Endless
by Frank Ocean · music · 2016
unverified
Endless is a visual album by Frank Ocean, released August 19, 2016, as an exclusive streaming-only video on Apple Music, one day before Blonde. Endless was his final album with Def Jam Recordings, which fulfilled his recording contract. Ocean fulfilled his contractual obligations and increased his potential profit share from 14 percent to 70 percent of total revenues from Blonde within a 24-hour period.
conditions of production
the conditions that had to be in place for the work to exist, across seven dimensions
technological
format
economic
legal
counterfactual
without the two-album contract structure that allowed ocean to satisfy def jam's delivery requirement with endless while keeping blonde separate, the work does not exist in its released form. the advance repayment that freed ocean from recoupable debt was also necessary to retain masters and release independently.
what shaped this
the makers, scenes, and predecessors this work came out of, grouped by how the influence reached it
the makers behind the maker
- Nostalgia, Ultra · Frank Ocean
producer lineage · Troy Noka, producer
Troy Noka produced Frank's debut mixtape Nostalgia, Ultra (2011) and returned to produce Endless five years later.
“Ocean previously collaborated with Noka on his debut mixtape, Nostalgia, Ultra (2011).”
source ↗ - Channel Orange · Frank Ocean
producer lineage · Om'Mas Keith, producer
Om'Mas Keith helped shape the sound on Channel Orange with a Grammy-winning credit and returned to play piano on Endless's cover of "At Your Best (You Are Love)."
“Om'Mas Keith's work, as he helped shape the sound of tracks like "Crack Rock" and "Sweet Life," ultimately netting himself a Grammy for the project.”
source ↗ - A Moon Shaped Pool · Radiohead
in the room · London Contemporary Orchestra, string arrangement
The London Contemporary Orchestra performed string arrangements on Endless's "At Your Best (You Are Love)," the same ensemble that worked with Radiohead on their 2016 album A Moon Shaped Pool.
“Its string flourishes come from the London Contemporary Orchestra – the very same that worked with Radiohead on their unexpectedly string-fuelled 2016 album 'A Moon Shaped Pool'.”
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the deal
- Blonde · Frank Ocean
referenced · Def Jam contractual obligation, independence maneuver
Frank Ocean stated that Endless represented the final move in a seven-year chess game with Def Jam to get out of his contract; by paying back the $2 million dollar advance for the completion of the second album, he retained ownership of the records and released Blonde independently the next day.
“Frank later on came out saying that the "Endless" visual album represents the final move in a seven-year chess game with Def Jam records to get out of his contract. By paying back the $2 million dollar advance the label gave him for the completion of the second album, he was able to retain ownership of the records.”
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relationships
- The Colour in Anything · James Blake
referenced · mutual collaborator, cross-contribution
Frank Ocean received two writing credits on James Blake's third album released in May 2016, with Blake citing Frank as a huge inspiration for the project; Blake returned the favor playing synths on Endless's "At Your Best (You Are Love)."
“Frank Ocean received two writing credits on Blake's third album, The Colour in Anything, which was released in May of 2016. Blake was even quoted saying Frank was "a huge inspiration" for the project.”
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