Frank Ocean Is Back and Everyone is Freaking Out

graphic by lucinda strol

If you checked your phone at all on October 19, and we know you did, there’s a solid chance that you saw the name Frank Ocean cross your screen at some point. At the end of his Apple Music radio show “blonded RADIO” that night, he premiered a new song. “DHL” is Ocean’s first drop in a year, and more importantly, may be the first single off of a highly-anticipated new album. 

On top of “DHL,” Ocean also teased two more songs during the broadcast. Neither “Cayendo” nor “Dear April” currently have a set release date, which naturally led to wild speculation on social media about the possibility of a new album. This presently untitled album would come three years after his highly acclaimed 2016 record “Blonde,” which basically means that we have been waiting for way too long and we are READY. 

“DHL” is a bit of a departure for Ocean, as he typically goes for a more instrumental sound to his music, while “DHL” is relatively simple. It features a clean backtrack with Ocean rapping about his accolades over it. Of course, the lyrics include his signature wordplay and emotionality. But we’re not here to review the track, we’re here to talk about Frank. 

Ocean has amassed a cult-like following in the alternative and hip-hop scenes for his clever lyrics and soulful music. His 2012 debut album, “channel ORANGE,” quickly became immensely popular, with the single “Thinkin Bout You” peaking at number 32 on the Billboard Top 100. Four years later, his sophomore album “Blonde” peaked at number one on the Billboard 200 Albums chart. Since then, Ocean has collaborated with Jay-Z, Tyler, the Creator, and Calvin Harris, among other well-known artists. During this time, he gained a loyal fanbase which was largely composed of members of the LGBT community. Ocean himself is gay and has been an outspoken proponent of LGBT rights and empowerment. 

This brings us into another of Ocean’s recent launches: the PrEP+ parties. These legendary parties are named after the medication primarily taken by the LGBT community which helps to prevent HIV/AIDS. Like many things Ocean does, they are highly secretive, and there have only been two so far. Attendees are not allowed to take photos or videos, but this did not stop the internet from grabbing a few shots of the party. According to a Gayletter Magazine Instagram post advertising the event, Ocean’s goal is to allow partygoers to experience what the 1980s club scene in New York City could have been like had PrEP existed during that time. It is mainly marketed towards LGBT people and people of color, as the HIV/AIDS epidemic affected these groups the most in the United States. 

Although we do not know much about these parties, we do know that Ocean has been debuting a couple of his new songs at them. Sure, the parties and potential future album are still shrouded in mystery, but that’s why we love Frank Ocean to begin with. While we wait we’ll just be doing what everyone from our generation does best: heading to Twitter to speculate.