Frank Ocean joined in on the commercialism, and celebrated Black Friday by selling the Boys Don’t Cry zine and his new Blonde album on vinyl. The sale was available on his official website, and the singer even gave away Blonde t-shirts to fans for free.
The zine was available for $80 and numerous posters related to the album were available for $25. There was even a Blonde themed hand-shaped air freshener for $15.
Physical copies of the Blonde album also became available for pre-order on Friday through XL Recordings. The double-LP vinyl version sold at $35, and the CD with a different cover was available for only $15. Both were scheduled to ship on Dec. 19.
Ocean recently gave an interview, explaining as to why he decided not to submit Blonde or Endless for Grammy consideration, although his Channel Orange album was nominated six times. The singer has won awards twice in the past.
“I think the infrastructure of the award system and the nomination system and screening system is dated,” Ocean said to the New York Times.
“The institution certainly has nostalgic importance,” Ocean further said. “It just doesn’t seem to be representing very well for people who come from where I come from, and hold down way I hold down.”
He continued by referencing Colin Kaepernick, the San Francisco 49ers player that kneeled during the national anthem to protest the treatment of black citizens at the hands of police officers in the United States.
On this he said, “I’d rather this be my Colin Kaepernick moment for the Grammys than sit there in the audience.”
