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Tags: Frank Ocean, Hip-Hop/Rap, Justin Bieber, Odd Future, Pop, Things That Make Us Go Hmm, Tyler the Creator

Image Credit: Andy Sheppard/Redferns

Odd Future figurehead Tyler, the Creator has a new album out today called Wolf, but he’s more interested in talking about a missed opportunity from last year.

In a conversation with Billboard, Tyler noted that he and Odd Future cohort (and Grammy winner) Frank Ocean collaborated on a song for Justin Bieber’s 2012 album Believe, but the track was ultimately rejected.

“I’ve got so many beats and songs, but no one’s giving me a chance yet,” he said. “I want to take Justin Bieber for a month and just lock him up in a cage where we sit and make music. He’s one of the most successful people in the world, but his music could be so much tighter.”

Even without the Odd Future contributions, Believe still had top-shelf writing and production from luminaries like Hit-Boy, Diplo, Drake, Rodney Jerkins, and Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds. Tyler’s quest to make his impact on the teen pop world may come later this year, as he worked on the forthcoming Miley Cyrus album on music produced by Pharrell Williams.

What would the Bieber/Odd Future collaboration have sounded like? In an ideal world, the Canadian Sensation would have recorded a spiritual sequel to Ocean’s “Crack Rock.”

Mar 8 2013 12:00 PM ET

Odd Future's 'Loiter Squad' returns to Adult Swim: Watch an EXCLUSIVE clip!

Tags: An EW Exclusive!, Comedy, Hip-Hop/Rap, Loiter Squad, New Stuff, Odd Future, Television, Things That Are Awesome, Tyler the Creator, TV

Image Credit: Andy Sheppard/Redferns

A few weeks ago, Odd Future centerpiece Tyler the Creator announced the release date of his new album Wolf and dropped the first single and video in “Domo 23.”

That clip looked a whole lot like a sequence from the collective’s manic sketch comedy project Loiter Squad, which also happens to be returning this Sunday, March 10, at Midnight on Adult Swim. Last season sat somewhere between The Kids in the Hall and Jackass, and based on the exclusive clip below, the second go-round will be a ratcheted-up version of the same.

Check out the soon-to-be-beloved new character “Catchphrase Jones” below.

Feb 15 2013 02:56 PM ET

Tyler, the Creator premieres new single and video, announces album details

Tags: Hip-Hop/Rap, Music Videos, New Stuff, Odd Future, Tyler the Creator

Image Credit: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images

In the Odd Future universe, the spotlight has largely been shifted to Frank Ocean for months now. But now that Channel Orange has collected its awards, it’s time for OF mastermind Tyler, the Creator to slip back into the driver’s seat.

Tyler’s new album, Wolf, and it will be hitting store shelves on April 2. According to the Odd Future site, it will feature three different album covers, and if you pre-order, you can also get a jump on tickets to Tyler’s upcoming tour, as well as a nice pair of psychedelic socks.

He also pulled back the curtain on a new single, “Domo 23.” And there’s a video starring Tyler as a blond-dreaded professional wrestler, plus a lot of cameos from various OF personalities. Check it out below: READ FULL STORY »

Jul 12 2012 11:32 AM ET

Target won't sell Frank Ocean's 'Channel Orange'

Tags: Channel Orange, Frank Ocean, Hip-Hop/Rap, Odd Future, R&B, Snap Judgment, Target

A lot of people are hopped up on Frank Ocean’s Channel Orange, but Target is not one of them.

The retail giant had been planning on stocking the physical album back when everyone thought the crooner’s debut would be released July 17. But when Team Ocean coordinated an early iTunes release of the album last Monday, Target had a change of heart.

And Ocean’s manager Christian Clancy was none too happy about it. Clancy went to his Twitter account to vent, writing: “Target has refused to carry Frank’s album because of iTunes exclusive. Interesting since they also donate to non-equal rights organizations.”

Clancy was likely referring to past donations the Minneapolis-based company made to a political organization that supported Tom Emmer, a right-wing politician who unsuccessfully campaigned to become Minnesota’s governor back in 2010. Still, it’s doubtful that Target’s reasoning had anything to do with Ocean’s partial coming-out letter: as many have pointed out, Target not only carries albums from a number of LGBTQIA artists (Adam Lambert and Elton John, to start), but they also sell Gay Pride t-shirts.

Jul 10 2012 11:32 AM ET

Def Jam: Early release of Frank Ocean's 'Channel Orange' part of original marketing plan

Tags: Buzzworthy, Channel Orange, Frank Ocean, Hip-Hop/Rap, Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, New Stuff, Odd Future, Things That Are Awesome

Image Credit: Lloyd Bishop/NBC

Odd Future fans who had July 17 marked on their calendars got a pleasant surprise late last night.

Not only did sudden headline-maker Frank Ocean make his television debut on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, but there was also a surprise announcement: the hotly anticipated Channel Orange would be streaming online for the next 24 hours on Ocean’s Tumblr, as well as for sale on iTunes. The album, which fans thought wouldn’t be available until next Tuesday, became the No. 1 album on iTunes within the hour.

And according to Def Jam, that was all part of Channel Orange‘s unusual marketing strategy.

It all began in June, when Ocean mysteriously announced via teaser trailer that the album would be coming out by July. That left a relatively short period of time for promotion, but Team Ocean made the most of it. Just within the past week, the buzz spiked when Ocean opened up about his sexuality mere days before his cover profile in last Sunday’s New York Times Arts & Leisure section.

When asked Sunday night whether Ocean’s semi-coming out affected the album’s marketing plan, Def Jam president Joie Manda told EW in an e-mail, ”Absolutely not. You have to understand that Frank’s letter last week was in NO WAY intended to impact the marketing of this record. Like all things with Frank, it was a carefully measured, very personal decision.”

Manda said then that the label’s “plans remain the same: to support Frank Ocean’s creativity and artistry and allow him the freedom to continue building the very special relationship he’s cultivated with his fans.”

Jul 4 2012 09:54 AM ET

Frank Ocean from Odd Future opens up about sexuality

by Erin Strecker

Tags: Frank Ocean, Odd Future, R&B, Tyler the Creator, News

Image Credit: Karl Walter/Getty Images

Following in the matter-of-fact footsteps of Anderson Cooper, R&B singer Frank Ocean, part of the group Odd Future, came out on his blog yesterday, revealing that an old love was a man.

“What i’m about to post is for anyone who cares to read. it was intended to fill the thank you’s section in my album credits [Upcoming album "Channel Orange"], but with all the rumors going round.. i figured it’d be good to clarify,” Ocean first posted.

Then, in a long blog post, Ocean wrote, in part, “4 summers ago, I met somebody. I was 19 years old. He was too. We spent that summer, and the summer after, together. Every day almost, and on the day we were together, time would glide. Most of the day I’d see him, and his smile. By the time I realized I was in love, it was malignant. It was hopeless….It’s December 27,2011….I wanted to create worlds that were rosier than mine…Before writing this I’d told some people my story…I feel like a free man.” READ FULL STORY »

Jun 29 2012 04:24 PM ET

Tyler, the Creator directs 'Sam (Is Dead)' -- VIDEO

Tags: Domo Genesis, Hip-Hop/Rap, Music Videos, Odd Future, Tyler the Creator

War: what is it good for? Odd Future videos, apparently!

The hip-hop collective’s de facto frontdude Tyler, the Creator took the liberty of directing the clip for “Sam (Is Dead),” the track he shares with Domo Genesis on the collective’s latest showcase The OF Tape Vol. 2.

It’s a long one, with the video clocking in at nearly twice as long as the album version of the track. However, it is mercifully shorter than Chuck Norris’ regrettable Delta Force.

Check out the “Sam (Is Dead)” video below and compare it to Katy Perry’s own musical tour of duty in the comments:

Apr 6 2012 05:19 PM ET

Watch Odd Future hunt for booty in a 'Loiter Squad' sneak peek -- EXCLUSIVE

Tags: Adult Swim, An EW Exclusive!, Booty Hunter, Buzzworthy, Hip-Hop/Rap, Loiter Squad, Odd Future, Television, Tyler the Creator

Tyler, the Creator and his Odd Future buddies are on the hunt for the most dangerous game of all: booty.

For those who haven’t noticed, the Billboard-charting, increasingly fun-loving hip-hop collective premiered their goofy 15-minute variety show Loiter Squad on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim recently.

The third episode of the show debuts this Sunday at 11:30 p.m., but we have an exclusive preview right here.

In a send-up that echoes Will Ferrell’s satiric “Bitch Hunter,” Tyler and the gang get maced in the face while fellow member Lionel Boyce becomes “Lionel: The Booty Hunter.” Check it out below:

Mar 22 2012 05:46 PM ET

Odd Future show shut down by cops in Boston (again)

Tags: About Last Night, Hip-Hop/Rap, Legal Troubles, Massholes, Odd Future, Tyler the Creator

Image Credit: Roger Kisby/Getty Images

Sucks to be an Odd Future fan in Boston.

Nearly a year after the Los Angeles rap collective had their Newbury Comics show shut down by police, the Tyler, the Creator-led group has once again seen their show cut short by Boston’s finest.

According to a fan-made video, Odd Future were performing last night at the city’s House of Blues when the lights were turned on by the venue, apparently at the instruction of cops.

“Just so you guys don’t think we’re d—s, I was going to finish the song, because you guys paid money,” Tyler tells the booing crowd. “But the promoter cut us off.” Word has it, one of OFWGKTA’s crew members was arrested outside the venue.

“We wanted to finish,” he continues, “but the owner of the club made us turn it off and the police are right there.” He had more to say, but his mic was quickly cut off. See it go down in the video below:

Dec 30 2011 10:19 AM ET

The 10 top music-video directors of 2011: Watch their best clips here