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, āItās Smooth Ass Music About Bitches, Relationships And Being A Rich Young Niggaā¦But In A Swagged Out Way.ā
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.
Hell
Frank Ocean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I ain't been home in a week
Barely been to Pasadena since
Them San Fran streets
I stay the night at the studio
I get no sleep my passion for this music yo
It's far too deep i rest for 3 hours a day
4: 45 in the mornin' and I'm the only one up
See i'm all about the hustle
Hodgy 'bout his grind
And you'll no longer struggle once
You make up your mind
I had made up my mind and
Now I'm takin' the time
Steady niggas takin' from mines
I record in outer space
Bendin' time, lendin' rhymes, not a hand
Mixtapes to a fan, giving and gettin' grams
Odd Future shinin', SPF sunscreen
Needs to be applied to burn from sunbeams
Teach a lesson if haven't
Learned from one's schemes
Mankind wouldn't be realistic if
No one dreamed, yeah
I got, I got anime on the screen
I got, I got pen in hand, scripting dreams
I got, I got rich man said to me
"Just remember one thing: you'll
Never have time, " time
You'll never have time, time
You'll never have time, time
You'll never have time, time
I knew it, mama, I knew it
One wish every birthday candle
Before I blew it
Son carved the paths out but I drew it
Sicker than the flu i'm on my stew shit
Just let it simmer and brew
When I'm remembering you
We fall out in the winter
September, October, Novembering you
No contender with you
I'm like tendering food zip-Lock marinated
Cook it if you care to take it
The time now to bake it, mama
Show me how you make it
Bring me to life with an icing covered knife
Single handedly raised us
Sacrifice and had to fight
For pay just to raise us
Love is what made us today
Trust, we always got steel
I'll proceed to protect if I'm goin', shot
Kill i'm the star, twinkle, twinkle
Thanks for every birthday, you lit
Candles for cake, sprinkles, uh
I got, I got anime on the screen
I got, I got pen in hand, scripting dreams
I got, I got rich man said to me
"Just remember one thing: you'll
Never have time, " time
You'll never have time, time
You'll never have time, time
You'll never have time, time
Yo, yo, what the fuck is an interlude
Anyway?
What the fuck is an interlude for, man?
What the hell do you need
A fuckin' interlude for, man?
Fuck that, just play the next song
In Frank Ocean's song "Hell," the lyrics portray a sense of exhaustion and dedication to his music. He reveals that he hasn't been home in a week and barely visits places like Pasadena and San Francisco. He spends his nights at the studio, sacrificing sleep to pursue his passion for music. His commitment runs deep, as he only rests for a few hours a day, and even then, he is the only one awake at 4:45 in the morning. The lyrics express a relentless hustle and grind, emphasizing the importance of making up one's mind and taking the necessary time to achieve success.
The song also references Ocean's creative process and his self-awareness of his talent. He mentions recording in "outer space," suggesting his willingness to push boundaries and explore unconventional styles. He sees himself as someone who bends time and lends his rhymes without expecting anything in return. There is a mention of Odd Future, the collective he was associated with, shining like SPF sunscreen. The lyrics ultimately speak to the importance of dreaming and the necessity of taking risks in order to achieve greatness.
Overall, the song "Hell" delves into Frank Ocean's dedication to his music, the sacrifices he makes, and the relentless pursuit of his dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
What the Hell?
Expressing confusion or frustration
I ain't been home in a week
I haven't returned to my home for seven days
Barely been to Pasadena since
I have hardly visited Pasadena lately
Them San Fran streets
The streets of San Francisco
I stay the night at the studio
I spend the night at the music studio
I get no sleep my passion for this music, yo
I don't sleep because I'm deeply passionate about making music
It's far too deep i rest for 3 hours a day
My passion runs deep, so I only rest for three hours per day
4 and an half if I'm lucky
Sometimes I'm fortunate to get four and a half hours of sleep
4: 45 in the mornin' and I'm the only one up
It's 4:45 in the morning, and I'm the only one awake
See i'm all about the hustle
I am fully dedicated to my work
Hodgy 'bout his grind
Hodgy is also focused on his own grind
And you'll no longer struggle once
Once you make up your mind, you won't struggle anymore
You make up your mind
You decide and commit
I had made up my mind and
I had already decided and
Now I'm takin' the time
Now I'm investing the time
Steady niggas takin' from mines
People are constantly trying to take what's mine
I record in outer space
I create music that feels out of this world
Bendin' time, lendin' rhymes, not a hand
I manipulate time and share my lyrics, not my assistance
Mixtapes to a fan, giving and gettin' grams
I share mixtapes with my fans while also dealing drugs
Odd Future shinin', SPF sunscreen
The music group Odd Future is thriving like sunlight, protecting themselves like SPF sunscreen
Needs to be applied to burn from sunbeams
It's necessary to protect yourself from the potential harm of success
Teach a lesson if haven't
I aim to educate those who haven't learned
Learned from one's schemes
Learned from the deceitful plans of others
Mankind wouldn't be realistic if
Humans wouldn't be grounded in reality if
No one dreamed, yeah
Nobody dared to dream, you know
I got, I got anime on the screen
I have anime playing on my screen
I got, I got pen in hand, scripting dreams
I have a pen in my hand, writing down my dreams
I got, I got rich man said to me
A wealthy individual once told me
"Just remember one thing: you'll never have time, " time
"Just remember one thing: you'll always be short on time"
You'll never have time, time
You'll always be lacking time
Yo, yo, what the fuck is an interlude
What is the purpose of an interlude?
Anyway?
Regardless
What the fuck is an interlude for, man?
Why do we even need an interlude?
What the hell do you need a fuckin' interlude for, man?
Why would you want a damn interlude?
Fuck that, just play the next song
Forget about it, let's just move on to the next song
Lyrics Ā© O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@swagmasterflexxx
itās 2021 and i remember listening to this 10 years ago in high school... time fucking flies
@DojaDojaTV
Yessir
@LilPickley
itās 2022 and iām still here :)
@Boss-vk6jo
yes bro
@user-tu3gp4ro1e
same brotha . a wild throwback lmao
@FJB_93
Foreaaaaalll!
@Boss-vk6jo
I was literally avoiding this song because of the nostalgia from High school and all the love I have for. this era...
at the end of the day we always return to our past even if to remember where we came from
@GeminiCove
I remember waking up to this every morning during my junior year. Hated all the popular kids, listened to Odd Future, and ditched school damn near every day. Nostalgia, ultra.
@coughdropper
Then the popular kids listened to Odd Future.
@GeminiCove
+coughdropper Exactly.