UPDATE 19/06/16: Frank Ocean has released a visual album called Endless.
UPDATE 07/08/16: The internet is now considering that Frank Ocean’s new album Boys Don’t Cry could actually be released in November.
UPDATE 19/08/16: Frank Ocean is playing new music on the live stream.
ORIGINAL STORY: 5th August has come and gone and the world is still yet to receive Frank Ocean‘s long-awaited new album Boys Don’t Cry, and both fans and Apple employees are getting desperate AF.
Boys Don’t Cry was reportedly going to be released on Apple Music yesterday, Friday, 5th August, after the album missed its previously suggested release date of ‘any-time-in-July’.
Now, with the release date unofficially set at ‘any-time-in-the-next-decade’, Frank Ocean fans around the world are trying to hold it together while they patiently wait for the follow-up to channel ORANGE, but it’s getting harder and harder to stay positive…
https://twitter.com/tharealversace/status/761369864825036801
https://twitter.com/glodupshawdy/status/761547731424903168
What’s more, Snapchat has helped feed the waves of desperation by releasing new Frank Ocean-themed filters in specific areas of the world, leaving a bittersweet taste in the mouths and camera rolls of many:
https://twitter.com/FrankOceanItaly/status/761481215769739268
Meanwhile, Noisey‘s Associate Editor Ryan Bassil has taken it upon himself to confront Apple’s support team with some hard-hitting questions. While the Apple representative Bassil spoke to reportedly told him that the company is “waiting on the artist”, they also shared their excitement for the album.
Here’s what went down:
longed out by waiting for frank ocean's album to drop so I contacted apple support. they are 'waiting on the artist' pic.twitter.com/8amlW3tQSL
— ryan bassil (@ryanbassil) August 5, 2016
https://twitter.com/ryanbassil/status/761587885904695296
The only exciting news Frank Ocean fans have received in the last few days is the reported leak of the official tracklist from Boys Don’t Cry, which references supposed collaborations with the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Lorde and Outkast’s Andre 3000.
Prior to that supposed leak, Ocean himself reappeared on his Boys Don’t Cry live stream, where he continued to build and paint what appears to be a set of wooden stairs. At the time of writing, the live stream shows an empty warehouse, with some of Ocean’s wooden creations stacked in the middle of the room.
There’s little more that Frank Ocean fans can do right now except to keep waiting, keep watching that paint dry and keep trying to stay strong as a community — because boys don’t cry. Right, Frank?
RIGHT? FRANK?
Gallery: Frank Ocean’s ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ – A Timeline Of Unfulfilled Promises
Frank Ocean 'Boys Don't Cry' Timeline
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October 2013
Ocean responds to a tumblr post stating that his follow up to 'Channel Orange' may be available as early as mid-2014. -
April 2014
Frank uploads a photo of a studio whilst on tour with Outkast, as well as a post indicating that he’ll likely skip their Coachella gig to finish his next record. -
November 2014
Frank uploades an unfinished version of a new track 'Mesmerise', but gives no indication as to whether it’ll be featured on an upcoming album. -
April 2015
A year after first teasing the release, Ocean finally reveals the title 'Boys Don’t Cry' as part of a tumblr post with the hashtag #JULY2015 and caption ‘I got two versions’. -
March 2016
For the first time we hear that the record is now finished – when a 30-second clip leaks from a listening party in New York. It is taken down shortly afterwards. -
May 2016
James Blake releases his new album and reveals that he’s been working with Frank Ocean on the new album, but is unable to unveil any other information about its release. -
May 2016
Amid growing anticipation for 'Boys Don’t Cry', Chance The Rapper says that no one really knows where Frank is, but that he’s working on a "masterpiece". -
June 2016
Several fake Twitter accounts ‘reveal’ that the album will be released on Friday, 3rd June. Many across the Twittersphere are taken for a ride, but nothing eventuates. -
July 2016
Finally something from Frank himself, when he updates his website with a post titled ‘Late’ including a library slip marked with the album title and a bunch of dates with the caption #JULY2016. -
August 2016
Frank Ocean updates his website with a live feeds of a warehouse, with an Apple Music logo in the corner. The New York Times reports that the album will be released on Friday, 5th August.