Frank Ocean Comes Out
R&B singer and Odd Future member Frank Ocean came out of the closet yesterday, writing a poetic blog in which he admitted that his first love was a man.
“‘4 summers ago, I met somebody,’ he wrote. ‘I was 19 years old. He was too. We spent that summer, and the summer after, together. 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.'”
Ocean’s admission is relatively unheard of in mainstream Hip Hop, and will certainly make waves across the music world.
Having worked with A-listers like Kanye West, Jay-Z, and Beyonce, Frank Ocean is officially the most high-profile “out” artist in Hip Hop music.
Russell Simmons has already offered praise and encouragement to Ocean through a recent blog post:
“In a post entitled “The Courage of Frank Ocean Just Changed the Game!” Simmons wrote, “Today is a big day for hip-hop. It is a day that will define who we really are. How compassionate will we be? How loving can we be? How inclusive are we? I am profoundly moved by the courage and honesty of Frank Ocean. Your decision to go public about your sexual orientation gives hope and light to so many young people still living in fear. These types of secrets should not matter anymore, but we know they do.”Calling Ocean’s talent’s “undeniable” and “enormous” and his bravery “incredible,” Simmons hoped that the singer’s actions will, “uplift our consciousness and allow us to become better people. Every single one of us is born with peace and tranquility in our heart. Frank just found his.”
Are you inspired by Frank Ocean’s bravery in coming out?
Will his admission be a good thing for Hip Hop?
Sound off below!