Despite Target’s contractual reasoning for not selling Frank Ocean’s new album “Channel Orange” in their retail stores, Ocean still beat record sales expectations. Frank released his new album [via itunes] one week earlier than it’s official release date and reportedly brought in $131,000 in digital sales according to Nielsen SoundScan. Now that the physical copies have been issued in stores Ocean sales are expected to increase this week.
Many people assumed that Frank would not peak his sales expectations after he made a bold revelation of himself on July 4th regarding his first love with a male friend on his tumblr page. Since coming out, celebrities have rallied and come to Frank’s defense, and the sentiment has been pretty much the same. As fans, were entitled judge the artist’s music but one’s personal life should be off limits.
At the 2012 Essence Music Festival many celebs were asked about what they’d thought of Frank’s open admission and here what they had to say about it all.
R&B Singer Tank said:
“I don’t think it does anything, it doesn’t make him any more or less talented,” Tank told us of F.O.’s decision to go public about his sexuality. “I mean, if anything, I’m proud of him, you know what I mean?” the chiseled “Please Don’t Go” singer added. “That he can be himself and be free and not have to … duck and dodge and worry about who’s saying this and [their] opinions.”
Rapper MC Lyte said:
“That’s his life and I don’t think one has to do with the other.” She went on to add that Frank’s candor could have a positive influence, but she also predicted he’ll have “some naysayers.” “Hopefully, it’ll free some people up, you know?” Lyte said. “But he’s such a talented guy, what he brings to music, and his creativity — his level of creativity — [that his sexuality] doesn’t matter.”
Singer Carl Thomas said:
“I don’t think that someone’s sexual preference has a bearing on the music or their level of conviction,” the “I Wish” belter said. “God bless the brother, you know, I think he’s incredibly talented. I loved the single ‘Novacane’ when I first heard it. In order to hit the kind of notes that he was hitting on that record, you know, you have to come from a different perspective, and I’ve appreciated everything I’ve heard to this point.”
As far as me judging his personal life, I don’t really think that’s necessary,.. ..He puts the music out, I’ll judge the music, but no different than anyone else would.”
Former 112 singer Q said:
“Everybody is free to express whatever they have going on, whether that’s, you know, any personal feelings about anything..”If that’s what he wants to let everybody know, then good job for him.”
Rapper Eve said:
“I think he is very talented, I think he’s dope, I think his choices are his choices, and I think he didn’t need to confess but if he felt like it — hey, to each his own,” Eve said. “The way that the music is right now, it’s so open anyway.”
People – Do you agree or disagree?