Tag Archives: Frank Ocean

coachella

Coachella Will Reportedly Be Pushed to October

Coachella, the annual two-weekend music festival that takes place in April in California, has reportedly been postponed due to concerns over the coronavirus outbreak after three cases were diagnosed in Coachella Valley. It’s just the latest event to be affected by the growing epidemic after SXSW in Austin and Ultra Festival in Miami were canceled (or “postponed until next year,” according to a statement by Ultra) earlier this month.

 

Coachella is one of the largest music festivals in the country — last year’s event brought in an estimated 99,000 attendees from around the world. According to Hypebeast, the only reason the festival is able to be postponed for later this year instead of canceled entirely is that Coachella includes a six-month radius clause for its performers. As of now, the current lineup, which includes Frank Ocean, Travis Scott, Lana del Rey, Charli XCX, Calvin Harris, should be unaffected.

 

 

 

 

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Frank Ocean is Now the Face of Prada

The lastest move of Frank Ocean’s return to the cultural consciousness (though did he ever really leave?), the artist fronts the latest Prada campaign for its Spring/Summer 2020 collection. The increasingly deified and always enigmatic artist has been laying the groundwork for a proper comeback, beginning with a series of club nights in New York last fall and the release of two singles that were enough to earn him a headlining slot at this year’s Coachella, so an international fashion campaign seems right on the money. Ocean has long been affiliated with the label — he even wore a simple black anorak to the Met Gala, essentially avoiding the theme of the event (which was Camp) and reminding the world that he marches to the beat of his own drum machine. Austin Butler, who had a breakout role in last year’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and director Nicolas Winding Refn also star in the campaign which hopes to highlight “pivotal cultural personalities of now and archetypes of the hyper fragmented mindset of tomorrow,” according to a statement.

 

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coachella

Frank Ocean and Travis Scott Will Headline Coachella 2020

Over two weekends in April, Indio, California is transformed into a mega cultural and entertainment hotbed by Coachella. The annual music festival that takes place in the desert has only gotten bigger since its launch in 1999, attracting A-list acts from Bjork to Drake to Beyonce to Tame Impala over 20 years.

 

The lineup for the upcoming festival was revealed last night, and it’s impressive. For headliners, there’s Rage Against the Machine, Travis Scott, and Frank Ocean. Ocean, who is notoriously enigmatic, has been laying the groundwork for a comeback for a few months now starting with his club night series back in October so it’s likely to culminate in something spectacular for the festival. Meanwhile, Travis Scott has been riding the high of his critically acclaimed Astroworld tour and Rage Against the Machine are icons for their defiant, political, and genre-bending rock music — plus, having the band perform during an election year is definitely a choice.

 

But that’s not all! Other acts appearing include Thom Yorke, Disclosure, Lana del Rey, Run the Jewels, Megan Thee Stallion, Calvin Harris, Charli XCX, Danny Elfman, Swae Lee, Carly Rae Jepsen, 21 Savage, FKA Twigs, Big Sean, Lil Nas X, and Fatboy Slim.

 

Coachella will take place on April 10-12 and 17-19. Tickets for Weekend 1 are sold out but stay tuned for Weekend 2 pre-sale. Check out the full lineup below.

 

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Frank Ocean is Hosting a PrEP+ Party in NYC

The charmingly enigmatic artist Frank Ocean is hosting an exclusive party in New York City tonight. The new club night, PrEP+, is billed as “an homage to what could have been of the 1980s’ NYC club scene if the drug PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) — which can be taken daily to prevent HIV/AIDs for those who are not infected but are at high risk — had been invented in that era.”

 

In a recent interview with W, Ocean revealed that he’s been inspired by house music and club culture while working on his upcoming record. “I’ve been interested in club, and the many different iterations of nightlife for music and songs. And so the things I look at now have a lot to do with those scenes: Detroit, Chicago, techno, house, French electronic,” he said. Further celebrating the euphoric and carefree nature of old school club life, the party will enforce a strict no-phone policy.

 

According to a release, tonight’s event will mark the first in an ongoing series of parties, so if you’re unable to attend (ticket links have already been sent out) rest assure that a PrEP+ night could be coming to a city near you sometime soon.

 


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This Thursday night a new party from @blonded called PrEP+ in NYC. PrEP+ is the first in a series of nights; an ongoing safe space made to bring people together and dance. PrEP+ will welcome globally celebrated DJs. The night is named PrEP+ as an homage to what could have been of the 1980s’ NYC club scene if the drug PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) — which can be taken daily to prevent HIV/AIDs for those who are not infected but are at high risk — had been invented in that era. Ticket links have been distributed and the venue will be announced to ticket-holders on the evening of the night. Club hours are 10pm-late. House rules: No photos or videos are allowed Consent is mandatory Zero tolerance for racism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism, ableism or any form or discrimination The dance floor is for dancing www.blonded.co

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Pitchfork Names the Best Songs and Albums of the 2010s

If an album I love is given a positive review by Pitchfork, it’s a badge of honor. Such was the case for The Greatest, Invasion of Privacy, and Honey. But when an album I love is given a bad review (like a 4.8/10 for Madame X — yikes) they’re wrong, pretentious, how dare they, what do they know, etc. Nevertheless, for better or worse, the dominion they hold over the music world is undeniable. And alas, they have released their comprehensive guide to the best songs and albums of the past decade.

 

There are some obvious frontrunners (Frank Ocean, arguably the decade’s most critically beloved singer-songwriter, ranks towards the top on both) but the list is a fairly sensible ranking of songs that have had the biggest impact on popular music in and outside the mainstream. Here are Pitchfork’s top 10 songs and albums of the 2010s.

 

TOP 10 ALBUMS

  1. Blonde – Frank Ocean
  2. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy – Kanye West
  3. Beyoncé – Beyoncé
  4. To Pimp a Butterfly – Kendrick Lamar
  5. The Idler Wheel... – Fiona Apple
  6. A Seat at the Table – Solange
  7. Modern Vampires of the City – Vampire Weekend
  8. Body Talk – Robyn
  9. Black Messiah – D’Angelo & the Vanguard
  10. Channel Orange – Frank Ocean

 

TOP 10 SONGS

  1. Alright” – Kendrick Lamar
  2. Oblivion” – Grimes
  3. Dancing on my Own” – Robyn
  4. Formation” – Beyoncé
  5. Thinkin Bout You” – Frank Ocean
  6. 212” – Azealia Banks
  7. Your Best American Girl” – Mitski
  8. Cranes in the Sky” – Solange
  9. Video Games” – Lana Del Rey
  10. XO TOUR Llif3” – Lil Uzi Vert

 

Pusha-T and 1800 Tequila Scouted Rising Artists for New Album

On December 7th, 1800 Seconds, a collaborative effort by Pusha-T and 1800 Tequila, finally dropped on all major music platforms. The new album featured songs from up and coming artists from across the country selected by the Pusha, whom he mentored personally.  The project is a new artist discovery and recording platform that gives unsigned artists a chance to write and release one new three-minute track produced and marketed by a record label — the artists involved were Ant White (Philadelphia, PA), Cartel Count Up (Hampton, VA), Don Zio P (Middletown, CT), Hass Irv (Harlem, NY), Monalyse (Detroit, MI), Nita Jonez (Houston, TX), Sam Austins (Detroit, MI), T Got Bank (Brooklyn, NY), Trevor Lanier (Wilmington, NC) and Tyler Thomas (Los Angeles, CA).

The album sessions were held in Los Angeles, at the world-famous Westlake Studios, where Michael Jackson, Aaliyah, and Frank Ocean have recorded some of their hits. Part of the recording process entailed each of the artists working with Pusha-T to refine their songwriting skills, beats, delivery, and bouncing ideas back and forth with the rapper.

“The 1800 Seconds platform is a time for me to connect on an executive and mentor level and push the next generation of creatives in music forward,” Pusha-T said in a statement. “Making it in hip-hop is hard—the only things you can control are the creativity and yourself—and new artists on the rise will strive when they know who they are and what they want. Hip-hop is all about staying connected to culture, being inspired by what’s happening on the streets and translating that to your audience. The new 1800 Seconds compilation does just that.”

1800 Seconds is out now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49j0SFtFLB4

 

 

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Calvin Klein Fall 2016 Campaign

calvin-klein-fall-2016-campaign-ocean_ph_tyrone-lebon-277Image: Calvin Klein.

Fronted by the enigmatic Frank Ocean, Kate Moss, Young Thug, Grace Coddington, Cameron Dallas, and many more, Calvin Klein releases a powerful narrative for its Fall 2016 imagery by photographer and filmmaker Tyrone Lebon. The unbelievable cast blends from fashion to film, further pushing the American brand’s presence into the cultural conversation of today.

calvin-klein-fall-2016-campaign-pilon_ph_tyrone-lebon-145Image: Calvin Klein.

calvin-klein-fall-2016-campaign-rodriguez_ph_tyrone-lebon-190Image: Calvin Klein.

calvin-klein-fall-2016-campaign-young-thug_ph_tyrone-lebon-037Image: Calvin Klein.

calvin-klein-fall-2016-campaign-coddington_ph_tyrone-lebon-046Image: Calvin Klein.

calvin-klein-fall-2016-campaign-rollins_ph_tyrone-lebon-043Image: Calvin Klein.

calvin-klein-fall-2016-campaign-gerber_ph_tyrone-lebon-163Image: Calvin Klein.

calvin-klein-fall-2016-campaign-coddington_ph_tyrone-lebon-160Image: Calvin Klein.

calvin-klein-fall-2016-campaign-rodriguez_ph_tyrone-lebon-172Image: Calvin Klein.

calvin-klein-fall-2016-campaign-young-thug_ph_tyrone-lebon-031Image: Calvin Klein.

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Bianca Chandon Crashes Skateboarding into Fashion, or Whatever

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Image: Bianca Chandon and ThePFW.

Bianca Chandon—the barely six-month-old skateboarding-inspired fashion fusion lifestyle brand that has, in a blink of an eye, become the outfit for busted-knee boarders in Longbeach and socially #trending downtown Manhattan club kids alike—takes no frills in its sudden en vogue status. Born from the mind of Alex Olson, a photographer and the first second-generation pro in skateboarding history—his father, Steve, was named Skater of the Year in 1978 and is noted as first introducing the checkerboard pattern into skating—the brand takes a ‘we’ll get it to it when we get it’ approach to its subversive design, pulling references from Studio 54, fashion spreads from the late 80’s and early 90’s, and Paris is Burning to create limited edition runs of quirkily worded t-shirts and vintage themed boards.

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Image: Bianca Chandon and ThePFW.

 

When each batch runs out? Olson makes something else. Or whatever. It really depends on how he’s feeling that day. And perhaps it is this sense of reverse sales psychology, or even almost apathy that has inspired such a must-have response to the brand from communities on and off the skate ramp, empowering kids to flock to buy something that doesn’t particularly care if it sells. Endorsements from the likes of Frank Ocean also don’t hurt.

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Image: Bianca Chandon and ThePFW.

And while it would be wrong to believe that Bianca Chandon pours too much marketing thought into its product line—as in the case of many corporate-owned boarding brands—with offerings ranging from a retro “Fire Island” tee to another one-pocket nostalgically labeled “Lover,” perhaps Olson breathes just enough breath into the line to keep us all interested. Or at least waiting to see what trick he’s going to pull off next.

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BEYONCÉ

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Burn your Christmas wish list.

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Erase any “Best of” round-ups from your recent memory.

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Q-tip’s out. Get those ear drums pristine.

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By now, we’re in the aftermath.

It’s been a little over ten hours and although the something-more-royal-than dust has settled, Queen B is still sitting atop her thrown in full freeze; the stare: icy. So, yes, Beyoncé went and pulled the stuntiest of stunt moves, dropping an entire “visual album” out of thin air after a year of will she/won’t she.

The not-at-all-highly-anticipated-out-of-lack-of-knowing-it-existed album is out today, exclusively on iTunes, and is comprised of 14 songs and 17 videos. Collabs with Jay-Z, Drake, Frank Ocean, and Blue Ivy are spread across the album with a slew of somebody producers including Justin Timberlake, Timbaland, Sia, Pharrell, Miguel, Ryan Tedder, The-Dream, Hit-Boy, etc (and we mean etcetera).

In a statement: “Now people only listen to a few seconds of  song on the iPods and they don’t really invest in the whole experience. It’s all about the single, and the hype. It’s so much that gets between the music and the art and the fans. I felt like, I don’t want anybody to get the message, when my record is coming out. I just want this to come out when it’s ready and from me to my fans.”

On track to decimate, 80,000 copies of the album were sold in the first 3 hours of sale ALONE.

It’s a good day to be alive!

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Images courtesy of  Columbia Records.

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Frank Ocean Reignites Chris Brown Feud Over Versace Lyrics

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Chris Brown is not too bummed out by Frank Ocean canceling his performance at this week’s OVO Fest in Toronto. For starters, the rapper has problems of his own: He’s due back in court on August 16 for a hearing related to a May hit and run. And now Ocean has taken that popular tumblr of his and revealed lyrics to a remix of Migos’ Versace (no audio). The image, seen below, reveals two things. For one, Frank Ocean writes his lyrics in TextEdit. Perhaps he should try a google doc or, at the very least, make sure he saves his work regularly. The image also reignites his long-standing beef with Chris Brown.

Exhibit A: “Versace Versace I’ll play the piano I’m not Liberace / You could stay seated I’m taking that Grammy your music is sloppy.”

Exhibit B:”Marina Abramovic Riccardo Tisci Madonna Beyonce And Donatella if you don’t believe me believe what the blogs say / We was all at the table.”

Exhibit C:”You had you a lady, then she hurt your ego, now you can’t forgive her.”

The song has yet to be released and Brown has yet to respond. One thing remains certain: TextEdit is not down for the count.

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