Various artists share their web browsing history in Frank Ocean’s zine

iMac computer screenshot of web histories on a blue desktop background.

“Bon Jovi Naked,” Boys Don’t Cry, p. 117.

An art piece in Frank Ocean’s magazine, Boys Don’t Cry, offers a glimpse into the Internet-surfing habits of six notable figures. The two-page spread includes seven screenshots showing the browsing histories of Ocean, rapper A$AP Rocky, singer James Blake, disc jockey Evian Christ, stylist Justin R. Saunders (founder of JJJJSound), and producer Michael “Uzi” Uzowuru. The article is titled “Bon Jovi Naked”—a tongue-in-cheek reference to a Google search for Jon Bon Jovi’s 1997 track “Naked.”

Ocean’s two screenshots include a variety of entries. Many of his searches are related to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). One item includes a Reddit post about a developer for the multiplayer server software Bukkit issuing a takedown notice to Mojang for using his work in their video game Minecraft. Other listings include the web networking company Cloudflare, the Minecraft multiplayer server list Minecraft-mp.com, and searches related to Bitcoin mining. Ocean also read Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom’s 2012 ”Letter to Hollywood” about internet piracy. Interestingly, two Gmail messages are visible, with the addresses hidden; the first email is titled “Approval: Cisco film,” and the other “Green Helmet.” An opinion piece published in The New York Times, about New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, dates the web queries to July 2015.

A$AP Rocky’s browsing history includes several WorldstarHipHop videos and searches related to Italian opera.

James Blake searched for D’Angelo’s 2014 album Black Messiah and Taylor Swift’s “Bad Blood” remix featuring Kendrick Lamar. Some humorous entries include “What is Katie Hopkins; how can we make it go away,” and “How to get paid for recording music?”

Evian Christ looked up miscellaneous things on Google, including the Reel Inn in Malibu, a Barry Sheene documentary, “how to sew,” and Porsche cars for sale.

Justin R. Saunders searched for fashion-related items and online stores, such as the marketplace Grailed and his clothing outlet J-shoppe.com. Other entries include “nanotechnology in military” and Meek Mill’s SoundCloud track “Jump Out the Face,” which dates the snapshot to July 2015.

Finally, Michael Uzowuru mostly browsed sports and basketball-related articles, including topics such as the NBA draft, “notable sports deaths of 2015,” and famous players like Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, Bill Russell, Jay Williams, and the American footballer Colin Kaepernick.

Scans of the magazine and each person’s browsing history are provided below.


Scans:

Select a photo above or below to view it fullscreen.

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A$AP Rocky (Reddit: u/ent_of_the_forest).

James Blake (Reddit: u/ent_of_the_forest).

Evian Christ (Reddit: u/ent_of_the_forest).

Frank Ocean #1 (Reddit: u/ent_of_the_forest).

Frank Ocean #2 (Reddit: u/sstellar)

Justin R. Saunders (Reddit: u/ent_of_the_forest).

Michael Uzowuru (Reddit: u/ent_of_the_forest).


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