Frank Ocean introduces ‘Blonde’ and ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ magazine with open letter

Photo of Boys Don't Cry magazine pages, with prologue letter and picture of a golden BMW M3 E30 in the desert.

Boys Don’t Cry, pp. 4–5 (Tumblr: @frankocean).

In his magazine’s opening pages, shared on Tumblr for all to read, Frank Ocean introduces Boys Don’t Cry and his album Blonde with a missive reflecting on his experiences making the content featured throughout the zine’s 370 pages and the CD in its center.

After publishing the letter on Tumblr, Ocean thanked his fans directly in a second post, which read:

I had the time of my life making all of this. Thank you all. Especially those of you who never let me forget I had to finish, which is basically everyone of ya’ll, haha. Love you.

A transcript and scans of the magazine letter are available below.

Transcript:

Two years ago, I found an image of a kid with her hands covering her face. A seatbelt reached across her torso, riding up her neck and a mop of blonde hair stayed swept, for the moment, behind her ears. Her eyes seemed clear and calm but not blank, the road behind her seemed the same. I put myself in her seat then I played it all out in my head. The claustrophobia hits as the seatbelt tightens, preventing me from even leaning forward in my seat. The pressing on internal organs. I lean back and forward to release it. Then backwards and forward again. There it is—I got free. How much of my life has happened inside of a car? I wonder if the odds are that I’ll die in one. Knock on wood-grain. Shouldn’t speak like that. We live in cars in some cities, commuting across space either for our livelihood, or devouring fossil fuels for joy. It’s close to as much time as we spend in our beds, more for some. The first time I did shrooms, my manager had to come rescue me from Caltech’s ‘Trip Day.’ As I got into her car, I swear to God the aluminum center console in her Porsche truck looked like it was breathing, like the throat of something. On the freeway, leaving Pasadena, we spoke and I looked away, outside, at the wheels and tires of cars doing that optical illusion thing they do where it looks like they’re spinning backwards, which, according to Google, happens because our brains are assuming something completely wrong and showing it to us. Staring, I was transfixed by all the indicator lights oscillating and throbbing against the wind. We drove thru downtown LA headed west, flying on the same freeways I used to run outta gas on. Welcomed in by the perennial creatures, imperial palm trees and climbing vines living their lives out just off the shoulder. The feeling familiar enhanced, on the 10. I used to ride around in my sinewy crossover SUV, smoke and listen to rough mixes of my old shit before it came out, or whatever someone wanted to play when they hooked up their iPhone to the aux cord. A few years and few daily-drivers later I’m not driving much anymore. It’s been a year since I moved to London, at the time of writing this, and there’s no practical reason to drive in this city. I ordered a GT3 RS and it’ll keep low miles out here but I guess it’s good to have in case of emergency :) Raf Simons once told me it was cliché, my whole car obsession. Maybe it links to a deep subconscious straight boy fantasy. Consciously though, I don’t want straight—a little bent is good. I found it romantic, sometimes, editing this project. The whole time I felt as though I was in the presence of a $16m McLaren F1 armed with a disposable camera. My memories are in these pages, places closeby and long ass-numbing flights away. Cruising the suburbs of Tokyo in RWB Porsches. Throwing parties around England and mobbing freeways in four project M3s that I built with some friends. Going to Mississippi and playing in the mud with amphibious quads. Street-casting models at a random kung fu dojo out in Senegal. Commissioning life-size toy boxes for the fuck of it. Shooting a music video for fun with Tyrone Lebon, the genius giant. Taking a break/reconnaissance mission to Tulum, Mexico, enjoying some star visibility for a change. Recording in Tokyo, NYC, Miami, LA, London, Paris. Stopping in Berlin to witness Berghain for myself. Trading jewels and soaking in parables with the many-headed Brandon aka BasedGod in conversation. I wrote a story in the middle—it’s called “Godspeed.” It’s basically a reimagined part of my boyhood. Boys do cry, but I don’t think I shed a tear for a good chunk of my teenage years. It’s surprisingly my favorite part of life so far. Surprising, to me, because the current phase is what I was asking the cosmos for when I was a kid. Maybe that part had its rough stretches too, but in my rearview mirror it’s getting small enough to convince myself it was all good. And really though… It’s still all good.

This is Boys Don’t Cry & Blonde. First times. Worldwide.

Scans:

The magazine letter appears on page 4 of Boys Don’t Cry, alongside a small childhood photo of Ocean. Page 5 of the magazine features a photo of a gold BMW E30 M3 parked in a desert, along with a smaller image of Ocean wearing a T-shirt paying tribute to the late actor Paul Walker.

Select a photo to view it fullscreen.

Boys Don’t Cry Articles:

Featured
Federico Aliprandi reviews cars for Frank Ocean’s magazine
N/A
Federico Aliprandi reviews cars for Frank Ocean’s magazine
N/A

In Boys Don’t Cry, Italian motorsport enthusiast and blogger Federico Aliprandi wrote a two-page editorial titled “Active Analysis on the Superiority of Lesser Objects,” in which he shares his views on 20 compact cars from various years, makes, and models.

N/A
Mikey Alfred reads your stars in Frank Ocean’s magazine horoscope
Los Angeles, California
Mikey Alfred reads your stars in Frank Ocean’s magazine horoscope
Los Angeles, California

Mikey Alfred, founder of the LA skate brand Illegal Civ, offers advice to readers of Boys Don’t Cry magazine based on their zodiac sign.

Los Angeles, California
Andrew Durbin writes surreal short story for Frank Ocean’s magazine
Chicago, Illinois
Andrew Durbin writes surreal short story for Frank Ocean’s magazine
Chicago, Illinois

In Boys Don’t Cry, American writer Andrew Durbin presents a short story titled “You’ve Been Flirting Again,” paired with illustrations by Swedish visual designer Kilian Eng. It follows a man seeking romance in a world where technology has made travel and dating effortless. As a result, courtship has become superficial and simulated, like finding love on a reality TV show.

Chicago, Illinois
Frank Ocean shares new poem “Boyfriend” inside ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ magazine
London, England
Frank Ocean shares new poem “Boyfriend” inside ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ magazine
London, England

Frank Ocean writes seven free-verse stanzas titled “Boyfriend” in his new zine.

London, England
Michael Mayren publishes photo series “Twelve and Drifting” in Frank Ocean’s zine
Larnaka, Cyprus
Michael Mayren publishes photo series “Twelve and Drifting” in Frank Ocean’s zine
Larnaka, Cyprus

Boys Don’t Cry magazine features a series of images by British photographer Michael Mayren that captures amateur drivers at Achna Speedway, located near the City of Larnaka on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus.

Larnaka, Cyprus
Harley Weir photographs Senegal in ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ magazine editorial “Fluxus”
Dakar, Senegal
Harley Weir photographs Senegal in ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ magazine editorial “Fluxus”
Dakar, Senegal

Frank Ocean’s zine features a photo series by London-based photographer Harley Weir that captures the people of Dakar, Senegal, located in West Africa. The models reenact quotes from various artists, poems, and performance art projects. Weir shot the images in 2015 under Ocean’s creative direction.

Dakar, Senegal
Federico Aliprandi interviews racecar driver Evan Clark in Frank Ocean’s zine
Willow Springs, California
Federico Aliprandi interviews racecar driver Evan Clark in Frank Ocean’s zine
Willow Springs, California

In Boys Don’t Cry, Italian car enthusiast and blogger Federico Aliprandi chats with amateur racecar driver and Ocean’s longtime friend Evan “Ed aka the Sloth” Clark, photographed by cinematographer Francisco Soriano. The two discuss a variety of topics, including car collections, manufacturers, drivers, engines, supercars, American muscle, and more.

Willow Springs, California
Kate Tempest writes poem “Brown Eyed Man” for Frank Ocean’s magazine
London, England
Kate Tempest writes poem “Brown Eyed Man” for Frank Ocean’s magazine
London, England

Boys Don’t Cry includes a poem by English writer Kate Tempest that highlights the deaths and persecution of ‘brown-eyed men’ by police and others.

London, England
Frank Ocean photographs life-size toy BMW racecar in “Scale 1:1”
Milton Keynes, England
Frank Ocean photographs life-size toy BMW racecar in “Scale 1:1”
Milton Keynes, England

In his new magazine, Boys Don’t Cry, Frank Ocean published a photo series featuring a remote-control toy and “life-size” model BMW E30 M3 Sport Evolution. The photoshoot juxtaposes children playing with a small RC car and an adult driving a full-size version out of a large toy box.

Milton Keynes, England
Ben Brooks writes satirical short story “Kimchi” for Frank Ocean’s magazine
London, England
Ben Brooks writes satirical short story “Kimchi” for Frank Ocean’s magazine
London, England

In Boys Don’t Cry, British novelist Ben Brooks published a silly piece titled “Kimchi,” or “Partial List of Misappropriated Hood Ornaments,” which follows an 11-year-old painting prodigy named Elliot Vostock. The article includes two portraits by British photographer Michael Mayren and an illustration by American visual artist Eric Yahnker.

London, England
Jim Mangan photographs Frank Ocean’s ATV adventure in ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ zine
Red Creek, Mississippi
Jim Mangan photographs Frank Ocean’s ATV adventure in ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ zine
Red Creek, Mississippi

American photographer Jim Mangan captures Frank Ocean and his longtime friend Ray Buck driving amphibious all-terrain vehicles in a magazine article titled “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Water Moccasin.” Mangan captured the photo series along Red Creek near Perkinston, Mississippi, in 2015.

Red Creek, Mississippi
Frank Ocean, Chassol, and Om’Mas exchange “Key Words”
Paris, France
Frank Ocean, Chassol, and Om’Mas exchange “Key Words”
Paris, France

In his new magazine, Boys Don’t Cry, Frank Ocean joins journalist Zing Tseng in interviewing composer Christophe Chassol and producer Om’Mas Keith in Paris, France. The foursome discusses music, identity, philosophy, and more. The piece also features two paintings by visual artist Daniel David Freeman and photos by video director Nabil Elderkin.

Paris, France
Frank Ocean publishes poem, photo series “Jumbo”
Manhattan, New York
Frank Ocean publishes poem, photo series “Jumbo”
Manhattan, New York

In Boys Don’t Cry, Frank Ocean shared a verse and photographic series titled “Jumbo” that features his friend Ysham Jackson modeling outfits styled by fashion director Rita Zebdi. Notably, the piece includes an image that appears on one of three magazine covers.

Manhattan, New York
Wolfgang Tillmans photographs Frank Ocean for ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ magazine
Berlin, Germany
Wolfgang Tillmans photographs Frank Ocean for ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ magazine
Berlin, Germany

In his zine, Frank Ocean models for German photographer Wolfgang Tillmans in a series titled “I’m a Morning Person,” captured in Berlin in January 2015. The piece includes four portraits, one of which appears on the cover of Boys Don’t Cry and its companion album, Blonde.

Berlin, Germany
News Feed
‘Boys Don’t Cry’ magazine lyrics feature alternate version of ‘Blonde’
Worldwide
‘Boys Don’t Cry’ magazine lyrics feature alternate version of ‘Blonde’
Worldwide

The lyrics in Frank Ocean’s zine list an unfinished, 12-track sequence of Blonde, including two songs omitted from the final album. The most notable artifact is the unreleased song “Easy,” which has lyrical similarities to “Self Control” and the Endless track “Hublots.” Also present are unique versions of “Nights” and “White Ferrari,” as well as “Mitsubishi Sony” from Endless.

Worldwide
Viviane Sassen photographs Frank Ocean in Japan for ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ magazine
Tokyo, Japan
Viviane Sassen photographs Frank Ocean in Japan for ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ magazine
Tokyo, Japan

In his zine, Frank Ocean explores the car scene in and outside of Tokyo in a photo series by Dutch artist Viviane Sassen titled “Foxface.” Notably, the editorial includes a portrait of Ocean wearing a racing helmet, which he used on one of three front covers for Boys Don’t Cry and two of four album covers for his companion project, Blonde.

Tokyo, Japan
Various artists share their web browsing history in Frank Ocean’s zine
London, England
Various artists share their web browsing history in Frank Ocean’s zine
London, England

An art piece in Boys Don’t Cry magazine offers a glimpse into the Internet-surfing habits of six notable figures, including Frank Ocean, rapper A$AP Rocky, singer James Blake, stylist Justin R. Saunders, and music producers Michael Uzowuru and Evian Christ. The article is titled “Bon Jovi Naked”—a tongue-in-cheek reference to a Google search for Jon Bon Jovi’s 1997 track “Naked.”

London, England
Frank Ocean photographs sculptures by Gary Card in “Television Waterfall”
London, England
Frank Ocean photographs sculptures by Gary Card in “Television Waterfall”
London, England

In his magazine, Boys Don’t Cry, Frank Ocean published a photo series featuring sports cars crafted from hoodies, sweatshirts, and T-shirts by London-based visual artist Gary Card.

London, England
Frank Ocean lists his favorite movies, songs in ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ magazine
London, England/Malibu, California
Frank Ocean lists his favorite movies, songs in ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ magazine
London, England/Malibu, California

Frank Ocean shared a catalog of 100 films and 50 tracks in his zine, including some interesting selections across various genres.

London, England/Malibu, California
Tyrone Lebon offers behind-the-scenes look at “Nikes” music video
London, England
Tyrone Lebon offers behind-the-scenes look at “Nikes” music video
London, England

In Frank Ocean’s new magazine, Boys Don’t Cry, video director Tyrone Lebon published a photo series titled “I Shot a Video for Fun,” which showcases his production of the music video for “Nikes.”

London, England
Romain Gavras writes comic “Le Go Fast” in Frank Ocean’s magazine
Paris, France
Romain Gavras writes comic “Le Go Fast” in Frank Ocean’s magazine
Paris, France

In Boys Don’t Cry magazine, French film director Romain Gavras published a comic strip featuring graphics by London-based artist Pablo Jones-Soler. It contains a series of text messages from a drug mule, who explains the process of trafficking product from Morocco into France and the rest of Europe.

Paris, France
Tyler, The Creator writes poem “Tricolor” in Frank Ocean’s magazine
Los Angeles, California
Tyler, The Creator writes poem “Tricolor” in Frank Ocean’s magazine
Los Angeles, California

Tyler uses transportation as a metaphor for success and ambition in his new text for Boys Don’t Cry magazine. The two-page spread also features pictures of him and his cream-colored BMW M3 E30.

Los Angeles, California
Kanye West shares poem about McDonald’s in Frank Ocean’s magazine
Calabasas, California
Kanye West shares poem about McDonald’s in Frank Ocean’s magazine
Calabasas, California

Boys Don’t Cry magazine includes a poem by Kanye titled “The McDonald’s Man,” which details french fries, cheeseburgers, and other items on the menu conspiring against each other. The piece features photos by Nabil Elderkin that capture West driving his Lamborghini up to a franchise location in Calabasas and speaking his verses onto the drive-thru’s order screen.

Calabasas, California
Frank Ocean engages Lil B in “Holy Combat”
Hollywood, California
Frank Ocean engages Lil B in “Holy Combat”
Hollywood, California

In his new magazine, Boys Don’t Cry, Frank Ocean published an interview featuring rapper Lil B (aka BasedGod) and Illegal Civ founder Mikey Alfred. The trio discusses music, money, internet culture, and more, over eight pages titled “Holy Combat.” The article includes a painting of Lil B with a snake around his neck by London-based artist Daniel David Freeman.

Hollywood, California
“Futura Free” interviews appear in Frank Ocean’s ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ magazine
Los Angeles, California
“Futura Free” interviews appear in Frank Ocean’s ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ magazine
Los Angeles, California

Boys Don’t Cry features a series of interviews by Illegal Civ founder Mikey Alfred with five of Ocean’s other friends in LA around 2012 or 2013, titled “Hopes and Dreams.” Recordings from these sessions were sampled in Ocean’s song “Futura Free,” which closes out his companion album, Blonde. The interviewees include his brother, Ryan Breaux; Illegal Civ skaters Sage Elsesser and Na’kel Smith; and friends Brahim Hariri and Evan Clark.

Los Angeles, California
Frank Ocean publishes ‘Godspeed’ screenplay
London, England
Frank Ocean publishes ‘Godspeed’ screenplay
London, England

In his new magazine, Boys Don’t Cry, Frank Ocean published a six-part screenplay titled Godspeed. The story follows Steely, a “charismatic and well-liked, but emotionally guarded” boy, alongside his friends. Ocean describes the play as a ‘reimagined part of his boyhood.’

London, England
Frank Ocean shares photo series “Glitterboy Down (Best Day Ever)” in his zine
Munich, Germany
Frank Ocean shares photo series “Glitterboy Down (Best Day Ever)” in his zine
Munich, Germany

In Boys Don’t Cry magazine, Frank Ocean included a photoshoot with friends camping outside Munich, Germany. Notably, the series features an image of his friend smoking in a car that appears on one of the three digital album covers for Blonde. The piece also samples a text by American neo-conceptual artist Jenny Holzer titled Truisms.

Munich, Germany
“Be Yourself” mom Rosie Watson discusses her now-famous voicemail
Culver City, California
“Be Yourself” mom Rosie Watson discusses her now-famous voicemail
Culver City, California

Inside Frank Ocean’s Boys Don’t Cry magazine, journalist Danna Takako talks to the voice of the 2016 Blonde track “Be Yourself” and 2012 Channel Orange track “Not Just Money.” Takako asks Watson about her phone calls and her son’s friendship with Ocean—including how it led him to record his music for the first time—in an article titled “This Is Mom.”

Culver City, California
Tom Sachs publishes his “color code guidebook” in Frank Ocean’s magazine
New York, New York
Tom Sachs publishes his “color code guidebook” in Frank Ocean’s magazine
New York, New York

In Boys Don’t Cry, artist Tom Sachs outlines the acceptable (and forbidden) paints used in his NYC studio. The article is a print adaptation of his 2011 film Color.

New York, New York
Auntie Fee shares funny story about Frank Ocean in his magazine
Los Angeles, California
Auntie Fee shares funny story about Frank Ocean in his magazine
Los Angeles, California

Boys Don’t Cry magazine features a brief exchange with chef and YouTube personality Felicia “Auntie Fee” O’Dell. She recounts an anecdote about rescuing Frank Ocean late one night, after he ran out of gas on the Santa Monica Freeway.

Los Angeles, California
Frank Ocean introduces ‘Blonde’ and ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ magazine with open letter
London, England
Frank Ocean introduces ‘Blonde’ and ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ magazine with open letter
London, England

In the opening pages of his zine, shared on Tumblr for all to read, Frank Ocean introduces Boys Don’t Cry and his album Blonde with a missive reflecting on his experiences making the content featured throughout the art book’s 370 pages and the CD in its center.

London, England
Frank Ocean releases ‘Blonde’ and ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ magazine
Los Angeles, California/Chicago, Illinois/New York, New York/London, England
Frank Ocean releases ‘Blonde’ and ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ magazine
Los Angeles, California/Chicago, Illinois/New York, New York/London, England

Ocean debuts his highly anticipated studio album, along with a 370-page, large-format art book, which he is giving away for free at pop-up shops in Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, and London.

Los Angeles, California/Chicago, Illinois/New York, New York/London, England
Featured
The Blonde Who Inspired Blonde
Odysseus
The Blonde Who Inspired Blonde
Odysseus

An exclusive interview with the blonde kid and portrait photographer who gave name to Frank Ocean’s 2016 opus—the origin story of their famous photo, shared for the ‘first time, worldwide.’

Odysseus
articles, music, interviews, blog postOdysseusLondon, EnglandBlonde, Boys Don't Cry, letter, magazines, childhood, London, Eyes, The Collaborationist, Boys Don't Cry magazine articles, Tumblr, Boys Don't Cry magazine articles (1-22), BDC letter, Odysseus (ody§eus)