Frank Ocean

With the rise of artists like SZA, Frank Ocean, Khalid, and Childish Gambino, this resurgence in black singer-songwriters has been a long time coming.

Fans are going gaga over the 28-year-old’s new 45-song album—while conveniently overlooking his dark side.

It was the color of the moment, but trend-watchers say that much-hyped ‘millennial pink’ has had its day. Next up: the return of red and purple.

Frank Ocean’s second album refuses definition. It bends genre, time, and gender, all in the service of staying true to himself. Music is all the better for it.

The R&B prince’s long-awaited follow-up to Channel Orange does not disappoint.

“I heard the gunman feigned dead among all the people he killed. I heard the news say he was one of us.”