Frank Ocean is renown for marching to the beat of his own drum. As such, while his decision to not enter new album ‘Blonde’ for this year’s Grammy‘s surprised some, others were less shocked.
Folk are likely to raise an eyebrow in unison, however, following the crooner’s comments towards the committee.
Producer Ken Ehrlich is believed to have simply answered a question about Ocean’s decision not to take part.
His words clearly irked the star, because he took to his Tumblr and wrote this…
Ok Ken (and David). As much as I hate to make you guys famous or even respond to you directly. We all die one day and you’re old so fuck it. Yea yea my 2013 performance at the Grammys was absolute shit.
Technical difficulties, blah blah. Thanks for the reminder. Very much appreciated. Fuck that performance though. You think that’s why I kept my work out of the Grammy process this year? Don’t you think I would’ve wanted to play the show to ‘redeem’ myself if I felt that way?
In reality, I actually wanted to participate in honoring Prince on the show but then I figured my best tribute to that man’s legacy would be to continue to be myself out here and to be successful. Winning a TV award doesn’t christen me successful. It took me some time to learn that.
I bought all my masters back last year in the prime of my career, that’s successful. Blonde sold a million plus without a label, that’s successful. I am young, black, gifted and independent.. that’s my tribute. I’ve actually been tuning into CBS around this time of year for a while to see who gets the top honor and you know what’s really not ‘great TV’ guys? 1989 getting album of the year over To Pimp A Butterfly.
Hands down one of the most ‘faulty’ TV moments I’ve seen. Believe the people. Believe the ones who’d rather watch select performances from your program on YouTube the day after because your show puts them to sleep.
Use the old gramophone to actually listen bro, I’m one of the best alive. And if you’re up for a discussion about the cultural bias and general nerve damage the show you produce suffers from then I’m all for it. Have a good night. [Source]
While most of Ocean’s listed achievements do ring true, he comes across more pressed than a panini.
All that ranting and self-affirmation doesn’t dilute the reality that very few actually took to ‘Blonde’ as intended and, despite its “success” as an indie release, it hasn’t made any kind of cultural or commercial impact.
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Lol he went in especially with 1989.
But cool it Ocean with the Kanye West teas no one is here for that. “I’m one of the best alive” notice how the actual greats never mention how great they are. Humility is important.
Delusional. His music, singing, image and personality is borderline boring and it’s his fault because he could market himself much better. You’re not “one of the best alive” you’re actually very uninspiring and fail to make your art relevant, interesting or even consumer friendly at best. I will say that it was smart to buy back your masters though, but what will you do now?
It’s such a shame we have “artists” like this, wasting their opportunities with lack of enthusiasm and abundance of ego. There are far more talented people struggling for recognition who don’t have even half the platform this man does.
Oh well…
Lmao to one of the best alive
But he didn’t lie tho i hope they are not gonna give AOTY to Adele or Drake whatever
Beyoncé deserve to win that s***
Fashion Thanks well said OMg
I agree that 1989 was a pathetic choice for AOTY but he is beyond delusional if he thinks that based on YouTube views or what ‘the people’ want it wouldn’t have won. It’s popularity is the ONLY reason it won. Artistically it was basic af and the Grammys should be about artistic merit and not what sells. This queen needs to get gone.
Boy, slam some black dye in that green,sisqo-colored head of yours, and stop acting so weird. That entire group needs to grow up and find some type of faith because they’re borderline crazy and satanic. That dry, deep music just ain’t it. PERIOD!!!!
He should have kept that line about him apparently being the best alive. Especially when blonde is a s***** album. I like frank but I’m not here for the arrogance. What I am here for though s the 1989 drag that album did not deserve AOTY.
One of the best alive at what exactly? Had Frank not used his sexuality to boost his career,he would’ve been a forgotten footnote at this point.
There were plenty of male R&B vocalist at the time he surfaced who wrote better, sang better,but didn’t have the sexuality wild card giving them exposure or press.
Sleeping with a known music excective and being associated with odd future didn’t hurt either.Humble yourself Frank Ocean!
I don’t even like Taylor Swift but 1989 was perfectly crafted Pop album.She had the best selling album that year,plus one of the top reviewed albums of that year,she deserved her recognition.
What top exec was he sleeping with?
Taylor Swift having an ALBUM OF THE YEAR award is the lowest grammys (who have not been what they were for many years now) have gone. No wait, they did go lower when they gave her her second. It´s appalling and was the moment when winning a grammy totally lost all the glory it meant. She is so basic to deserve that. Just no. Too many of the nominations these recent years are a big no too.
I would posit that up until now Beyoncé hasn’t really deserved her Grammies either. Especially, when considered how deserved Jagged Little Pill, The Miseduction Of Lauren Hill and Ray Of Light were. Now shade towards Beyoncé because she has become a stellar artist since then but DIL was a reductive effort in comparison.
I agree all those many grammys for Beyonce during the 00s are not deserved either. It´s just unrealistic. Just no. She got better since 4, I don´t mind that they recognize her now, but so much before? Like I said, grammys started to go downhill along with maisntream music in the 00s already. They are still the best awards though.
The fact that Beyonce has about 20 Grammys mostly for vocal performances and people like Whitney, Celine and Mariah have around 5 or 6 indicates the clear bias in the post 2000 Grammy committee. It’s a great award but it’s been reduced by such over the top dispensation. Even Michael died with only 13 to his name.
The grammys have been a joke for years. And that’s not gonna change anytime soon.
Wow. Calling yourself the best. You and Kanye don’t deserve it at all. Imagine Kanye and Frank won AOTY, they will become Lauryn Hill 2.0, coming to shows late, clinging to that one album for their entire life. Thank God they didn’t.
Blonde was boring AF.
Giving me Kanye West teas already two albums in on his career but that’s none of my business, it’s tea tho.
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He isn’t wrong about Taylor robbing Kendrick but gurl sit, Blonde was no Channel Orange, let’s be clear about that.
You guys didn’t post what the Grammy dude said about frank that made him go off. He didn’t “simply answer” a question about frank. He said that franks performance in 2013 was not great for tv and how he contacted his management and label to get frank to change his “faulty” performance but frank stuck to his artistic vision.
Ok…the boy can’t sing but he is absolutely right about the Grammys. They lost credibility long ago. Much respect to Frank!
The best at sucking d*** for sales, go head. You’ll be great for p*** background music. Rihanna has more stage presence than Frank Ocean. Don’t blame technical difficulties for your performance, we could hear this scared p**** vocals just fine. If you’re so great, then just let your music speak for itself. First you had to out yourself then you wanted to be this deep artist, which you complete stole the image from an underground artist. You can’t talk about ANY ARTIST AT ALL for the simple fact you think you’re the greatest at anything. Stop letting your MoMA and Beyonce boost your big ass head.
Adele getting ‘Album Of The Yr’ is fine though. Beyonce’s album ain’t all of that. The visuals we’re great. Taylor’s album was a whole different thing..
Over rated…. Plz go somewhere Francine
Theory: Award shows have been getting dragged for not giving enough credit to black artists. During this climate Beyoncé released her “unapologetically black” album. What better way to say “I’m not racist” than to give said album AOTY?
Beyoncé and her team knew this and seized the opportunity
Nice