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Frank Ocean is one of today’s artists who mainly stays off of the grid, which leaves fans constantly feening for new music. However, it shouldn’t come as a surprise, considering the R&B artist dropped his last studio album, “Blonde,” back in 2016. Now, with the wave of AI, online users are taking advantage of him being MIA in the industry.
Reclaiming master recordings is a celebratory moment for every artist. The feat empowers artists by reclaiming ownership of what is rightfully theirs as they now own the copyrights to the original sound recordings of their favorite tunes. According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, “‘By definition, that makes it the most authentic superior sonic account of the song.'” Not only that but owning one’s masters can be the stepping stone to creating wealth for future generations, thanks to royalties earned each time a song is played or duplicated. Although there is no fine print to the accomplishment, artists including Anita Baker, Rihanna, and Frank Ocean, have used their voices to earn back their master recordings. Here’s AfroTech’s inside look at their journeys.
Being an independent artist is still a revolutionary feat. There are so many horror stories about how the industry has managed to get over on recording artists who are simply just trying to share their gifts with the world. In the past, musicians like Prince, TLC, and more have been vocal about signing deals that didn’t have their best interest at heart. For Frank Ocean, not only has he been a groundbreaking artist in terms of attaining his masters, but he also smashed ceilings for the LGBTQ+ community. His critically acclaimed “Channel Orange” album was the first time he shared with fans that his first love was a male friend in the renowned “Forrest Gump” track. During an interview with GQ in 2011, he told the outlet that he deems both his sexuality and music as uncategorized. “I’m giving you what I feel like you can feel… The other shit, you can’t feel,” he explained. “You can’t feel a box. You can’t feel a label.” Now, as a seasoned veteran in the game, Ocean has managed to...
Frank Ocean originally got his start as a member of the rap collective Odd Future. But, today, his influence is both far-reaching and undeniable. After fulfilling his contract with Def Jam Records, Ocean dropped not one, but two, projects — “Endless,” which fulfilled his Def Jam contract, and the critically-acclaimed and influential “Blonde.” These two projects alone have ensured that Frank Ocean left an indelible mark on the industry as a whole. But when you review the sum total of all that the man born Christopher Breaux in New Orleans, LA, you realize that he’s more than just a musical genius. Writing for HotNewHipHop, Robert Blair said that while Ocean was a brilliant musician, his true prowess lay in his ability to parlay his impact into successful business moves. By becoming independent of any record label, Ocean became freer to express himself in such a way that wouldn’t be possible in a more restrictive label environment. “Where others toe the line, Frank Ocean remains in a...
Frank Ocean is, officially, in the jewelry business. In a press release announcement, it was revealed that the former member of Odd Future has launched Homer, which is being touted as an “independent American luxury company” by its official press release. Homer Catalog / Courtesy of Homer And the first capsule is quite extensive, with pieces including diamond-encrusted bracelets, cartoon-colored enamel pendants, patterned silk scarves, and gold rings sculpted into the word “OK.” Homer Catalog / Courtesy of Homer “The first Homer collection comprises fine and high jewelry pieces, plus printed silk scarves. The pieces are handcrafted using 18K gold, recycled sterling silver, hand-painted enamel, and American lab-grown diamonds,” reads the press release, which adds that the products are designed by the Homer team in New York City before sending the designs off to Italy for manufacture. Homer Catalog / Courtesy of Homer According to the Homer team, the inspiration for the designs comes...