Frank Ocean has reportedly left Def Jam. His latest album, Blonde, was released this weekend and was apparently produced independently.
Ocean released two albums last week: the visual album Endless, and the more traditional studio album Blonde, which was released through Apple Music. According to The Fader, Endless was Ocean's final, contractually obligated release through Def Jam, while Blonde was released independently without the backing of a major label.
Ocean signed with Def Jam in 2009. Ocean released the critically acclaimed Channel Orange through Def Jam, but released his mixtape Nostalgia, Ultra through the internet without the backing of his label. Around the time of Nostalgia, Ultra's release, Ocean took to Twitter to publicly voice his dissatisfaction with Def Jam, implying that he regretted signing with a major label.
Apple Music attributes the rights to Blonde to "Boys Don't Cry," which was the original, working title for Ocean's sophomore album and is speculated to be the placeholder name of Ocean's new independent distributor.
Blonde is expected to be a big hit, as Billboard is projecting the album to sell around a quarter of a million copies in its first week of release.
By Michael Lacerna for RAPstation.com
