Frank Ocean: 'No Criminal Charges, No Civil Lawsuit'

Frank Ocean arrives at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards on September 6th, 2012 in Los Angeles, California.

Despite recent reports that Frank Ocean wanted to press charges against Chris Brown over the fight that allegedly broke out between the two earlier this week, Ocean appears to be seeking peace instead.

In an entry posted on his Tumblr page this weekend, Ocean ruminated on his response to getting jumped. "As a child I thought if someone jumped me it would result in me murdering or mutilating a man," Ocean wrote. "But as a man I am not a killer. I'm an artist and a modern person. I'll choose sanity. No criminal charges. No civil lawsuit. Forgiveness, albeit difficult, is wisdom. Peace, albeit trite, is what I want in my short life. Peace." 

50 Best Albums of 2012: Frank Ocean, 'Channel Orange'

Although he does not mention Chris Brown by name, Ocean seems to be referring to last Sunday's scuffle outside a West Hollywood recording studio, which reportedly broke out over a parking space. Ocean tweeted on Monday morning that he "got jumped by chris and a couple guys," and police investigating the fight cited witness accounts of Brown punching Ocean during a brawl that involved four other men from their entourages.

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Frank Ocean: 'No Criminal Charges, No Civil Lawsuit'

Frank Ocean arrives at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards on September 6th, 2012 in Los Angeles, California.

Despite recent reports that Frank Ocean wanted to press charges against Chris Brown over the fight that allegedly broke out between the two earlier this week, Ocean appears to be seeking peace instead.

In an entry posted on his Tumblr page this weekend, Ocean ruminated on his response to getting jumped. "As a child I thought if someone jumped me it would result in me murdering or mutilating a man," Ocean wrote. "But as a man I am not a killer. I'm an artist and a modern person. I'll choose sanity. No criminal charges. No civil lawsuit. Forgiveness, albeit difficult, is wisdom. Peace, albeit trite, is what I want in my short life. Peace." 

50 Best Albums of 2012: Frank Ocean, 'Channel Orange'

Although he does not mention Chris Brown by name, Ocean seems to be referring to last Sunday's scuffle outside a West Hollywood recording studio, which reportedly broke out over a parking space. Ocean tweeted on Monday morning that he "got jumped by chris and a couple guys," and police investigating the fight cited witness accounts of Brown punching Ocean during a brawl that involved four other men from their entourages.

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Frank Ocean Producer Om'Mas Keith Readies 'City Pulse' – Album Premiere

In January 2011, the singer-songwriter and producer Om'Mas Keith began working on his album City Pulse. Six months later, with the record nearly done, he put it away to concentrate on Frank Ocean's Channel Orange.

"There was no other alternative, really, in terms of knowing I was gonna immerse with an artist for that amount of time," Keith tells Rolling Stone in his Hollywood studio. "It really wasn't that hard a decision for me, knowing I had a body of work that was almost ready and that was just touches away from completion and in my possession."

50 Best Albums of 2012: Frank Ocean, 'Channel Orange'

That decision, of course, has paid off considerably: Ocean's critically-acclaimed album is one of the five finalists for Album of the Year at the 55th Grammy Awards. Keith, for one, is not surprised that he and the others behind Channel Orange will be attending the ceremony at the Staples Center on February 10th.

"After I was done producing, we took our listen and we kind of got that chill and we all said, 'Oh yeah, we're gonna be at the Grammys,'" he recalls. "We all said it, so we kind of manifested it to this experience."

Once he had finished working with Ocean, Keith returned to City Pulse, which you can hear exclusively below. Like Channel Orange, Keith regards City Pulse as a fully realized body of work, with a story. "It is somewhat of an exaggerated, somewhat fictional narrative; that's how it's done, that's how you make the good story," he says. "I think part of artistry, to me, is the blend of sharing your personal truth with people and then sharing your fictional idea. My album is definitely an album about love, sexual experiences, fun and touring the world."

For obvious reasons Keith says, "Now I think, timing-wise, this is the time for me to release this." He also plans to play live behind the record, starting with a European tour and then dates in Los Angeles, his current home, and beyond.

It will all have to be balanced with the continually increasing demand for his services as a producer. "What happens is now 16- to 18-hour days are just standard," he says.

Among his next projects, Keith is working with Azealia Banks on her forthcoming album. He envisions forging a similar working bond with her to the one he has now with Ocean. "She's probably going to be one of the artists that I go into a long-term working relationship with," he says. "We've already done a series of very intense sessions that I personally feel resulted in some of her best music to date. I think she feels that way too."

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Alicia Keys, Maroon 5 and Frank Ocean Added to Grammys Lineup

Alicia Keys, Adam Levine of Maroon 5, Frank OceanMichael Buckner/Getty Images for The Painted Turtle Camp; Kevin Winter/Getty Images; Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images

Maroon 5 and Alicia Keys will team up for a special performance at this year's Grammy Awards, with rising R&B star Frank Ocean also slated to perform when the show airs live on February 10th.

While Keys isn't up for any awards this year – her latest effort Girl On Fire will be eligible next year – Maroon 5 is up for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for "Payphone," while their record Overexposed will compete for best Pop Vocal Album. Ocean nabbed an impressive six nods, including Best New Artist, Record of the Year for "Thinkin Bout You," and his debut Channel Orange is up for Album of the Year and Best Urban Contemporary Album.

Video: 10 Classic Grammy Awards Performances

The Grammys also announced their first wave of presenters, a list that includes actor Neil Patrick Harris, Carly Rae Jepsen, Katy Perry, Tim McGraw and Keith Urban.

Ocean, Keys and Maroon 5 join an already impressive Grammys lineup, which will feature Justin Timberlake along with performances from nominees like Jack White, Taylor Swift, Mumford & Sons, fun., Rihanna, Carrie Underwood, the Lumineers and the Black Keys. You can check out this year's other nominees as well.

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Frank Ocean Producer Om'Mas Keith Readies 'City Pulse' – Album Premiere

In January 2011, the singer-songwriter and producer Om'Mas Keith began working on his album City Pulse. Six months later, with the record nearly done, he put it away to concentrate on Frank Ocean's Channel Orange.

"There was no other alternative, really, in terms of knowing I was gonna immerse with an artist for that amount of time," Keith tells Rolling Stone in his Hollywood studio. "It really wasn't that hard a decision for me, knowing I had a body of work that was almost ready and that was just touches away from completion and in my possession."

50 Best Albums of 2012: Frank Ocean, 'Channel Orange'

That decision, of course, has paid off considerably: Ocean's critically-acclaimed album is one of the five finalists for Album of the Year at the 55th Grammy Awards. Keith, for one, is not surprised that he and the others behind Channel Orange will be attending the ceremony at the Staples Center on February 10th.

"After I was done producing, we took our listen and we kind of got that chill and we all said, 'Oh yeah, we're gonna be at the Grammys,'" he recalls. "We all said it, so we kind of manifested it to this experience."

Once he had finished working with Ocean, Keith returned to City Pulse, which you can hear exclusively below. Like Channel Orange, Keith regards City Pulse as a fully realized body of work, with a story. "It is somewhat of an exaggerated, somewhat fictional narrative; that's how it's done, that's how you make the good story," he says. "I think part of artistry, to me, is the blend of sharing your personal truth with people and then sharing your fictional idea. My album is definitely an album about love, sexual experiences, fun and touring the world."

For obvious reasons Keith says, "Now I think, timing-wise, this is the time for me to release this." He also plans to play live behind the record, starting with a European tour and then dates in Los Angeles, his current home, and beyond.

It will all have to be balanced with the continually increasing demand for his services as a producer. "What happens is now 16- to 18-hour days are just standard," he says.

Among his next projects, Keith is working with Azealia Banks on her forthcoming album. He envisions forging a similar working bond with her to the one he has now with Ocean. "She's probably going to be one of the artists that I go into a long-term working relationship with," he says. "We've already done a series of very intense sessions that I personally feel resulted in some of her best music to date. I think she feels that way too."

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

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Frank Ocean 'Desirous of Prosecution' Over Chris Brown Fight

Karl Walter/Getty Images for Coachella; Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Frank Ocean wants charges filed against Chris Brown after they scrapped outside a Los Angeles recording studio, Reuters reports. Ocean has claimed he was "jumped by chris and a couple guys" Sunday night outside Westlake Studio in West Hollywood after exchanging words over a parking spot.

50 Best Albums of 2012: Frank Ocean, 'Channel Orange'

Police are investigating the the incident, and have cited witnesses who say that Brown punched Ocean during a brawl that involved four other men from their entourages. Although no charges have been filed yet, Ocean "is desirous of prosecution in this incident," said Steve Whitmore, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff.

That could spell trouble for Brown, 23, who is serving five years probation for the 2009 assault of Rihanna. New charges against him would put the R&B singer at risk of having his probation revoked. 

Ocean said on Twitter that the scrap resulted in a cut finger, writing, "now I can't play w two hands at the grammys," where he's up for six awards, including Album of the Year and Best New Artist. Brown, who's also up for a Grammy February 10th, hasn't commented.

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Frank Ocean 'Desirous of Prosecution' Over Chris Brown Fight

Karl Walter/Getty Images for Coachella; Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Frank Ocean wants charges filed against Chris Brown after they scrapped outside a Los Angeles recording studio, Reuters reports. Ocean has claimed he was "jumped by chris and a couple guys" Sunday night outside Westlake Studio in West Hollywood after exchanging words over a parking spot.

50 Best Albums of 2012: Frank Ocean, 'Channel Orange'

Police are investigating the the incident, and have cited witnesses who say that Brown punched Ocean during a brawl that involved four other men from their entourages. Although no charges have been filed yet, Ocean "is desirous of prosecution in this incident," said Steve Whitmore, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff.

That could spell trouble for Brown, 23, who is serving five years probation for the 2009 assault of Rihanna. New charges against him would put the R&B singer at risk of having his probation revoked. 

Ocean said on Twitter that the scrap resulted in a cut finger, writing, "now I can't play w two hands at the grammys," where he's up for six awards, including Album of the Year and Best New Artist. Brown, who's also up for a Grammy February 10th, hasn't commented.

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Frank Ocean Cited for Marijuana Possession, Speeding: Report

Frank Ocean was cited for possession of marijuana, driving on a suspended license and having tinted windows after police pulled the musician over for speeding in Mono County, California, TMZ reports.

50 Best Songs of 2012: Frank Ocean, 'Thinkin Bout You'

Ocean was pulled over in his black BMW on New Year's Eve for going 90 mph in a 65 mph zone. When police approached his car they reportedly smelled pot, and a search allegedly turned up a small bag of it on his person.

Police confiscated Ocean's license but released him on the spot; the other passenger in the vehicle drove him home.

Neither Ocean nor anyone in his camp has commented on the incident.

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Eagles Consider Legal Action Against Frank Ocean

Timothy B. Schmit, Don Henley, Glenn Frey and Joe Walsh of the Eagles perform in Universal City, California.Charley Gallay/Getty Images For City Of Hope

The Eagles are speaking out against a "Hotel California"-sampling track by Odd Future vocalist Frank Ocean. "American Wedding," which appeared on Ocean's 2011 mixtape Nostalgia, Ultra, liberally borrows the melody of the band's signature hit – though the singer's alternate lyrics about "Hijabs and polygamist husbands" show some marked difference from the original.

After Eagles lead singer Don Henley allegedly reached out to Ocean earlier this week and threatened a lawsuit, Ocean fired back on his Tumblr. "He (They) threatened to sue if I perform it again. I think that's fuckin' awesome. I guess if I play it at Coachella it'll cost me a couple hundred racks . . . They also asked that I release a statement expressing my admiration for Mr. Henley, along with my assistance pulling it off the web as much as possible." Ocean insisted that he was paying homage to the Eagles and noted that he released Nostalgia, Ultra for free online.

Today the Eagles responded forcefully, via band spokesman Larry Solters:

Frank Ocean did not merely "sample" a portion of the Eagles' Hotel California;  he took the whole master track, plus the song's existing melody, and replaced the lyrics with his own.  This is not creative, let alone "intimidating." It's illegal.  For the record, Don Henley has not threatened or instituted any legal action against Frank Ocean, although the Eagles are now considering whether they should. Any further questions regarding this matter should be directed to Warner Music Group as it is the entity that currently owns the master recording and made the contact with Frank Ocean's representatives concerning his infringement of the master recording.

Ocean has yet to respond. Regardless of his new rivalry, the suave singer has already earned plenty from Nostalgia, Ultra: it was Number 24 on Rolling Stone's 50 Best Albums of 2011.

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Eagles Consider Legal Action Against Frank Ocean

Timothy B. Schmit, Don Henley, Glenn Frey and Joe Walsh of the Eagles perform in Universal City, California.Charley Gallay/Getty Images For City Of Hope

The Eagles are speaking out against a "Hotel California"-sampling track by Odd Future vocalist Frank Ocean. "American Wedding," which appeared on Ocean's 2011 mixtape Nostalgia, Ultra, liberally borrows the melody of the band's signature hit – though the singer's alternate lyrics about "Hijabs and polygamist husbands" show some marked difference from the original.

After Eagles lead singer Don Henley allegedly reached out to Ocean earlier this week and threatened a lawsuit, Ocean fired back on his Tumblr. "He (They) threatened to sue if I perform it again. I think that's fuckin' awesome. I guess if I play it at Coachella it'll cost me a couple hundred racks . . . They also asked that I release a statement expressing my admiration for Mr. Henley, along with my assistance pulling it off the web as much as possible." Ocean insisted that he was paying homage to the Eagles and noted that he released Nostalgia, Ultra for free online.

Today the Eagles responded forcefully, via band spokesman Larry Solters:

Frank Ocean did not merely "sample" a portion of the Eagles' Hotel California;  he took the whole master track, plus the song's existing melody, and replaced the lyrics with his own.  This is not creative, let alone "intimidating." It's illegal.  For the record, Don Henley has not threatened or instituted any legal action against Frank Ocean, although the Eagles are now considering whether they should. Any further questions regarding this matter should be directed to Warner Music Group as it is the entity that currently owns the master recording and made the contact with Frank Ocean's representatives concerning his infringement of the master recording.

Ocean has yet to respond. Regardless of his new rivalry, the suave singer has already earned plenty from Nostalgia, Ultra: it was Number 24 on Rolling Stone's 50 Best Albums of 2011.

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

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