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.
Dying for Your Love
Frank Ocean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That sweeny knife, I almost lost my life
Call myself being a hero trying to guard your heart
No matter how hard I fought, it was over before it started...
I thought that we were
[Hook]:
On the same side of the battle
Now it all makes sense, I've put it together
I guess what we have doesn't matter...
[Hook]:
You have me dying every night, just because
You got me fighting every night, to prove my love
We never giving up from fighting in the club
I'm dying for your love, I don't know what you want
You got me fighting every night... to prove my love
[Verse 2]:
All I ever did was just try to play my part
Try to be the man who would not let you get taken advantage of
But you let it go on, and every time I see you with him
I wanna crack his dome (t-tell me that I'm wrong)
But I thought we were
[Hook]:
On the same side of the battle
Oh, I'm on the front line of disaster
Now it all makes sense, I've put it together
Guess what we have doesn't matter...
[Hook]:
You have me dying every night, just because
You got me fighting every night, to prove my love
We never giving up from fighting in the club
I'm dying for your love I don't know what you want
You got me fighting every night... to prove my love
[Bridge]:
You have me dying...
Fighting... every night
Dying...
Fighting... every night
[Outro]:
On the same side of the battle, oh...
The lyrics of Frank Ocean's song "Dying for Your Love" tell a story about a man who feels like he's in a battle for the love of someone he cares about deeply. He describes an incident where he almost lost his life trying to guard her heart, suggesting that he was fully committed and devoted to her. However, despite all his effort to prove his worth and loyalty, he realizes that the love he was fighting for is not reciprocated. He feels like he's on the front line of a disaster, and that what they have doesn't matter despite his dying every night and fighting to prove his love.
In the second verse, the man tries to be the protector, the one who wouldn't let her get taken advantage of, but he sees her with someone else and feels like she's letting him down. He's conflicted because he thought they were on the same side in this battle for love, but now realizes that they might not be. The chorus repeats, as he expresses his pain and suffering, trying to prove his love every night fighting in the club. The song's bridge emphasizes his struggle, dying and fighting every night for someone he loves, and the ending reiterates the sense of being on the same side of the battle but ultimately questioning whether it's worth it.
Overall, Frank Ocean's lyrics in "Dying for Your Love" express the pain and struggle of fighting for someone's love without getting it in return. They reveal the difficulties of being in a relationship where one person is more invested than the other.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you remember, that october night
Recollection of a night in October
That sweeny knife, I almost lost my life
Almost lost life from being attacked with a knife
Call myself being a hero trying to guard your heart
Tried to be a protector of your heart
No matter how hard I fought, it was over before it started...
Relationship ended too soon despite my efforts
I thought that we were
Belief that relationship was solid
On the same side of the battle
Shared goals and beliefs in the relationship
Oh, I'm on the front line of disaster
Facing the negative consequences of the relationship
Now it all makes sense, I've put it together
Understanding the truth and putting the pieces together
I guess what we have doesn't matter...
Realization that the relationship may not be salvageable
You have me dying every night, just because
Emotional pain from the relationship
You got me fighting every night, to prove my love
Constant struggle to prove love and worth
We never giving up from fighting in the club
Persisting in the relationship despite difficulties
I'm dying for your love, I don't know what you want
Desire for love despite confusion and uncertainty
All I ever did was just try to play my part
Attempting to fulfill my role in the relationship
Try to be the man who would not let you get taken advantage of
Protecting partner from being exploited or mistreated
But you let it go on, and every time I see you with him
Feeling hurt and betrayed by partner's actions
I wanna crack his dome (t-tell me that I'm wrong)
Jealousy and anger towards partner's new love interest
You have me dying...
Intense emotional pain
Fighting... every night
Constant struggle and effort in relationship
On the same side of the battle, oh...
Shared values and beliefs in relationship
Contributed by Mia W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@spiritualcalmingnature
I've seen it and I liked it much
I told myself I had to have it
I looked, but I do not touch
Wondering why does she walk like that
(that, that)
There was something in those jeans locked up
It was dying to be free
And it was bound to happen, oh
Didn't have a pick up line to use
I was way too cool, way too cool
And instead I hoped you're watching me too
Like I watched you
It took one look, oh, oh, oh
Just that one look, oh, oh
What was I to do but look?
Oh, I couldn't stop staring
Oh, I couldn't run away from you
No, I couldn't stop
No, no, just took one look
That's a good look baby, baby
That's a good look, darling
That's a good look, good look
Such a good look
My eyes must have been on drugs
Your color and your shape looked so crazy
I couldn't see the floor beneath you
But, baby, I could see you pacing on
Thin air, mid-air, no
Long brown hair swinging, no
Red bottoms in your high heels
Like I'm watching a Blu-Ray
You in HD baby i didn't know what to say
I was way too cool, I’m way too cool
Yeah yeah yeah yeah and I
You know I'm hoping you're watching me too
Oh yeah, you know it's true
It took one look, oh, oh, oh
Just that one look, oh, oh
What was I to do but look?
Oh, I couldn't stop staring
Oh, I couldn't run away from you
No, I couldn't stop
No, no, just took one look
I wanna stare at you some more
When I can feel you in my soul
I'm not looking from the outside
I could feel your hands in mine
I wanna grab on your body
Touching that booty feeling on your booty
Say that you love it
And you said it's all mine
It took one look, oh, oh, oh
Just that one look, oh, oh
What was I to do but look?
Oh, I couldn't stop staring
Oh, I couldn't run away from you
No, I couldn't stop
No, no, just took one look
It took one look, oh, oh, oh
Just that one look, oh, oh
What was I to do but look?
Oh, I couldn't stop staring
Oh, couldn't run away from you
No, couldn't stop no, no, just took one look
That's a good look baby (baby)
That's a good look, darling
That's a good look, good look
Such a good look
That's a good look baby (baby)
That's a good look, darling
That's a good look, good look
Such a good look
@imambvr
Frankie's straight era
@JumpScaredYa
Shhhh 🤫
@ScottSilver1
Lol
@blueazure9658
August Alsina pre 2022
@aronistak8156
I mean he 50 50 now
@tinyissmall
Naa listen to thinkin bout you “a new feel” what else he talking about 🤣🤣🤣
@tinagrig4499
I cant explain how his songs make me feel. Been one of the firsts to hear his songs, and im still here. Way to go Christopher!
@beatsbykobra
He captured an era in one track. From the lyrics to the instrumental
@user-ve3jk1px5q
At first I thought you got H itler as your profile picture
@nhatanhnguyen8918
2024 still rocking this everyday !