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Frank Ocean releases visually arresting ‘Nikes’ ahead of new album

Ocean, 28, previously promised that the long-awaited album would drop in July 2015 under the name of “Boys Don’t Cry” in a Tumblr post in April 2015.

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Now, the enigmatic singer has delivered in a big way with a totally bonkers and visually arresting video for Nikes, which makes that excruciating four-year wait for new music all seem worth it. Titled “Endless“, it was streamed on his site and Apple Music.

It isn’t just us who feel that way either as Frank’s fans from across the world have praised the singer on his new album release, and it’s pretty much awesome. Listed as Blonde on Apple Music, the sleeve artwork spells it Blond. It’s clear Frank Ocean reached far and wide to create this album, and the sound of Blonde displays this in spades. The long awaited album has a storied past, most recently based on a New York Times report dated August 1 stating an August 5 release date. Ocean’s 17-track album “Blonde” was released on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016, on Apple Music, one day after the R&B singer released a 45-minute “visual album” on the streaming service.

Frank Ocean released a “visual album” late Thursday.

Ocean addresses violence against black youth in the song and gives a nod to Trayvon Martin, who was fatally shot by George Zimmerman in 2012, with the lyric “RIP Trayvon, that n**** look just like me”. Thank you all. Especially those of you who never let me forget I had to finish, which is basically every one of ya’ll.

Not only did they push back the release but they also renamed it from Boys Don’t Cry to Blonde.

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Ocean’s reputation as a fearless and agenda-setting artist has not diminished in his years away from the limelight; Blond is sure to be endlessly dissected over the coming days.

Frank Ocean performs at The Other Tent during day 3 of the 2014 Bonnaroo Arts And Music Festival