S. Samuel
Odd Future affiliate Frank Ocean's Channel Orange is reportedly en route to topple its competition on the sales chart with first-week estimates up to 125,000 copies.
Despite dropping the project a week in advance, Ocean’s LP is slated to easily sell over 100,000 units.
Following up RCA R&B bruiser Chris Brown‘s #1 debut yesterday, look for a very different act with the same name–Atlantic country-rockers Zac Brown Band‘s Uncaged–to bow in the top spot on next week’s tally, with a total that looks headed for between 210-225k. The week’s big story is controversial Def Jam/IDJ avant-R&B crooner Frank Ocean, a member of the L.A.-based hip-hop collective Odd Future, who will open with a very impressive 110-125k as an iTunes exclusive for his major label bow, Channel Orange. Ocean surprised everyone by Tweeting the album would be made available after his network TV debut Monday night on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon singing “Bad Religion” from the release. (HITS Daily Double)
The LP will likely gain even more sales next week as it is currently an iTunes exclusive.
Then on Tuesday, another surprise — the Los Angeles singer’s major-label debut album “Channel Orange” would be available on iTunes a week before it was scheduled to land in stores. After a few listens, it feels as if it landed years ahead of time. At 24, Ocean shows a sure-footed confidence that took many of his forebears years to summon. But his songwriting chops shouldn’t surprise anyone who’s been following this guy’s young career. He released a lovely digital album last year, “Nostalgia, Ultra”; he’s helped pen songs for Justin Bieber, John Legend and Beyonce; he sang the most exquisite hook on Kanye West and Jay-Z‘s 2011 collaboration album “Watch the Throne”; and he’s made standout contributions as a member of the rowdy Los Angeles rap collective Odd Future. (Washington Post)
This week, New York rapper Mysonne accused Ocean of announcing his bi-sexuality to promote the LP.
“i think these n*ggas is cowards that looking for exposure and buzzes, so they wait til albums drop to tell you there true Sexuality,’ he tweeted July 10th. (Mysonne’s Twitter)
Last week, the singer released an open letter revealing his sexual preference.
“Whoever you are, wherever you are.. I’m starting to think we’re a lot alike,” writes Ocean in the letter. “Human beings spinning on blackness. All wanting to be seen, touched, heard, paid attention to.” “We spent that summer, and the summer after, together. Everyday almost. And on the days we were together, time would glide,” he wrote of a romance he shared with another man. “Most of the day I’d see him, and his smile. I’d hear his conversation and his silence..until it was time to sleep. Sleep I would often share with him.” (Frank Ocean’s Tumblr)
Check out a recent Frank Ocean interview below:
