Discovering the Strands of Music

Frank Ocean - Crack Rock

Extra Thread - (drums) Jimi Hendrix - Little Miss Lover

After listening to channel ORANGE, one question came to my mind.

Is Frank Ocean’s hype because of his talent, or the fact he is the first major hip-hop artist to come out of the closet?

The answer is both.  Sure, there are probably many gay people who have caught attention of his music just because of his sexual orientation, but the hype surrounding his music goes way beyond sexual preference.

This album is solid.  His lyrics are complicated, his melodies are soothing, and his voice is raspy enough to portray a raw sound, but strong enough to keep the attention of the room.  No one would give a shit about him if his music sucked. 

It doesn’t.

But let’s be honest with ourselves.  The extra publicity doesn’t hurt.  He pulls off being gay very well.  What I mean by that is, his reputation is not scolded in the hip-hop community, which has a history of knocking homosexuals.  Even 50 Cent, who is known for his gangster demeanor, has come out to support him.  No straight man is ashamed to love his music.  It’s THAT good.

This makes Frank Ocean one of the most influential figures in hip-hop history.  Not because he’s bisexual, but because he’s proving it doesn’t matter by putting out amazing music.