The forgotten Frank Ocean album
Frank Ocean at Wireless Festival. Picture source: RJ Photos UK
Perhaps the biggest artist in this generation with a minimalist amount of work. Frank Ocean is known for his secrecy now since it has been over six years without a body of work from the 35-year-old. Releasing only two official studio albums throughout his musical career, the Californian has still given no signs of a new album release. The Last hint was during 2020, when multiple singles were released in midst of a possible album rollout that was sadly scrapped. However, did you know that a full-length Frank Ocean album went under the radar from us during the most popular time in his career?
In August 2016, Frank Ocean, released ‘Blonde’, one of the most popular and influential albums of its decade. The record was a smash hit, going straight to number one on the billboard 200, with also gaining billions of streams in the process. But what's interesting is that Ocean released another album named ‘Endless’ only a day before Blonde's release.
It's safe to say the popularity of this album was blind-sided the Blonde's drastic relevance. Endless was a ‘video exclusive’ album that premiered on Apple Music only. The official album was, and still is, nowhere to be seen on popular streaming services such as Spotify, Tidal, and YouTube.
Many would agree that it’s a bad decision to release two albums in the space of two days. Many are unaware of the presence of Endless due to the fact. However, would you be surprised to know that the musician intended it to be that way?
Frank Ocean at a listening event in Los Angeles on December 2, 2011. Picture source: Dave Gold
Back in 2009, the rising up-and-comer signed a deal with the huge record label, Def Jam. The organisation has been home to some of the biggest musical artists now ever known, such as Jay Z, Rihanna, Justin Bieber, and Kanye West. Ocean's relationship with Def Jam was a rocky road ever since the beginning.
The label didn’t give the man a chance during the early stages of his career. Often putting the artist on the side-lines due to his underground stature. A spokesperson at Def Jam even called the relationship between the two like “a bad marriage.”
When it came to the final months of Ocean's contract, one more album was owed to the label before signing off. This is where Frank famously ‘finessed’ Def Jam. Releasing the album of Endless, Ocean displayed the record as a video-only listen. Just one long 45-minute visual album displaying him building a staircase. So after a four-year wait, Def Jam got their album, Ocean got out of the deal and both parties went their separate ways. All was good… until it wasn't.
Only a day later, Frank Ocean shockingly releases Blonde independently. Since now a free agent, all earnings from the album were cashed in by only Frank himself. And this massive gamble paid off fantastically. Ocean got the last laugh between the two with reaping all the benefits from the album’s success. Blonde is now one of the best critically-acclaimed records of the 2010s and Endless is now simply a mystery to most music listeners.
Even though Endless was used as bait, the visual album itself is still a beautiful body of work. A fan made version is also available to listen with each track cut up individually on SoundCloud.
Endless has a similar blended type of sound as Blonde. With swift melodies, and calming, subtle, melancholy sounds that are bound to make you shed a tear. Stand-out tracks from the album are ‘At Your Best’, ‘Sideways’, ‘Rushes’, and ‘Higgs.’
So, If you are craving new Frank Ocean music due to his swift disappearance. This forgotten masterpiece is a must-hear. But appreciate that first listen, it may be the last time you’ll ever hear new music from the secluded musician again.