For a few days now rumours have been traversing the internets about Frank Ocean's sexuality, based upon some lyrics from his upcoming debut solo album Channel Orange which placed the word "he" where some might have expected to hear a "she".
Now, first and foremost, we have to say that anyone's sexuality if their own business and shouldn't be needlessly discussed en masse in the media - especially when the evidence to support the claims is so flimsy - which is why we intentionally neglected to report these rumours as 'news'.
However, Ocean has posted a picture on his Tumblr account which directly addresses the rumours. The picture is a screenshot of a document on his computer called "thanks you's" in which Ocean starkly opens himself up to the world, going on to tell of how he met a man four years ago and fell in love and how long it took him to come to terms with his feelings.
Ocean's candour must be respected for its place in a musical genre which is often too comfortable with homophobic slurs, and especially when you consider the Odd Future collective - the rap group which Ocean is associated with - was last November barred from appearing at a festival in New Zealand on account of their homophobic lyrics.
Frank Ocean has been earmarked as one of the brightest new names in the R&B movement and has become one of the music's hottest properties in recent times.
Signs that the previous rampant nature of homophobia in hip-hop and R&B have been curtailed recently have included Jay-Z openly supported gay marriage, Beenie Man apologising for the bigotry of much of his back catalogue and Kayne West has too been vocal in his support of gay issues, even if he did utter the phrase "no homo" in a later collaboration with Jay-Z and Rihanna.
Odd Future colleague Tyler, The Creator voiced his support of Ocean on his twitter account, in spite of coming under heavy fire in recent times for homophobic lyrical content. The rapper tweeted: My Big Brother Finally F***ing Did That. Proud Of That N*gga Cause I Know That S**t Is Difficult Or Whatever. Anyway. Im a Toilet."
You can read Ocean's note below.
