0:00 - Street Fighter

0:22 - Strawberry Swing

4:17 - Novacane

9:20 - We All Try

12:12 - Bitches Talkin'

12:34 - Songs For Women

16:47 - LoveCrimes

20:48 - Goldeneye

21:06 - There Will Be Tears

24:20 - Swim Good

28:37 - Dust

31:11 - American Wedding

38:13 - Soul Calibur

38:30 - Nature Feels

Sorry about bad quality.

In this episode, we delve into Frank Ocean's iconic debut mixtape, "nostalgia, ULTRA." Released on February 16, 2011, this project reshaped the music industry with its raw storytelling and innovative sounds. Join us as we explore the tracks, the inspiration behind the lyrics, and the incredible impact it had on R&B and pop culture. From the heartbreak-filled "Novacane" to the reflective "We All Try," discover the stories and artistry behind this legendary work. Featuring detailed insights on producers, writers, and recording engineers who brought this mixtape to life.

Main Credits:

Lead Artist: Frank Ocean

Produced by:

Frank Ocean

Happy Perez

James Fauntleroy

Midi Mafia

Tricky Stewart

Recording Engineers:

Andrew Wuepper

Calvin Bailiff

Red Vision

Mixing Engineers:

Andrew Wuepper

Ariel Chobaz

Additional Vocals:

Brandy

Tyler, The Creator

Featured Instrumentalists:

Bass: Alex Al

Keyboards: Monte Neuble, Tricky Stewart

Record Labels:

Island Def Jam Music Group

Odd Future

Original Distribution:

Tumblr

Bandcamp

Lyrics and Composition:

Frank Ocean

Contributors: Andrew VanWyngarden, Ben Goldwasser, Bernie Leadon, and others.

**Copyright Disclaimer**

**United States:**

US © Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational, or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.

**European Union:**

EU © The use of copyrighted material is permitted under certain exceptions and limitations for purposes such as criticism, review, news reporting, teaching, and research. These exceptions are granted in compliance with the EU Copyright Directive 2001/29/EC and might otherwise be infringing. Non-commercial, educational, or personal use may strengthen the case for such exceptions.

[Intro]

Oh, yes

Oh, slide

[Verse]

Xenon's with the blue color

If that's a lease, least it look cool on you

That's your business, and I'm off, when I'm on you

Like holidays, I get off on you

“Xenons” is the eighth track on Frank Ocean’s visual album Endless. Originally thought to be the outro of “Comme des Garçons,” the song was revealed on the tracklist of the CD/LP & DVD/VHS reissues of Endless, released on Cyber Monday 2017; the track was not listed in the title sequence of the 2016 Apple Music release despite its appearance during the visual album itself. “Xenons” is 31 seconds in length and acts as an interlude between “Comme des Garçons” and “Honeybaby.”

The title refers to Xenon, the 54th element on the periodic table, used to make neon signs and headlights on cars. Ocean’s love for cars is well documented, one example being the cover of his 2011 mixtape nostalgia, ULTRA, which features a bright orange 1980s BMW E30 M3, Ocean’s “dream car.” He also often posts about cars on his Tumblr page.

**Credits**

**Producers**

Frank Ocean, Vegyn

**Writers**

Frank Ocean, Vegyn

**Mixing Engineers**

Tom Elmhirst, Noah Goldstein

**Assistant Mixing Engineer**

Joe Visciano

**Recording Engineer**

Caleb Laven

**Additional Recording**

Beatriz Artola, Greg Koller, Eric Caudieux

**Programmer**

Vegyn

**Label**

Def Jam Recordings, Fresh Produce, LP, ​blonded

**Copyright ©**

Fresh Produce, LP, Boyfriend (Label)

**Phonographic Copyright ℗**

Fresh Produce, LP

**Recorded At**

MSR Studios

**Release Date**

August 19, 2016

**Tags**

R&B, EDM, Alternative R&B

**US:** © Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, "fair use" allows the use of copyrighted material for criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. This use is permitted by law and may favor non-profit, educational, or personal purposes.

**EU:** © The EU Copyright Directive 2001/29/EC permits the use of copyrighted material under certain exceptions for criticism, review, news reporting, teaching, and research. Non-commercial, educational, or personal use may support these exceptions.

Aug. 19, 2016

Device Control — 00:28

At Your Best (You Are Love) (feat. James Blake, Jonny Greenwood, and the London Contemporary Orchestra) — 00:51

Alabama (feat. Sampha and Jazmine Sullivan) — 6:11

Mine (feat. Arca) — 7:37

U-N-I-T-Y — 8:07

Ambience 001: In A Certain Way — 11:01

Commes Des Garcons — 11:12

Ambience 002: Honeybaby — 12:11

Wither (feat. Alex G and Jazime Sullivan) — 12:51

Hublots (feat. Jazmine Sullivan) — 15:25

In Here Somewhere — 15:45

Slide On Me (feat. Alex G) — 18:57

Sideways — 22:07

Florida — 23:59

Deathwish (ASR) — 25:49

Rushes (feat. Alex G and Jazime Sullivan) — 26:33 ish?

Rushes To — 27:09

Higgs (feat. Alex G) — 32:44

Device Control — 38:43

**Endless** is a visual album by Frank Ocean, released on August 19, 2016, just before his second studio album **Blonde**. This project completed Ocean's contract with Def Jam Recordings, allowing him to release Blonde independently.

**Endless** is exclusively available as a music video on Apple Music. A remastered audio-only version, released in 2017 on CD and LP, is not available on streaming services. The visual album was filmed at the M. Blumberg warehouse in Brooklyn, New York, and features Ocean building a 12-foot staircase.

A color version of the album surfaced online in May 2024, shared by visual effects artist Grant Lau, but it is not officially released. Artist Tom Sachs, who collaborated with Ocean, described the video as Ocean building a "stairway to heaven," noting the transparency in both the construction process and the music.

The visual album's total runtime is approximately 46 minutes, with minor differences between various versions. Sachs also built a large boombox, Toyan’s Arsenal, featured in the visual album, symbolizing a connection to Jamaican sound systems.

**Credits**

**Executive Producer**

Frank Ocean

**Producers**

Frank Ocean, Vegyn, TROY NōKA, Michael Uzowuru

**Video Director**

Frank Ocean

**Video Director of Photography**

Francisco Soriano

**Video Production Designer**

Thomas Mastorakos

**Video Producer**

Wendi Morris

**Mixing Engineers**

Tom Elmhirst, Noah Goldstein

**Mastering Engineer**

MIKE DEAN

**Recording Engineer**

Caleb Laven

**Label**

Def Jam Recordings, Fresh Produce, LP

**Publisher**

EMI Music Publishing

**Primary Artists**

Frank Ocean, Wolfgang Tillmans

**Writers**

Frank Ocean, 88-Keys, Arca, Michael Uzowuru, TROY NōKA, Vegyn, Wolfgang Tillmans

**Orchestra**

London Contemporary Orchestra

**Photography**

Thomas Mastorakos

**Distributor**

Apple Music

**Background Vocals**

Jazmine Sullivan

**Guitar**

Alex G, Austin Anderson, Frank Ocean, Spaceman Patterson

**Synthesizer**

Buddy Ross, James Blake, Kyle Combs, Tim Knapp, TROY NōKA

**US:** © Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, "fair use" allows the use of copyrighted material for criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. This use is permitted by law and may favor non-profit, educational, or personal purposes.

**EU:** © The EU Copyright Directive 2001/29/EC permits the use of copyrighted material under certain exceptions for criticism, review, news reporting, teaching, and research. Non-commercial, educational, or personal use may support these exceptions.

Aug. 19, 2016