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.
Broken Pieces
Frank Ocean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Blowing kisses to me through the
Window of the bus
Daddy told you that I was dangerous
But I couldn't stop hustling
Even if he asked me
Fast forward now we're grown-ups
But how could I forget that loving
Our future could've been different
But lets just say I wouldn't stop
Hustling even when you asked me
But you knew me well
You knew I had a love on a different scale
Heavy as the heavens, you could tell
I'm different now but I still
Carry her with me still
It takes a strong young man
To survive out here
Carrying the pieces of two hearts
All the broken pieces of two hearts
Used to have a backpack full of that work
Now I got a backpack full of this hurt
And the broken pieces of two hearts
All the broken pieces of two hearts
It's getting heavier
These poignant lyrics recount the memories of a love from the past. The singer reminisces about a younger love and the risks he took for his hustle while she blew kisses to him through the window of a bus. The girl's father warned her that the singer was dangerous, but she couldn't help but love him. Fast forward, and they are now grown-ups, but the singer cannot help but remember how much he loved her, "Our future could've been different", he says. But he couldn't stop hustling, even if she asked him to.
Despite the distance and time apart, he still carries her with him, "It takes a strong young man to survive out here, carrying the pieces of two hearts, all the broken pieces of two hearts", he says. The singer compares his past struggles with his current hardships. He used to have a backpack full of drugs to sell, but now he carries a backpack full of emotional pain and hurt from two broken hearts. The singer's broken pieces of heart are getting heavier, as the memories of a love he couldn't hold onto continue to weigh him down.
In short, the lyrics of "Broken Pieces" touch on the nostalgia of past regrets, unrequited love, and the soul-aching pain that comes with the memory of a lost love.
Line by Line Meaning
Reminiscing on a younger love
Reflecting on a past romance
Blowing kisses to me through the
Sending me love through a bus window
Window of the bus
A specific location where love was expressed
Daddy told you that I was dangerous
Her father warned her about my risky behavior
But I couldn't stop hustling
I couldn't quit the risky lifestyle
Even if he asked me
Despite the consequences of my behavior
Fast forward now we're grown-ups
Years have passed and we've matured
But how could I forget that loving
I can't forget the intense love we shared
You was such a rush
The thrill of loving her was addictive
Our future could've been different
Our lives could have turned out better
But lets just say I wouldn't stop
I was too stubborn to change
Hustling even when you asked me
I kept on with risky behavior though she requested change
But you knew me well
She understood my character
You knew I had a love on a different scale
She knew that I had a deep, unexplainable love
Heavy as the heavens, you could tell
The love was immense and obvious
I'm different now but I still
Despite being changed, something remains the same
Carry her with me still
I still hold onto the love I had for her
It takes a strong young man
It takes strength to survive in tough circumstances
To survive out here
To survive in this environment
Carrying the pieces of two hearts
Carrying the remnants of our love
All the broken pieces of two hearts
The remnants of our love are shattered
Used to have a backpack full of that work
I used to carry drugs on me
Now I got a backpack full of this hurt
Now I carry emotional pain
And the broken pieces of two hearts
I carry my own pain and the remnants of our lost love
All the broken pieces of two hearts
Again, the remnants of our love are shattered
It's getting heavier
The emotional baggage is becoming overwhelming
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@RebornLegacy
Just discovered this song on the mixtape. Great re-work! Sounds a lot better
@EV31995
good job man !!
@TMJuelzAnimalSafari
- Yh bud, nice one. I might use this x
@beaudavis3134
Plz plz Corey give us your version of provider back 😭😭