Venting about his decision to drop the record his own way, he took to Twitter on March 1, 2011:
"i. did. this. not ISLAND DEF JAM. that's why you see no label logo on the artwork that I DID. guess its my fault for trusting my dumbass lawyer and signing my career over to a failing company. fuck Def Jam & any company that goes the length of signing a kid with dreams & talent w/ no intention of following through. fuck em. now back to my day. i want some oatmeal and toast. brunch swag."
As a member of the Odd Future (OFWGKTA) collective, his sound is distinctively soulful/r&b influenced, yet done in a way that could pass for something totally different. As Tyler, the Creator states, “It’s Smooth Ass Music About Bitches, Relationships And Being A Rich Young Nigga…But In A Swagged Out Way.”
Ocean was evacuated from the University of New Orleans to Los Angeles, California just as Hurricane Katrina hit in August 2005, and stayed in Los Angeles to pursue a music career. Ocean joined Los Angeles based collective OFWGKTA, who he met through mutual friends, at the end of 2009. In the end of 2009, he met Tricky Stewart, who helped Ocean sign a contract with Def Jam Recordings as an artist, however, he was initially unable to build a relationship with the company. In 2010, he changed his name from Christopher "Lonny" Breaux to Christopher Francis Ocean via a legal website. In an April 2011 interview, Ocean intimated that his relationship with Def Jam has strengthened since the release of his mixtape. On April 28, 2011, Ocean was arrested on unspecified charges by the LAPD, and was released on the morning after on April 29, 2011. Ocean joined his OFWGKTA bandmates for the first time on tour from May 12 to May 19, 2011. On May 31, 2011, Def Jam released the single Novacane on iTunes soon followed by Swim Good Taken from his mixtape Nostalgia, ULTRA. His first 'proper' album, Channel Orange was released on July 17, 2012.
In 2016, He released the visual album Endless alongside his second studio album Blonde, following several years of delays. Blonde debuted at number one in the United States and United Kingdom.
In 2017, Ocean released several singles, including Chanel and Lens, through his Blonded Radio show, and made several appearances on other songs by artists like Calvin Harris, A$AP Mob, and Tyler, the Creator.
4 Tears
Frank Ocean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't cry cause I'm strong
I don't cry cause nothing lasts forever
I don't cry cause the kids are grown
I don't cry at all
I don't cry cause them days are gone
Ooh child, ooh child
But when the sun sets, just right
Ooh I might shed a tear
And when the good word hit's home
I'll shed a tear i'll shed two tears
I won't cry in the car
I won't cry in the bathroom stall
I won't cry when I'm home alone
I won't cry at all
I won't cry cause them days are gone
Ooh child, ooh baby doll
But if the sun shines too beautiful, I might
I'll shed two tears
And when the good word hit's home
I'll shed two more tears
Now that's four tears - you got enough?
No more tears, you've had enough
That's four tears
In Frank Ocean's song "4 Tears," the lyrics reflect a sense of emotional resilience and strength. The repetition of "I don't cry" emphasizes the singer's ability to withhold tears in various situations. The line "I don't cry cause I'm strong" suggests that the singer feels the need to maintain a strong facade and not show vulnerability. They believe that crying is a sign of weakness and prefer to remain composed.
The refrain of "Ooh child" serves as a reminder to hold on and find comfort in the possibility of a better future. Despite not crying in most situations, the singer reveals that there are two specific scenarios that might bring tears to their eyes. The first being, when the sun sets just right, indicating that a moment of beauty or nostalgia can evoke a sense of melancholy. The second scenario is when the "good word" hits home, presumably referring to a deeply meaningful message or realization. These moments allow the singer to release their tears, albeit briefly.
The repetition of "I won't cry at all" further emphasizes the singer's determination not to succumb to tears in ordinary circumstances. However, the contradictory line "But if the sun shines too beautiful, I might" suggests that the singer recognizes their vulnerability to overwhelming beauty. This vulnerability contrasts with their overall resolve against crying. The final lines of "That's four tears - you got enough? No more tears, you've had enough" imply a sense of self-imposed limitation, as if there is a finite amount of tears the singer is willing to shed before they halt their emotional release.
Overall, "4 Tears" explores the tension between emotional strength and vulnerability, showcasing the singer's ability to hold back tears in most situations while acknowledging there are specific instances where their defenses may crumble.
Line by Line Meaning
Swag, swag times two
I have a lot of confidence and style, multiplied by two
I don't cry cause I'm strong
I don't show emotions because I possess strength
I don't cry cause nothing lasts forever
I don't shed tears because everything is temporary
I don't cry cause the kids are grown
I don't weep because the children have grown up
I don't cry at all
I refrain from crying completely
I don't cry cause them days are gone
I don't shed tears because those days are in the past
Ooh child, ooh child
Expressing comfort and reassurance
But when the sun sets, just right
However, when the sunset is perfect
Ooh I might shed a tear
I could potentially cry a little
And when the good word hit's home
And when I deeply connect with a positive message
I'll shed a tear I'll shed two tears
I will cry, shedding not just one but two tears
I won't cry in the car
I won't allow myself to cry while driving
I won't cry in the bathroom stall
I won't cry in the privacy of a bathroom stall
I won't cry when I'm home alone
I won't let myself weep when I'm by myself at home
I won't cry at all
I refuse to shed any tears
I won't cry cause them days are gone
I won't cry because those days have passed
Ooh child, ooh baby doll
Expressing comfort and tenderness
But if the sun shines too beautiful, I might
However, if the sunlight is overwhelmingly beautiful, I may
I'll shed two tears
I will cry, releasing two tears
And when the good word hit's home
And when a positive message deeply resonates with me
I'll shed two more tears
I will cry again, shedding an additional two tears
Now that's four tears - you got enough?
Now that adds up to a total of four tears - do you think that's enough?
No more tears, you've had enough
I won't shed any more tears, I've reached my limit
That's four tears
Those are the four tears I've shed
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rickymorales2729
I was waiting on the day someone one uploaded a proper version of this on YouTube since like 2013 not realizing this has been up for a year
@vico805
There some on SoundCloud also but yee we here
@whosunluqy
I want to relive this again...
@ticussmack123
The beat is perfect
@Oddyuva
Meu lindo Frank Ocean
@erickborges9325
Love u Frank
@nono-ms9mm
Frank has my back 💯♥️
@andreannaburse3334
Classic ☺️
@insta__john0008
Frank ocean sempre me deixando triste
@kliviafernanda2194
legenda "skyline to" do frank POR FAVORRRRR