Frank Ocean

Frank Ocean, born Christopher Edwin Cooksey, is an R&B and hip-hop singer, songwriter, rapper, and producer whose introspective songwriting and innovative production have reshaped modern R&B. He joined the hip-hop collective Odd Future in 2010 and gained widespread attention with his 2011 debut mixtape, Nostalgia, Ultra. The mixtape was a commercial success and produced the single “Novacane,” which charted on the Billboard Hot 100 and was eventually certified platinum. The following year, Ocean signed with Def Jam.

Ocean’s debut studio album, Channel Orange (2012), debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 and earned universal critical acclaim, securing him his first Grammy Award for Best Urban Contemporary Album and a nomination for Record of the Year. After several delays due to contract disputes, he released the visual project Endless in 2016 to fulfill his Def Jam obligations, followed the next day by his independently released sophomore album, Blonde. Featuring the single “Nikes,” the album topped charts worldwide and further cemented Ocean’s influence on contemporary music.

In 2017, Ocean collaborated with Migos on Calvin Harris’s single “Slide,” which reached #25 on the Billboard Hot 100. Critics credit Ocean with revitalizing R&B through his distinctive voice, wide vocal range, and innovative approach to composition and production.