With his smooth R&B vocals and un-apologetically heavy use of samples, Frank Ocean is to buzz band Odd Future, as Drake is to Lil Wayne. Analogies aside, the New Orleans native had been signed to major label Def Jam for years, but after the label failed to release any of his work, Ocean became more involved with the Odd Future collective, providing contrasting soulful vocals for the group's generally aggressive raps, and eventually self-releasing his debut album in 2011. Basing many of his songs around samples from the likes of Radiohead and MGMT, and infusing them with wry lyrics that openly admit to his young age, Frank Ocean has captured the attention of many and made fans out of everyone from Beyonce to Lupe Fiasco, who have asked to collaborate with Ocean.
