Frank Ocean’s New Album Misses July Deadline, and the Whole Internet Freaked Out

Culture

Either Frank Ocean is the biggest tease on the planet, or the world misinterpreted his subtle signal that he'd be dropping new music in July. Well, Friday marked the last day of the month (and Ocean's final chance to unglue his fans from their news feeds before their eyes dried out) and there was no sign on the horizon of Ocean's second studio album, allegedly titled Boys Don't Cry

The collective frustration over what many fans said was Ocean's broken promise (it was really more of a wink-and-nudge than a downright commitment) was heard Friday on social media. Twitter users loudly lamented the end of the month, airing their grievances over no new Ocean album.

Ocean, 27, entered the music scene as a ghostwriter for the likes of Damienn Jones, John Legend, Justin Bieber and Brandy. His big break came in 2011 when he worked with Beyoncé on a track for her album 4.

"Jay had a CD playing in the car one Sunday when we were driving to Brooklyn," the "Drunk in Love" singer told Complex magazine that year. "I noticed [Ocean's] tone, his arrangements and his storytelling. I immediately reached out to him — literally the next morning. I asked him to fly to New York and work on my record."

Ocean released his first studio album, Channel Orange, a year later in July 2012, and it was pure bliss. Music enthusiasts embraced the nascent artist for his emotion-filled lyrics, unprecedented style and sophisticated sound. The awards poured in, and Ocean quickly became recognized as a rising force in the R&B music scene. 

David M. Benett/Getty Images

Three long years later, there's been hardly a word from Ocean, and no new album to speak of. In April, Ocean teased fans with a photo set the artist posted to his Tumblr that seemed to point to a July release date for his much-anticipated sophomore studio album. 

Fans interpreted the April post, which included an image of Ocean's soon-to-be-published magazine Boys Don't Cry and a caption boasting "two versions," to mean his second album was on its way and that it would mirror the magazine's title. But August rapidly approaches, and Ocean's fans are already crying.