Frank Ocean. Read the other contract.
A musician handed his label 45 minutes of himself building a staircase and walked free. Every deal has two documents, and he read the first.
THE GIST ON FRANK OCEAN: "Self Control"
How did Frank Ocean escape his label?
Ten years ago, a musician handed his record label 45 minutes of him building a staircase, and somehow that ended his contract. The next morning, his actual album came out and went straight to number one.
That was Frank Ocean, and he escaped by doing exactly what he'd agreed to do, nothing more.
Why was he stuck?
Frank signed to Def Jam at 22, and they put him on the shelf. Sitting on you costs nothing and promoting you costs millions. They sign a load of artists and wait to see who catches fire.
Frank got sick of waiting, so he made Nostalgia, Ultra, a mixtape he gave away for free online. He blew up, which was brilliant news for Def Jam, who owned everything he was going to do afterwards.
What did the contract actually say?
By then he'd spent four years making Blonde, the record of his life. If he released it, Def Jam would have kept it forever. So he read the contract. It said he needed to make albums. It said nothing about quality.
He live-streamed himself building a staircase in a warehouse for 18 days, and it ended with a 45 minute album called Endless. Streaming only, contractually robust, and crucially, settled.
What happened to Blonde?
The next day he released Blonde. It went straight to number one, sold 250,000 copies in a week, and he made 70% of the sales instead of 14. One video, one interview, then silence for years. It turned 10 last week as the most beloved album of its generation.
Every deal of your life has two documents: the one you signed, and the one they act like you signed. The second holds the hours, the loyalty and the waiting for your turn. Frank just gave them the first. Whatever's got you cornered, go and read it. The likelihood is the door's already open. They just don't expect you to walk through it.
Is using a contract loophole fair play?
Your take. One tap, then see how everyone else voted.
Quick answers
How did Frank Ocean leave Def Jam?
His contract said he had to make albums and said nothing about quality, so he delivered Endless, a 45 minute streaming-only album, and was released.
How did Blonde do?
It went straight to number one and sold 250,000 copies in a week, and he made 70% of the sales instead of 14%.
What are the two documents in every deal?
The one you signed, and the one they act like you signed, which holds the hours, the loyalty and the waiting for your turn.
See you on the next one.
What should the next one be? Suggest a topic for Huw to explain
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