#6 Frank Ocean changes the face of hip-hop

MANILA, Philippines - For a genre that’s so congested with thug anthems and musical mise en place for hookups and late-night booty calls, not even bystanders can help but stop and take notice when an artist like him comes along. Well, what’s not to love and admire about Christopher Breaux, more popularly known as the nuanced and emotionally resonant Frank Ocean? Besides the fact that he’s been nominated for six Grammys this year for his debut album “Channel Orange,” including Best New Artist, Record of the Year, and Album of the Year, he’s also admitted, via an open letter on his Tumblr, that his first love was a man. Again, in a genre that’s been frowned upon as being categorically homophobic over the years, his frankness (pun intended) is something to be admired — a move that the likes of Beyoncé and Jay-Z, Russell Simmons, and Tyler the Creator have applauded and publicly supported. As his music treads the boundaries of neo-soul, electro-pop and hip-hop among other genres associated with his music, his coming out has also made a profound statement, not just to the youth who live in fear of prejudice, but to the hip-hop community to be inclusive rather than exclusive, and compassionate rather than constricting. “I don’t know what happens now, and that’s alrite,” he wrote on his Tumblr. Well Frank, what happens is that you’re on top of the world and it only gets better.