Dive In To Frank Ocean

Forrest Gump (2012)

Not much to do with the Tom Hanks Oscar-winning movie of the same name, this is lo-fi genre-redefining R&B. The Guardian insisted this number, on Frank’s debut album Channel Orange, was him not merely hinting at his bisexuality but taking, “full ownership on this woozily romantic song”. Well, it does include the lines, “you’re so big and so strong” and “you run my mind, boy”. Swoon.

Good Guy (2016)

The word “gay” only appears once on Frank’s second album Blonde (note the use of the feminine form of the title to add a gender-fluid element) and in this particular song. It’s about a date at a gay bar where Frank smartly realises the guy is not the person he plans to grow old with: (“All the bitches in the neighbourhood wanna fuck you”). Mournfully melancholic.

Ambience 001: In A Certain Way (2016)

On Frank’s Endless visual album there’s a brief dialogue interlude from iconic drag queen Crystal LaBeija that featured in 1960s documentary The Queen about drag pageants. Her House of LaBeija formed in 1977 kickstarting the ballroom/vogueing scene. Frank later rapped about her on the track RAF on A$AP Mob’s Cozy Tapes Vol. 2. Can we get an amen?

Thinkin’ ’Bout You (2012)

Unquestionably Frank’s breakthrough moment, as well as being groundbreaking when he winces, “My eyes don’t shed tears, but boy they pour when I’m thinkin’ ‘bout you”. Quite easily one of the most homoerotic tunes you’re ever likely to get your rocks off to, it’s hard to believe it’s already now almost a decade old.

Comme Des Garçons (2016)

Also from his Endless project, this sly, sassy moocher is Frank gettin’ all horny (“All this drillin’ got this dick feelin’ like a power tool”). It’s also namechecks the Japanese fashion label CDG, which translated from the French to “like the boys”. Effortlessly folding fashion into urban music there’s no hidden agenda in Comme Des Garçons… just a gay one.