merch

Frank Ocean Teases New Album With Merch Poster

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Frank Ocean hinted at releasing a new album in a story included on a poster from his latest merch drop. The piece focuses on a “fictitious Recording Artist,” who can be presumed to be Ocean.

“In the summer of 2019, Blonded produced a photo series shot on Thursday, August 8, 2019 by photographer Michael Marcelle. The photo series follows the story of a fictitious Recording Artist as he navigates the radio system,” the message begins.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 06: Frank Ocean attends The 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/WireImage)

He continues: “In one scene the actor Jeremy Strong plays a chairman of a major record label […] The Chairman is flanked by another figure. Both are dressed in suits, wearing ties, and are positioned behind a long boardroom table.”

From there, the story begins to clearly mirror that of Ocean’s own career over the last few years. He argues in favor of releasing singles as opposed to albums, something Ocean focused on from 2017 through 2020 with “Chanel,” “DHL,” “In My Room,” and more.

“The Recording Artist attempts to explain to the major music label the singles distribution model as opposed to the long-form album model,” Ocean adds. “The Recording Artist believes the latter to be outdated, and that releasing singles is more suited to modern consumption habits where people curate their own playlists which are then shared within private circles. The meeting does not appear to be productive.”

Ocean concludes by suggesting he “has since changed his mind about the singles model.” He adds that he’s once “again interested in more durational bodies of work.”

Check out the full story from Ocean’s foldout poster below.

[Via]

Kanye West Inspires Nazi Merch Being Sold Online

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Kanye West’s recent antisemitic behavior has inspired a line of Nazi merch available online promoting his 2024 presidential campaign. While not officially affiliated with the rapper, the designs feature his campaign logo alongside swastikas and more.

The shirts, which were shared on social media by the Anti-Defamation League, come after West praised Adolf Hitler on InfoWars.

ANAHEIM, CA – JUNE 03: Rapper Kanye West performs onstage at the Power 106 Powerhouse show at Honda Center on June 3, 2016 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Scott Dudelson/FilmMagic)

In its tweet sharing images of the merch, the ADL writes: “Disturbed to see sites selling swastika-themed merch in support of Ye’s presidential bid. Some of the symbols appear to have originated among white supremacist trolls on 4chan in Nov & have since been incorporated into merch by online sellers, including print-on-demand platforms.”

“It doesn’t matter whether the sellers of this merch are trying to make a buck or to spread hatred. Reputable platforms have a responsibility to put a stop to it. Kudos to those who already have,” they concluded.

Kanye previously tweeted an image of a swastika inside a Star of David. In response, Elon Musk banned him from the site.

In addition to the controversial merch, West recently topped Simon Wiesenthal Center’s (SWC) Global Antisemitism List. The organization cited “his continued anti-Semitic comments and leveraging his immense social media platform to weaponize hate, bigotry, and ignorance.”

The merch isn’t the first time that West’s actions have inspired further antisemitism. Earlier this month, an attacker used Ye’s name in a hate crime on an elderly Jewish man in New York City’s Central Park. The assailant reportedly yelled out “Kanye 2024” during the attack. Additionally, an antisemitic protest in Los Angeles back in October also featured signs reading, “Kanye is right about the Jews.”

Check out the Nazi-inspired merch for Kanye West below.

[Via]