No joke. Frank Ocean is finally, really, actually, for real releasing his long-awaited (understatement of the century) album Boys Don't Cry. The word on the street? According to the New York Times, Frank is putting the album out exclusively through Apple Music Friday. Sources with "knowledge of the the release" said it's expected to be a two-week exclusivity deal, meaning non-Apple lames will have to wait a bit before hearing the surefire Album of the Year contender.
But we're not only (reportedly) getting a fresh collection of Mr. Ocean meditations, we're also (reportedly!) getting what the Times' source describes as a "major video" and a "printed publication" called Boys Don't Cry. Is this "printed publication" the same one teased in this seemingly ancient Tumblr photo below? Maybe Hopefully so. Representatives for Apple Music, however, did not immediately respond to Complex's request for comment.
Frank Ocean had us all shook Home Improvement style early Monday, sharing a fascinatingly uneventful livestream that included both artful looping and commendable woodworking. The website code, recently updated, also provided an increasingly rare glimpse at the artist himself:
Channel ORANGE, Frank Ocean's debut studio album, was released four long and brutal years ago to damn near unanimous critical acclaim. "Thinkin' Bout You," the Grammy-winning album's lead single, would go on to become Ocean's highest-charting song ever, peaking at No. 32 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Please don't play us again, Frank Ocean. You know, like you did that one time and that other time and, how could I forget, all those other times.
Let the Tidal v Apple wars continue!
Related Stories
It's July 31, Frank Ocean Hasn't Dropped 'Boys Don't Cry,' and the Internet Is a Wreck
It looks like Frank Ocean’s highly anticipated album 'Boys Don't Cry' won’t be dropping this month.
Frank Ocean Trolls Everyone With Old Songs on Spotify, Twitter Cries
Surely, tweets to the effect of "OMG Frank Ocean dropped!!!" had you scratching your head.
A Timeline of Frank Ocean's Existence Since His Debut 'channel ORANGE'
We dive into Frank Ocean's moves on four years after 'channel ORANGE.'
