Channel Orange cover art

  Studio Album · No. 1

Channel Orange Songwriting Credits by Frank Ocean

2012 Def Jam 17 tracks 62 min

Produced by Frank Ocean, Malay, Om'Mas Keith, Shea Taylor, Pharrell Williams, Tyler, the Creator, Jonathan Ikpeazu  ·  Engineered by Jeff Ellis, Mark "Spike" Stent, Vlado Meller

Def Jam Alternative R&BProgressive SoulNeo Soul
88%
Authorship
Artist

Holds writing credit on 15 of 17 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 15 / 17 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 17 tracks with documented writers, by whether Frank Ocean carries a lyricist or composer credit.

88%
15 trackswritten by Frank Ocean 2 tracksoutside writers
Frank Ocean's roles on this album

Share of the 17 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist88%
Composer88%
Producer94%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

17
Tracks
7
Lyricists
7
Producers
686,000
US Copies Sold
2012
Released

Awards & Recognition 1

Grammy Award for Best Urban Contemporary Album (2013)
Data Insight

Channel Orange shows Frank Ocean's authorship at full strength on his debut: he wrote or co-wrote every song, sitting in the lyricist credit throughout, while the composer column pairs his birth name Christopher Breaux with the small team, mainly Malay and Om'Mas Keith, that built the music. The few guest writers, Earl Sweatshirt and André 3000, appear only where they take a verse, underlining how much of the record is Ocean's own voice.

Channel Orange is the debut studio album by Frank Ocean, released in July 2012 on Def Jam after his breakout mixtape Nostalgia, Ultra. A landmark of modern R&B, it is a loose concept record about unrequited love, wealth, and disillusionment, told through Ocean's literary, detail-rich songwriting. He co-wrote every track, with the lyrics largely his and the music shaped by his core collaborators Malay and Om'Mas Keith. Guests include Earl Sweatshirt on 'Super Rich Kids,' André 3000 on 'Pink Matter,' and John Mayer on guitar, while the sprawling 'Pyramids' became its centerpiece. The album won the Grammy for Best Urban Contemporary Album and is regarded as one of the defining records of its decade.

Track Listing & Credits 17 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Start
Frank Ocean Christopher BreauxJames Ho Frank OceanMalay Frank Ocean (Lead Vocals)
2
Thinkin Bout You #32
Frank Ocean Christopher BreauxShea Taylor Frank OceanShea Taylor Frank Ocean (Lead Vocals)
3
Fertilizer
James FauntleroyReginald Perry James FauntleroyReginald Perry Frank OceanMalay Frank Ocean (Lead Vocals)
4
Sierra Leone
Frank Ocean Christopher BreauxJames Ho Frank OceanMalayOm'Mas Keith Frank Ocean (Lead Vocals)
5
Sweet Life
Frank Ocean Christopher BreauxPharrell Williams Frank OceanPharrell Williams Frank Ocean (Lead Vocals)
6
Not Just Money
Rosie Watson Rosie Watson Jonathan Ikpeazu Rosie Watson (Spoken Word)
7
Super Rich Kids
Frank OceanEarl Sweatshirt Christopher BreauxJames HoThebe KgositsileMark MoralesNathaniel Robinson Jr.Mark RooneyKirk RobinsonRoy Hammond Frank OceanMalayOm'Mas Keith Frank Ocean (Lead Vocals)Earl Sweatshirt (Featured Vocals)
8
Pilot Jones
Frank Ocean Christopher BreauxShea Taylor Frank OceanMalayOm'Mas Keith Frank Ocean (Lead Vocals)
9
Crack Rock
Frank Ocean Christopher BreauxJames Ho Frank OceanMalayOm'Mas Keith Frank Ocean (Lead Vocals)
10
Pyramids
Frank Ocean Christopher BreauxJames Ho Frank OceanMalayOm'Mas Keith Frank Ocean (Lead Vocals)John Mayer (Guitar)
11
Lost
Frank Ocean Christopher BreauxJames HoMicah OtanoEdwin Paul Shelton II Frank OceanMalayOm'Mas Keith Frank Ocean (Lead Vocals)
12
White
Frank Ocean Christopher BreauxTyler Okonma Frank OceanTyler, the Creator Frank Ocean (Lead Vocals)John Mayer (Guitar)
13
Monks
Frank Ocean Christopher BreauxJames Ho Frank OceanMalayOm'Mas Keith Frank Ocean (Lead Vocals)
14
Bad Religion
Frank Ocean Christopher BreauxMonte NeubleCharlie GambettaKevin RistoWaynne Nugent Frank OceanMalayOm'Mas Keith Frank Ocean (Lead Vocals)
15
Pink Matter
Frank OceanAndré 3000 Christopher BreauxJames HoAndré Benjamin Frank OceanMalayOm'Mas Keith Frank Ocean (Lead Vocals)André 3000 (Featured Vocals)
16
Forrest Gump
Frank Ocean Christopher BreauxJames Ho Frank OceanMalayOm'Mas Keith Frank Ocean (Lead Vocals)
17
End / Golden Girl
Frank OceanTyler, the Creator Christopher BreauxJames HoPharrell WilliamsTyler Okonma Frank OceanMalay Frank Ocean (Lead Vocals)Tyler, the Creator (Featured Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 29 contributors

FO
Frank Ocean
Writer · Producer · Vocals
On this album15 written
CB
Christopher Breaux
Writer
On this album15 written
JH
James Ho
Writer
On this album10 written
PW
Pharrell Williams
Writer · Producer
On this album2 written
ST
Shea Taylor
Writer · Producer
On this album2 written
TO
Tyler Okonma
Writer
On this album2 written
TT
Tyler, the Creator
Writer · Producer · Vocals
On this album1 written
A3
André 3000
Writer · Vocals
On this album1 written
AB
André Benjamin
Writer
On this album1 written
CG
Charlie Gambetta
Writer
On this album1 written
ES
Earl Sweatshirt
Writer · Vocals
On this album1 written
EP
Edwin Paul Shelton II
Writer
On this album1 written

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Blonde
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Frequently Asked Questions Channel Orange

Did Frank Ocean write Channel Orange?
Yes. Frank Ocean co-wrote every track and wrote the lyrics himself, working mainly with producers Malay and Om'Mas Keith on the music.
Who produced Channel Orange?
Most of the album was produced by Frank Ocean with Malay and Om'Mas Keith, with Pharrell Williams and Tyler, the Creator contributing to individual tracks.
Who are the guests on Channel Orange?
Earl Sweatshirt appears on 'Super Rich Kids,' André 3000 on 'Pink Matter,' and John Mayer plays guitar on 'White' and 'Pyramids.'
Did Channel Orange win a Grammy?
Yes. It won Best Urban Contemporary Album at the 2013 Grammys and was nominated for Album of the Year.
What is Pyramids about?
'Pyramids' is a nearly ten-minute, two-part epic linking ancient Egyptian imagery to modern themes, widely seen as the album's centerpiece.
Was Channel Orange Frank Ocean's debut album?
Yes. It was his first studio album, following the 2011 mixtape Nostalgia, Ultra.

Sources

Wikipedia: Channel Orange MusicBrainz: Channel Orange (release group) Cover Art Archive: Channel Orange Cover Art Archive: Channel Orange by Frank Ocean