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.
Holly Baby
Frank Ocean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, oh, love, love, love yeah
Hollywood, Hollywood
Heard you like to take the love
That’s why I came to town with only my brain
Holly baby baby, yeah, baby, yeah
Why do you drive the talent crazy, crazy
When they call you home
Their home, their home, yeah
When they call you home
Their home, their home, yeah
And they come from far away to meet ya'
Then you break their hearts in pieces
They call you home their home, their home
Yeah, yeah and you drive them crazy
Holly baby, Holly baby, Hollywood, oh
I met you on the TV screen
You told me you were single, and
We talked about the weather babe
You said it never rains in southern Cali
Baby, baby why do you drive the talent crazy
Yeah, baby, yeah
When they call you home
Their home, their home, yeah
When they call you home
Their home, their home, yeah
And they come from far away to meet ya
Then you break their hearts in pieces
They call you home
Their home, their home, yeah, yeah
And you drive them crazy
Holly baby, Holly baby, Hollywood oh yeah
In "Holly Baby," Frank Ocean explores the allures and pitfalls of Hollywood and the entertainment industry. The song begins with a repetition of melodic "oh's" and "yeah's," setting a dream-like tone. The chorus, "Hollywood, Hollywood, Heard you like to take the love," suggests that Hollywood is a place that thrives on consuming people's love and attention. Frank Ocean himself has come to Hollywood with only his brain, indicating that he wants to be recognized for his talent rather than being consumed by the industry.
The lyrics refer to someone as "Holly baby," which can be interpreted as a representation of Hollywood's seductive and elusive nature. The lines, "Why do you drive the talent crazy, crazy" and "you drive them crazy," reveal that this mysterious entity has the power to drive talented individuals to madness. It suggests that Hollywood has the ability to both captivate and break hearts.
Throughout the song, there is a theme of coming from far away to meet this "Holly baby" and having your heart broken in the process. The lines, "And they come from far away to meet ya', Then you break their hearts in pieces," highlight the destructive nature of Hollywood and the disillusionment that can come with pursuing fame and success.
In conclusion, "Holly Baby" delves into the contradictory allure and destructive nature of Hollywood. It portrays the industry as both captivating and heart-breaking, with individuals coming from afar only to have their hearts shattered by the consuming nature of the entertainment world.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, oh, oh, my oh, yeah yeah, yeah
Expressing excitement or anticipation about something
Oh, oh, love, love, love yeah
Acknowledging the presence and importance of love
Hollywood, Hollywood
Referring to the glamorous and deceptive nature of the entertainment industry
Heard you like to take the love
Understanding that Hollywood takes advantage of people's love and adoration
That’s why I came to town with only my brain
Recognizing the need for intelligence and resilience in such an environment
Holly baby baby, yeah, baby, yeah
Highlighting the allure and charm of Hollywood
Why do you drive the talent crazy, crazy
Questioning the effects of Hollywood on talented individuals
When they call you home
Their home, their home, yeah
Describing the magnetic pull of Hollywood on aspiring artists
And they come from far away to meet ya'
Illustrating the lengths people go to in order to be part of Hollywood
Then you break their hearts in pieces
Acknowledging the disappointment and heartbreak experienced in the industry
Yeah, yeah and you drive them crazy
Recognizing the detrimental effects that Hollywood can have on one's mental state
I met you on the TV screen
Recalling a personal encounter with a Hollywood figure through the medium of television
You told me you were single, and
Being deceived by the illusion of availability and accessibility in Hollywood
We talked about the weather babe
Engaging in superficial conversations and distractions
You said it never rains in southern Cali
Promoting the idea of perpetual sunshine and success in California
Baby, baby why do you drive the talent crazy
Questioning the underlying motivations that lead to the exploitation of talented individuals
When they call you home
Their home, their home, yeah
Reiterating the pull of Hollywood on aspiring artists
And you drive them crazy, Holly baby, Holly baby, Hollywood oh yeah
Emphasizing the negative impact of Hollywood on the mental well-being of individuals
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Christopher Breaux, Kevin Ristro, Tim Stewart, Waynne Nugent, La Mont Neuble
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TreySongzLyricsonScreen
[Verse 1]
I’ll stack these magazines in the corner
After I’m done with them
And I still got the same hope that I started with
That you’ll be in one of them
My camera shed some tears since you left him
With nothing, with nothing
[Pre-Chorus]
How am I supposed to remember?
I got the memories
But memories fade, baby
What am I gonna show to my kids, girl?
When I’m older, and my mind is telling me to forget you
What’s gonna make me remember?
[Chorus]
That’s why I was always taking pictures, pictures
‘Cause I didn’t wanna miss a thing, miss a thing
Tell me how could you take the pictures, pictures
When you knew they were all that I had left - nothing left
They were part of our history, this story
I was always taking pictures
‘Cause I didn’t wanna miss you so bad, miss you this bad
Miss you so bad, miss you so
[Verse 2]
We didn’t make love
We celebrated its invention
Confetti on the mattress - I used to have those images
Tonight I came home they were just embers in the fire
Along with my hard drive, no notes, no goodbye
[Pre-Chorus]
How the hell am I supposed to remember?
Tell me now, I got the memories
But memories don’t last...
What am I gonna show to my kids, baby?
When I’m older, and my mind’s telling me to forget you
What’s gonna make me remember?
[Chorus]
That’s why I was always taking pictures, pictures
‘Cause I didn’t wanna miss a thing, miss a thing
Tell me how could you take the pictures, pictures
When you knew they were all that I had left - nothing left
They were part of our history, this story
I was always taking pictures
‘Cause I didn’t wanna miss you
[Verse 3]
No video, no polariods
No record of the love we had
My Nikon wasn’t fast enough
To catch my heart break in half
No smiles in my picture frame, no
Just got them little basic ones that the picture frames come with
Models, wedding pictures, you know
[Chorus]
That’s why I was always taking pictures, pictures
'Cause I didn’t wanna miss a thing, miss a thing
Tell me how could you take the pictures, pictures?
When you knew they were all that I had left – nothing left
They were part of our history, this story
I was always taking pictures
'Cause I didn’t wanna miss you so bad, miss you this bad
Miss you so bad, miss you so…
@JianniCarter
I stack these magazines in the corner after I'm done with em
Then I still got the same old love that I started with
But you be in one of them
My camera shed some tears since you left em with nothing.
With nothing
How am I suppose to remember
Oooh
And all the memories.
The memories they faded
What am I gonna show to the kids girl
Oohh noo
My mind is telling me to forget you
What's gonna make me remember?
That's why I was always taking pictures.
Pictures
Cause I didn't wanna miss a thing
Miss a thing
Tell me how I could take the pictures
Pictures
When you know they were all I had left
Nothing left
They were part of our history
I was always tsking pictures
Pictures
Cause I didn't wanna miss you bad
Miss you this bad
@obrey__
I just got to experience this song for the first time... wow
@vexrich
Same
@Kiara-jm2cq
Me too
@obrey__
Kiara kind of random, but a song I really wish I could hear for the first time again is called track x by black road, new country. Suuper beautiful and haunting
@vexrich
@@obrey__ We say things like that but my favorite music sounds best when I've heard it a lot, and take a break and hear it again knowing most of the words but noticing something new in it
@obrey__
Vex Rich true.. I still feel the song, but I’m afraid of getting sick of it.. now that I think about it, this is kind of a great spot to be in. I hope I remember this when I go through a mid life crisis and romanticize youth lol
@certifiedtre_7716
So mad this song isn’t on streaming services because it’s literally one of my favorites by him 😭😭😭
@ericperalta739
agreed
@SnakeEyesBR1
why aren't you?
@certifiedtre_7716
@@lenabean0470 I’m super late seeing your reply! THANK YOU 😍😍😍