Frank Ocean is a singer, songwriter, and rapper.
Ocean released his debut mixtape Nostalgia, Ultra in 2011. His single "Novacane" was eventually certified platinum. His first studio album, Channel Orange, was released in 2012, and debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 before being certified platinum as well. The album was widely praised by critics and won Ocean his first Grammy Award for Best Urban Contemporary Album. His music has gone on to earn an additional Grammy Award and another half dozen nominations.
In 2016, Ocean came out as bi with an open letter on Tumblr sharing that his first love was a man.
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 days 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.
The open letter made waves in the hip-hop community, with many celebrities voicing their support for Ocean. That same year, after four years of silence, Ocean dropped back-to-back albums, Endless (2016) and Blonde (2016).
In 2017, Ocean released the song "Chanel" in which he sings about his ability "to see both sides”. The song was quickly hailed as a bi anthem. In the time since, Ocean has branched out into videography, photography, and even carpentry as well, constantly finding new ways to express himself.