrown from a plane. I wasn’t in a plane though. I was in a Nissan Maxima, the same one I packed up with bags and drove to Los Angeles in.
I sat there and told my friend how I felt. I wept as the words left my mouth. I grieved for them, knowing I could never take them back for myself. He patted my back. He said kind things. He did his best, but he wouldn’t admit the same. He had to go back inside soon. It was late and his girlfriend was waiting for him upstairs. He wouldn’t tell me the truth about his feelings for me for another 3 years. I felt like I’d only imagined reciprocity for years. Now imagine being thrown from a cliff. No, I wasn’t on a cliff, I was still in my car telling myself it was gonna be fine and to take deep breaths. I took the breaths and carried on. I kept up a peculiar friendship with him because I couldn’t imagine keeping up my life without him. I struggled to master myself and my emotions. I wasn’t always successful.”
Frank ended the letter with: “Thanks. To my mother, you raised me strong. I know I’m only braved because you were first … so thank you. All of you. For everything good. I feel like a free man. If I listen closely … I can hear the sky falling too.” You can read the complete letter in its full amazingness by CLICKING HERE. For all things Frank Ocean be sure to visit FrankOcean.com, follow him on Facebook and Twitter, and check out all the North American dates for his MUST SEE summer tour by CLICKING HERE. Frank — I think I love you.
