Frank Ocean Talks About Black Music's Social Conservatism
Wednesday, 21 November 2012
Written by Josh Adams
Having already rocked the music boat with the revelation of his homosexuality, Frank Ocean has taken the opportunity to talk extensively for the first time about his 'coming out' Tumblr post in an interview with GQ magazine.
It was on July 4th of this year that the R&B Odd Future member first opened up about his sexuality, symbolically the same date as America's Independence - perhaps a nod to his own liberation?
On the topic of his sexuality, Frank commented on Black America's conservative social attitude when it comes to homosexuality, saying "In black music, we've got so many leaps and bounds to make with acceptance and tolerance in regard to that issue. It reflects something just ingrained, you know. When I was growing up, there was nobody in my family—not even my mother—who I could look to and be like, 'I know you've never said anything homophobic.' So, you know, you worry about people in the business who you've heard talk that way."
"Some of my heroes coming up talk recklessly like that. It's tempting to give those views and words—that ignorance—more attention than they deserve. Very tempting."
Acknowledging the complexity of his decision, Ocean reflected on attitudes to 'coming out' in the industry; "The pitch is, 'You'll encounter less resistance in life if you say, 'No, I'm going to just keep dating girls.' But then you're minimizing the resistance that you're feeling from yourself on the inside. There's so much upkeep on that shit. So much upkeep on a lie."
Frank released his debut album 'Channel Orange' earlier this year on July 10th on Def Jam Recordings.
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