“He’s such a great artist and it shows because being on his own label it allows him to express music without any boundaries … In which, with bigger labels there’s someone guiding your music,” said Alex Guerro a student at Modesto Junior College.
Ocean’s album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Also No. 1 in U.S., U.K., Australia, NZ, Belgium, Norway and Denmark.
He was originally signed to “Def Jam” and “Universal.”
He fulfilled his contract obligations by putting out a visual album called, “Endless.” Ocean did this to be released from the deal, so he could create his own independent label.
Ocean released the album off of his indie label, “Boys Don’t Cry.”
This album comes four years after his critically acclaimed “Channel ORANGE.”
Unlike other independent artists Ocean was able to spread his music worldwide, instead of with just a small audience.
Ocean is reportedly making $5 to $7.50 for each copy on iTunes for $9.99. However, if he were signed to a big label like other artists he would have made only $1.50 to $2 per copy according to Forbes.com.
“Blonde” may cause other artists to go on their own and not get shackled to the big-name labels.
“It’s not what I’m used to hearing from Frank Ocean. I didn’t get to emotionally connected with this album,” said Jessica Lane a student from Las Positas Junior College.
This album is a huge change compared to his older albums.
“Blonde” is a two-part album that comes with its own magazine.
The first part was the visual album “Endless.”
The album was also released within a few different pop up shops across the country. A pop up shop is classified as flash retailing, a trend of opening short-term sales spaces. The magazine can be found in these pop up shops and it features: Wolfgang Tillmans, Kanye West, Tom Sachs, Tyrone Lebon and others.
After 4 years of a highly anticipated sophomore album, his fans are left with a different taste than what they are accustomed to. Causing some fans to sway back and forth on whether they like him or not. Creating a new mystic around Frank Ocean’s image.