Frank Ocean is MIA From the Music World

People are really betting on whether or not the New Orleans escaped inmates will be caught by Friday—life is a simulation. In other news: 

• Kid Cudi is taking the stand in Diddy’s trial soon 😨 

• Who is getting access to Frank Ocean’s unreleased music? 👀

• Industry Insights 🔎 

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Why Kid Cudi Is Set to Testify in Diddy’s Trial

The federal trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs is fully underway—and if you’ve even glanced at your timeline, you’ve seen the headlines. Some details are difficult to stomach, even as allegations. Others—like inflatable pools of baby oil and Obama-shaped ecstasy pills—are just surreal.

Diddy is facing five felony charges, including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. If convicted, he could face life in prison.

Week one centered on testimony from Cassie Ventura, Diddy’s longtime ex-girlfriend, whose 2023 civil suit against him set off the first domino in what’s become a full-blown legal reckoning. On the stand, she described their relationship as one marked by coercion, physical abuse, and orchestrated sex acts known as “Freak Offs.”

Now, Kid Cudi is expected to take the stand later this week—possibly as early as Thursday. Prosecutors confirmed his upcoming testimony in court on Tuesday, May 20.

What Kid Cudi could be asked about

Cudi dated Cassie in 2011 while she was on a break from Diddy. Cassie testified that Diddy found out during a “Freak Off” she still felt forced to participate in, calling it “a job.” After discovering her relationship with Cudi, Diddy allegedly flew into a rage, lunged at her with a wine opener, and later threatened to blow up Cudi’s car.

In 2012, Kid Cudi’s Porsche was destroyed by an explosive device in his driveway. Diddy was never charged, but Cassie recalled a tense meeting at Soho House shortly afterward. When Cudi asked Diddy what happened to his car, Diddy reportedly responded, “What car?”

The relationship between Cassie and Cudi ended soon after. “There was too much danger,” she told the court. “Too much uncertainty if we kept seeing each other.”

According to Cassie’s testimony, Diddy frequently brought up Cudi in arguments—often as a way to deflect when she questioned his relationships with other women.

Her mother, Regina Ventura, also testified that around 2011 or 2012, Diddy called her demanding $20,000 to “recoup” some of what he’d spent on Cassie. She claims his anger about Cassie and Cudi prompted the request.

When Cudi takes the stand, prosecutors will likely use his testimony to reinforce claims of intimidation, violence, and Diddy’s alleged pattern of retaliation toward anyone who threatened his control.

 Where the F*ck is Frank Ocean?

Frank Ocean has gone full-on Houdini when it comes to his music. The man dropped Blonde in 2016, dipped, and returned to the public eye just long enough for everyone at Coachella 2023 to crash out. Then, he vanished like your toxic ex who texts “I miss you” at 2 AM before going ghost (again).

Let’s not act surprised, though — this disappearing act isn’t new. It's just more dramatic this time around because people are putting money on the line. Yes, there are people making actual bets on if Frank will finally drop a project for us to cry to again this year. There’s a better chance of Playboi Carti dropping three albums in one year than this happening, but it’s fun to dream.

Ocean might not have new songs for us, but he’s still been pretty busy. Let’s break it down. 

The OG Vanishing King

After Frank’s debut album, Channel Orange, blessed us in 2012, he went on sabbatical, popped back up with a livestream of him building furniture, and finally dropped Blonde and Endless within 24 hours—a chaotic, beautiful mess that had us all screaming into the abyss online.

According to Bustle, the delay “made the experience better.” Translation: Stockholm Syndrome.

Fast forward to 2023: Frank gets booked for Coachella. The hype was apocalyptic. People were selling organs to afford tickets. Then came weekend one, where he performed without a livestream, could barely be seen, and had long stretches of silence as if his set was a performance art about disappointment. 

Weekend Two? Canceled because of a leg injury. It was probably best that he didn’t show up rather than give fans another repeat of…whatever that was. 

Rumors, Lies, and Frank Ocean’s Vapor Trail

Since then, not a peep. Well, except for the people like Pharrell and social media trolls who keep saying he’s definitely, probably, almost-sort-of releasing new music.

Playboi Carti, the king of album delays and aesthetic chaos, even called him out in 2023 for not releasing music. Back in 2018, Carti said he and Frank recorded five tracks together. Of course, we still haven’t heard them yet.

So what has Mr. Ocean been up to while we suffer in silence?

• Launched Homer in 2018, a luxury jewelry line for people who don’t like their jewelry to be subtle

• Pulled up to the Met Gala in 2021 with a weird baby doll date

• Dropped a photo book in 2023 and some merch.

• Released the previously teased tracks “Dear April” and “Cayendo” on streaming in 2020

• Has started filming his directorial debut in Mexico City starring David Jonnson

• Apparently dating UFC fighter Payton Talbott? (Soft launch confirmed with a Valentine’s Day post and a training montage set to — you guessed it — unreleased Frank.)

Polymarkets and Pain

If you want to make some money off Frank playing with your feelings, all you have to do is hit up Polymarket (and don’t bet yes).

Will Frank ever release music again? Maybe. Maybe not. But until then, we’ll be here—spiraling, theorizing, and praying.

• NBA Youngboy is about to go on his first headlining tour. The rapper is finally returning to the stage after five years with the 2025 Make America Slime Again Tour.

• Lil Tjay’s life story is about to be explored. A documentary about the rapper is in the works and will debut at the Cannes Film Festival.

• Mac Miller is being honored by his hometown. The Pittsburgh Pirates will be hosting a Mac Miller bobblehead night on July 19. 

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