Even though Nicki Minaj has other femcee beefs to handle these days, the conflict with Lil Kim continues to be one of her most well-known and debated. Moreover, she inadvertently contributed to another point of contention on Wednesday (October 16) during a conversation at Vogue‘s Forces of Fashion event in New York City. The specific claims that Kim fans are mad about is how the Trinidadian femcee claimed that there were no rappers naming their fanbases before Nicki cultivated, supported, and championed the Barbz, citing Justin Bieber’s Beliebers and Lady Gaga’s Little Monsters as her predecessors in this regard in other genres.
“Before l had a record deal, my fans were making a moment for themselves on Twitter,” Nicki Minaj expressed. “I had already given them a name. In fact, do you know that all these artists that give their fans names now, when I started calling my fans the Barbz, there were no rappers naming their fans. […] That was it. Now every single human being that becomes an artist gives their fans a name. Even artists in other countries. I didn’t think it was something that would spread to the hip-hop community at all. But it doesn’t matter, because the Barbz are still superior.”
Nicki Minaj speaks about how the Barbz, Beliebers (Justin Bieber fans), and the Little Monsters (Lady Gaga fans) spearheaded stan culture on Twitter. pic.twitter.com/uppRMOGued
As for Lil Kim fans, they called Nicki Minaj out because they feel like Kim deserves that credit. “Rappers better run and hide, ’cause here comes the Beehive,” the Brooklyn femcee rapped on “The Beehive” off of her 2003 album La Bella Mafia. “Maturing is realizing Nicki Minaj’s number one goal is to take credit for EVERYTHING Lil’ Kim contributed to the game,” one fan retorted. “KIM WAS THE FIRST RAPPER to name their fan base (BEEHIVE) in early 2000s (That’s 20+ years ago!) sorry nicki the fan base names existed BEFORE the internet.” This criticism also extended to include other femcees like Foxy Brown. Check out more reactions down below.
Fans & Lil Kim Defenders React
Maturing is realizing Nicki Minaj’s number one goal is to take credit for EVERYTHING Lil’ Kim contributed to the game… KIM WAS THE FIRST RAPPER to name their fan base (BEEHIVE) in early 2000s (That’s 20+ years ago!) sorry nicki the fan base names existed BEFORE the internet pic.twitter.com/R3KzPWwoWg
She’s so delusional –like Lil Kim aint been callin her Fans The Beehive since La Bella Mafia dropped in 2003. I seriously hope Kim drops 1 more album before it’s all said & done cuz Bitches really need that Reminder… https://t.co/Pav1KQfg2Y
now y’all mad because nicki told the truth and said that barbz were one of the first introductions to artist naming their fanbases online… pic.twitter.com/9m8u7KvBjb
grown ass men are writing entire thinkpieces because nicki didn’t acknowledge fanbase names that were created two decades ago lmao. imagine being so chronically online that you get offended by that dumb ass shit. pic.twitter.com/KiZGCflsRG
my old ass can attest to this personally! we were literally the first three fanbases on twitter i remember it like it was yesterday! pic.twitter.com/HNsdljUqfp
Meanwhile, some other alleged Nicki Minaj shade came in the form of her apparent reaction to the drama between her ex Safaree and his ex wife Erica Mena. That’s just a theory, though, so take it with a grain of salt. Either way, this Lil Kim debate has solid points on both sides, although we doubt they will reconcile.
Kodak Black supposedly charges quite a hefty charge for every performance. As you see by the title, the Pompano Beach, Florida rapper commands at least $300,000. While some people are almost assuredly going discredit that, it makes sense. You can say what you want about his past decisions, but he is an established veteran in the hip-hop world. He’s also been one of the major faces of the genre over the last 10 years due to his hitmaking ability. You have massive tracks from his solo catalog like “ZEZE”, “Tunnel Vision”, and “No Flockin’”. Then, when you take a look at his features, they are arguably even bigger. Gucci Mane’s “Wake Up in the Sky” and A Boogie Wit da Hoodie’s “Drowning” are just a couple, but both total nearly two billion streams combined.
So, yes, there is a lot of validity to Kodak Black demanding such a high price tag for a show. However, the “BROTHER STONE” rapper is deciding to give back to his fans, as well as some of the up-and-coming talents. According to AllHipHop, the 27-year-old hopped on Instagram Live to offer about $50,000 in features to 10 newcomers. He did that before responding to fan’s request to get to pop out to his kid’s birthday.
Perhaps due to it being a younger kid, Black was willing to lower his rate to $11,000, which he makes clear is “a great f***ing deal”. I charge $300,000 for a show. So, when I’m telling you s*** like this here, hurry up and jump on it”. While 11 G’s is still a lot of money for a kid’s birthday party, it’s better than full price!
What are your thoughts on Kodak Black asserting that he makes $300,000 per show? Do you think he’s bluffing, why or why not? Have you been enjoying the MC’s resurgence this year? We would like to hear what you have to say, so leave your thoughts in the comments. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Kodak Black. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on in the music world.
It’s no secret that Playboi Carti has a huge and fiercely loyal fanbase. According to Adam22, however, he doesn’t necessarily deserve it. During a recent interview with VladTV, the podcaster turned adult entertainer shared his take on the Atlanta native. He had some harsh words for him, as well as those who support him. He claimed that Carti’s music feels “forced,” dubbing his followers “confused” at best.
“I listened to that song on the Future album with Travis Scott and everything,” he began. “The whole thing was good, and I don’t turn it off when it gets to the Carti verse because every time I’m just kind of marveling at how weird this verse is and how weird this voice that he’s using is. I feel like Playboi Carti might have the most r****ded fanbase in hip-hop, or at the very least, the most easily impressed fanbase.”
“I feel like it’s impossible to be somebody that’s at our age and to be impressed by what he’s putting out there,” he continued. “Especially with my specific set of references where I grew up listening to a lot of hip-hop, a lot of metal, a lot of hardcore, a lot of punk. So like, all of the elements of those genres that he inserts into his music feel fairly forced and just not cool.” Adam22 went on to describe catching a glimpse of Carti’s crowd at Rolling Loud, recalling their all-black fits. “They think they’re goths because they dress in all black, but they’re like obsessed with Kanye and Playboi Carti and stuff,” he explained. “They’re just kind of confused from my perspective.”
Needless to say, the internet personality is not a fan. What do you think of Adam22 dissing Playboi Carti and his fanbase? Does the No Jumper host have a point, or not? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
Nicki Minaj shared a list of things she’s learned about her fanbase over the years on Twitter, Tuesday. She began by explaining that the Barbz are willing to come after anyone in her defense.
“I be tryna tell y’all nobody is exempt,” she said. “#ACGI ANYBODY CAN GET IT. It don’t matter WHO start it, the barbz ALWAYS finish it. I been doin this sh*t for a long time now & every-time I ever tried to warn ppl that the barbz are different, they had to learn the hard way.”
Nicki Minaj is mobbed by fans during her arrival at Cafe Koko in Camden, north west London, where she announced she will be holding a meet and greet whilst she is visiting the UK. Picture date: Monday July 11, 2022. (Photo by James Manning/PA Images via Getty Images)
From there she listed six things she’s “learned about the #Barbz since 2009.” The list includes “They NEVER Forget,” “They don’t care how long it take to get a OPP bakk, “They NEVER stop once they start. They’ll be in that ass #ForLife (moment 4 Life voice),” “They beat everyone @ their OWN game while laughing & supporting Onika,” “They make a fun sport out of giving ppl a taste of their own medicine. So if you do something, they will patiently wait for their turn & chiiiiiiii. WooWEE,” and “It’s never business with the barbz. Once they feel that line is crossed, it’s personal.” Check out the full post below.
Nicki Minaj Reflects On Her Fanbase
I be tryna tell y’all nobody is exempt. #ACGI ANYBODY CAN GET IT. It don’t matter WHO start it, the barbz ALWAYS finish it. I been doin this shit for a long time now & every-time I ever tried to warn ppl that the barbz are different, they had to learn the hard way.
Her comments on the Barbz come after she recently feuded with Megan Thee Stallion. After the rapper seemingly dissed her on the song, “Hiss,” Minaj responded directly with the track, “Big Foot.” Be on the lookout for further updates on Nicki Minaj on HotNewHipHop.
Many celebrities tout their own unique cult following of loyal consumers who would go above and beyond to defend them. Unfortunately, the modern era of social media and parasocial relationships has led some famous people to surround themselves with obsequious yes-men who will insatiably do their bidding, no matter how absurd. One such example is Nicki Minaj’s so-called “Barbz.”
The Barbz actively employ threats and online harassment to aggressively target Nicki’s enemies and critics. At times, they have gone so far as to doxx the personal information and whereabouts of those who speak negatively about their femcee queen. With the latest headlines once again maligning Nicki Minaj and her band of crazed fans, it begs the question: are Nicki Minaj’s Barbz the most dangerous fan base in all of music?
In a move that truly sounds impossible to accomplish, Nicki Minaj’s fans have successfully doxxed a dead woman. In a vehement response to the ongoing rap feud between Nicki and Megan Thee Stallion, the Barbz have gone to the extent of researching and uncovering the location of Meg’s mother’s burial plot. Some fans have issued threats to show up at the site, hinting at unsavory acts of vandalism.
The cemetery security has been notified of this ongoing breach and has pledged to maintain a watchful eye over the plot as the story continues to unfold. Megan’s mother tragically passed away from cancer in 2019, and has nothing to do with the ongoing exchange of words between Nicki Minaj and her daughter which recently culminated in tracks such as “Hiss” and “Big Foot.”
Clearly, this is twisted behavior that should unequivocally be condemned by any artist, though Nicki Minaj has a long and unfortunate history of whipping her fans into a fervor like this and letting them loose, or even actively encouraging them to engage with their worst impulses. While Megan’s family is the most recent example of this trend, they are far from the first victims of the Barbz’s toxic ire.
This Is Not The First Incident With The Rapper’s Fans
Several victims of Nicki Minaj’s Barbz have taken to social media to inform the public that they have lawyered up against the ravenous fans, after suffering harassment similar to that of Megan Thee Stallion in years past. While some famous people such as Lil Kim have faced the ire of rabid fans, many victims of the Barbz include random teenagers voicing their distaste for the rapper on social media. Many onlookers have even taken to comparing the Barbz to the crazed central character Dre from the Prime Video series Swarm.
Swarm was created by Donald Glover and Janine Nabors to illustrate the wild lengths some fans will go to in order to impress their favorite musician. The show features a crazed fan who locates and brutally murders members of the public who take to social media to voice criticism of her favorite singer, Ni’Jah. While the show primarily draws real-world parallels to the fan base of Beyoncé, it seems that Nicki Minaj and her Barbz are far more deserving of the title at this time.
Nicki’s fans have brigaded subreddit communities, turned out in droves to cyberbully autistic TikTok users, and even ganged up to launch a widespread attack on her husband’s sexual assault victim, in a disgusting display of toxicity. Hopefully, Nicki will come to her senses and gain control over her over-protective fans quickly before they spiral out of control on another unsuspecting critic. With all this toxicity and horrifying behavior, the Barbz are genuinely a dangerous fanbase.
Nicki Minaj says that she’s learned some of her fan pages are being funded by companies looking for inside information on her fanbase. She explained the situation on Twitter, Sunday. The rant began with her writing: “Unfollowed 8 today. Let’s GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. I found out something very important today about something …. I’ll tell y’all shortly.”
After about 20 minutes, she added: “Imagine you get hired to a prestigious company & they say ok today your job is to create a barb page & pretend to be a barb for as long as possible & give us updates every day. We’ll advise when it’s time to try to dismantle sh!t. Chiiiiiiiiiiii this some REAL CIA TINGZ. GAG.”
NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 11: Nicki Minaj at the ‘Watch What Happens Live’ show taping on December 11, 2023 in New York, New York. (Photo by MEGA/GC Images)
Minaj didn’t provide any further details on which exact accounts she was referring to, but fans were supportive of her frustration in the replies. One wrote: “The obsession really is insane. They are scared af of us.” Another added: “I’d expose them and quit lmaooo are ppl that desperate to make money?” Check out Minaj’s full posts about the matter below.
Nicki Minaj Vents About Fake Fan Accounts
Unfollowed 8 today. Let’s GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. I found out something very important today about something …. I’ll tell y’all shortly.
Imagine you get hired to a prestigious company & they say ok today your job is to create a barb page & pretend to be a barb for as long as possible & give us updates every day. We’ll advise when it’s time to try to dismantle sh!t. Chiiiiiiiiiiii this some REAL CIA TINGZ. GAG
Minaj’s tweets come after the release of a second deluxe version of her latest album, Pink Friday 2 (Gag City PLUTO Edition). The newest release ends with “Press Play” featuring Future. It marks her second collaboration with the rapper on the album. Be on the lookout for further updates on Nicki Minaj on HotNewHipHop.
Doja Cat jokingly flipped off the camera in a new photo of her posing with fans on social media. Rocking a crop top, blue jeans, and high heels, she stood next to four young fans while sticking her middle finger up. Pop Crave shared the image on Twitter, on Sunday.
“Doja looked like she’s the one who asked for a pic,” one fan wrote in response, while one more added: “They look like they don’t know what to do when she posed like that.” Another joked: “I hope you never wear this again,” in response to her shoes.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 31: Doja Cat kicks off The Scarlet Tour on October 31, 2023 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Dana Jacobs/Getty Images for Live Nation)
Doja has had a tumultuous relationship with her fans as of late. After losing over 180,000 followers, earlier this year, for calling out her fanbase, she remarked that she felt “free.” While speaking with Harper’s Bazaar afterward, she elaborated: “My theory is that if someone has never met me in real life, then, subconsciously, I’m not real to them. So when people become engaged with someone they don’t even know on the internet, they kind of take ownership over that person. They think that person belongs to them in some sense. And when that person changes drastically, there is a shock response that is almost uncontrollable… I’ve accepted that that’s what happens.” Check out Doja Cat’s latest run-in with her fans below.
Doja Cat’s meeting up with fans comes after she embarked on The Scarlett Tour, last week. Beginning at Chase Center in San Francisco on Halloween, the tour is scheduled to run through December 13, 2023, at United Center in Chicago. Ice Spice and Doechii are joining her at the shows. Be on the lookout for further updates on the tour on HotNewHipHop.
For the past few days, hip-hop bloggers and podcasters have been catching plenty of heat for sharing their opinions. In particular, we’ve seen Drake trading shots with both Charlamagne Tha God and Joe Budden regarding his new For All The Dogs album. Clearly being put on blast by the 6ix God didn’t phase the former. He had plenty to say about another rhymer – Kanye West – during a recent episode of his Brilliant Idiots podcast.
“I’ll tell you what Drake has that I don’t think Kanye has anymore,” The Breakfast Club host said in the clip below. “I think Drake has a devoted fanbase for his music. Kanye’s fanbase, people like Kanye, you know, whether it’s for the antics, for the sneakers, whatever else,” Charlamagne further speculated. “But you might not be checking for his music.” Co-host Andrew Schulz then chimed in with a story about being at a comic show and watching everyone in the vicinity rap along to Drizzy, which he compared to being at “a Taylor Swift concert.”
Of course, the Canadian artist has put out four noteworthy albums in the past few months. As for West, he’s focusing on fashion and his marriage to Bianca Censori. Schulz pointed out that older tracks from the latter’s discography would earn a similar reaction as what he saw with Drake, but when it comes to new music from the Chicago native, audiences don’t seem to get as hyped up to sing along.
While Charlamagne insists that Kanye West’s fans no longer care about his music, the father of four is reportedly planning an event in Italy that just may prove him wrong. It’s been some time since we’ve seen Ye perform live, but later this month he’s allegedly putting on a massive concert that’s sure to turn plenty of heads his way if the rumours are true. Read more about that at the link below, and check back later for more hip-hop/pop culture news updates.
The fanbase of a popular rapper or singer can either be a blessing or a curse to others. In the entertainment industry, especially with music, fanbases have been known to be incredibly loyal to their idols. While this proves positive sometimes, there are many controversial elements that the average “stan” possesses. Hip Hop and its neighboring genres aren’t left out of the conversation as well, boasting some of the most toxic fanbases around.
Many popular artists boast millions of followers around the globe. Some of these loyal devotees have gained a notorious reputation for their questionable behavior over the years. While fanbases of other rappers and singers are usually primary targets, fellow celebrities are also affected by scary fans. These controversial fanbases have gone to great lengths to protect or defend their favorite stars, and oftentimes, this proves problematic.
Kanye West
(Files) in this file photo rapper Kanye West speaks during his meeting with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on October 11, 2018. – Kanye West, the entertainment mogul who urges listeners in one song to “reach for the stars, so if you fall, you land on a cloud,” announced SJuly 4, 2020, he is challenging Donald Trump for the US presidency in 2020. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
Kanye West’s fans don’t really have an agreed-upon name for their fandom, but they’ve often followed in their idol’s footsteps in stirring up controversy. West has made many problematic statements in the last couple of years that have garnered much attention. The rapper publicly supported Donald Trump, and made questionable comments about slavery and women’s rights. However, his fans relentlessly defend him, claiming West to be a “woke genius” who can do no wrong. His fans have also severely targeted and harassed Taylor Swift, Kim Kardashian, and other women West has had public rifts with.
Beyonce fanbase Beyhive is considered one of the most infamous fanbases in pop culture. ” class=”wp-image-689306″ srcset=”https://wp.hnhh.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/GettyImages-946416208.jpg 1024w, https://wp.hnhh.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/GettyImages-946416208-300×191.jpg 300w, https://wp.hnhh.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/GettyImages-946416208-768×488.jpg 768w” sizes=”(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px” />INDIO, CA – APRIL 14: Beyonce Knowles performs onstage during 2018 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival Weekend 1 at the Empire Polo Field on April 14, 2018 in Indio, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Coachella)
As much as Beyoncé’s Beyhive dedicate their time to praising their Queen Bey, they’ve also, on numerous occasions, used the same drive to cuss out anyone who speaks out against her. The Beyhive is fiercely protective of Beyoncé and have launched multiple attack campaigns on other celebrities. Most notable of these are Kelis, Keri Hilson, and Rachel Roy, who have experienced firsthand, the devastating sting of the Hive. Beyoncé has, in fact, encouraged her fans to stop the bullying, but they’ve insisted she mind her business. So if Beyoncé herself isn’t free from a cheeky blow or two, nobody’s really safe from their antics.
ATLANTA, GA – JUNE 17: Rapper Nicki Minaj performs onstage at Hot 107.9 Birthday Bash: Pop Up Edition at Philips Arena on June 17, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/WireImage)
It’s impossible to list the most controversial fanbases in the world and leave out the iconic Barbz. Nicki Minaj’s fans can be as sweet as her 2011 cotton candy hairdo, and as vicious as a Black Mamba. The rapper herself isn’t free of controversy, but her fanbase would never let a negative word slip through about their icon. They’ve blown up people’s phones who have spoken out against her, even going as far as sending death threats. The Barbz have gotten people fired from their jobs, and located people’s home addresses. Heck, they even tried to get Remy Ma arrested, and still enjoy a recurring sparring match with Cardi B’s fans, Bardi Gang.
Eminem, Vorst Nationaal, Brussels, Belgium, 05/02/2001. (Photo by Gie Knaeps/Getty Images)
Eminem’s career is widely revered, and rightfully so. He is one of the most prolific and talented rappers of all time. Nevertheless, he’s the reason the word “stan” exists in the first place. His career has been mired in controversy, from homophobia to run-ins with the law. However, he has also made several misogynistic statements since he first started out, spurring feuds with many women. From claiming he would punch Lana Del Rey, to countless claims that he had a relationship with Mariah Carey, Eminem’s targeting of women is highly questionable. Regardless, the rapper’s fanbase could care less. All they care about is his legacy, and completely overlook his growth as a person.
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 22: Chris Brown performs at 2018 BET Experience Staples Center Concert, sponsored by COCA-COLA, at L.A. Live on June 22, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Earl Gibson III/Getty Images for BET)
Chris Brown’s career has unfortunately been tainted by numerous assault accusations by women and other celebrities. This also includes a restraining order against him by his ex Karrueche Tran. Despite these facts, his fans, known as Team Breezy, harass anyone who brings up his problematic behaviors online. They also maintain that Brown’s attempted “cancellation” by the media is a result of racial profiling. Not only is that untrue, but it serves to take away from real issues surrounding profiling.
LAS VEGAS, NV – SEPTEMBER 23: Recording artist Drake performs onstage at the 2016 iHeartRadio Music Festival at T-Mobile Arena on September 23, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Drake’s fanbase might be tamer in comparison to other rappers’ fans, but they can still be pretty exhausting. Insisting your favorite rapper is the best thing since sliced bread is no issue, but Drake fans take it up a notch to bash other musical artists. The rapper’s fanbase has held grudges with many celebrities over the years. Their cult-like behavior is attributed to wishing, to some extent, that they could be Drake himself. Notwithstanding, like many other fandoms, Drake is also caught in the crossfires, as many of his fans want him to go back to “the old Drake.”
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 07: Robyn Rihanna Fenty and Linda Fargo celebrate the launch of FENTY at Bergdorf Goodman at Bergdorf Goodman on February 07, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Bergdorf Goodman)
Rihanna’s fans, aptly called the Navy, are some of the fiercest online warriors of the Internet age. Their excesses seem to have been curbed now that Rihanna’s pumped the brakes on her music. However, you can still catch them going toe to toe with other fandoms about the supremacy of their leader. Rihanna’s fanbase has dealt blows online to several singers and rappers over the years. These days, when they’re not loving on the singer, they’re beefing with her for not releasing new music.
Frank Ocean has unintentionally had the internet in a chokehold over the past week. Rumors swirled about Ocean releasing a new album along with his headlining performance at Coachella 2023. Now that the dust has settled, most of Ocean’s fanbase has been left disappointed by the result. The overarching sentiment seems to be that the singer doesn’t care about his fans. A user on Twitter stated, “Started the set late, didn’t let them live stream it, now ending the set early … Frank Ocean you will rue the day.”
Headlining Coachella on Sunday night, fans were bemused to find out that the Coachella livestream wouldn’t include Ocean’s performance. We don’t yet have a concrete reason why it wasn’t shared. Was it per the request of Ocean? Did Coachella not want their main act to be shown off to the world? A day after the event, the music fanbase is still baffled by the hour-long performance.
Frank Ocean’s Coachella Performance Was A Mixed Bag
Frank Ocean’s Coachella performance was a mixed bag at best. After months of preparation by the performance event staff, he asked them to “destroy” the laid-out stage moments before he went on. This contributed to Ocean showing up to the performance one hour late. Considering the hundreds of dollars fans spent to see him, it wasn’t the greatest look. At the show’s end, Ocean claimed to his fanbase that he was being forced off stage due to “curfew.” However, the plan was always for the show to end at midnight.
Ocean performed reworked versions of songs such as “Novacane,” “White Ferrari,” and “Bad Religion.” Of course, he also performed some of his hallmark tracks off of Blonde and Endless. “Nights” saw him jumping around the stage, while “At Your Best (You Are Love)” reminded fans of his innate talent as an emotive vocalist. This was especially notable on “Godspeed.” In addition, he implemented an impromptu DJ set in the middle of his performance. It was the disorganization of the show rather than Frank Ocean’s performance which hurt the Coachella 2023 headliner.
Frank Ocean Hinted At A New Album
MANCHESTER, TN – JUNE 14: Frank Ocean performs at The Other Tent during day 3 of the 2014 Bonnaroo Arts And Music Festival on June 14, 2014 in Manchester, Tennessee. (Photo by FilmMagic/FilmMagic for Bonnaroo Arts And Music Festival)
There was hope from fans that he would use the platform to announce a new album. While this wasn’t the case, Frank Ocean did confirm that new music is on the way at Coachella. He stated, “I want to talk about why we’re here because it’s not because of a new album – not that there’s not a new album.” About the new project, he later stated, “But it’s not right now.” It wasn’t the grandiose release of new music that fans hoped for. However, Ocean gave fans just enough to chew on for the near future.
Amid mixed reviews of his Coachella performance and a continuing hiatus from music, the complicated dynamic between Frank Ocean’s fanbase and himself has continued. The tension began all the way back in 2016. Fans were disappointed at Ocean for not releasing Boys Don’t Cry (which later morphed into Endless) sooner. However, Ocean’s reasons for postponing the record were later revealed. He infamously used the project to get out of his deal with Def Jam Recordings.
Ryan Breaux Inspired His Performance
NEW YORK, NY – JULY 26: Singer Frank Ocean performs at Terminal 5 on July 26, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
During Coachella 2023, Frank Ocean revealed to his fanbase that his reasonings for headlining the show were deeply personal. His late younger brother, Ryan Breaux, would force Frank Ocean to go to Coachella with him when they were younger. He stated, “My brother and I came to this festival a lot. I know he would’ve been excited to be here with all of us.” Unfortunately, his younger brother’s tragic passing is another reason for the discourse between himself and his fans. After the news of the accident came out, droves of fans claimed that the emotional experience from his brother’s passing would translate to better music. Along with the pandemic, Breaux’s death reportedly postponed any plans Ocean had for new music.
In an interview with GQ in 2019, Ocean referenced the constant microscope that his fanbase has on him. He stated “As a writer, as a creator, I’m giving you my experiences. But just take what I give you. You ain’t got to pry beyond that. I’m giving you what I feel like you can feel.” As social media has become a huge part of our society, Ocean has unsubscribed from the notion that fans constantly need to be in the know-how.
Ocean Is Purposefully Disconnected
Lastly, Frank Ocean spearheaded the release of the Homer fashion brand last year. Largely releasing luxurious products, he infamously released a $27,000 penis ring in August of 2022. While there’s nothing wrong with getting into the fashion fields, it seemed like a slap in the face to his fans. About this, iconic music reviewer Anthony Fantano stated, “Frank Ocean did an amazing job at gaming the system. Now that he’s established, he’s pitching us the same garbage snake oil that anybody else in a position of capitalistic influence would.”
There’s also the moral question of, does Frank Ocean owe his fanbase anything. With some fans reacting unemotionally to his brother’s passing, this may have further solidified his lack of interest in engaging. However, it seems Ocean’s naturally shy personality doesn’t blend well with the microscopic nature of the internet era. The Louisiana-born creative will continue to do what we wants, whether fans like it or not. Frank Ocean made that very clear with his performance during the first week at Coachella.
pic.twitter.com/R3KzPWwoWg
(@skinny_dawg) October 17, 2024
–like Lil Kim aint been callin her Fans The Beehive since La Bella Mafia dropped in 2003. I seriously hope Kim drops 1 more album before it’s all said & done cuz Bitches really need that Reminder… https://t.co/Pav1KQfg2Y
︎ (@KrisOnTheGramTV) October 17, 2024
https://t.co/ee1uRt1NHL pic.twitter.com/mhv7le9OOR
men
(@jaeisoverit) October 17, 2024
(@xomarajs) October 16, 2024
(@ChelOnyxia) October 17, 2024
I be tryna tell y’all nobody is exempt. 
Beyonce fanbase Beyhive is considered one of the most infamous fanbases in pop culture. ” class=”wp-image-689306″ srcset=”https://wp.hnhh.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/GettyImages-946416208.jpg 1024w, https://wp.hnhh.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/GettyImages-946416208-300×191.jpg 300w, https://wp.hnhh.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/GettyImages-946416208-768×488.jpg 768w” sizes=”(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px” />
