For the past few days, gossip and entertainment websites posted rumors about R&B crooner Frank Ocean having some lyrics on his upcoming album, Channel Orange, that expose he’s gay.

Late Tuesday night (July 3), Ocean—a collaborator of Jay-Z and Kanye West on their Watch the Throne album—took to his Tumblr account to come out as a bisexual.

The revelation came via a long Tmblr post, in which he explained that the first time he fell in love was with a man.

"Four summers ago, I met somebody. I was 19 years old. He was too," the singer from the Odd Future collective began explaining. "We spent that summer, and the summer after, together. Everyday almost. And on the days we were together, time would glide. Most of the day I'd see him, and his smile.”

“Sleep I would often share with him,” he added. “By the time I realized I was in love, it was malignant. It was hopeless. There was no escaping, no negotiating to the women I had been with, the ones I cared for and thought I was in love with.”

He added: “I don't have any secrets I need kept anymore...I feel like a free man.”

To that, Ocean’s Odd Future crew and others in the hip-hop community saluted him.

“Fucking Finally Sus Boy @frank_ocean,” tweeted Odd Future frontman, Tyler, The Creator. “Hahahaha, You Still Aint Got No Bitches Hahaha My Nigga Dawg.

“My Big Brother Finally Fucking Did That,” he added. “Proud Of That Nigga Cause I Know That Shit Is Difficult Or Whatever. Anyway. Im A Toilet.”

Added fellow Odd Future member Earl Sweatshirt: “Proud of frank.”

Others outside the Los Angeles collective, reacted to Ocean’s announcement as well.

"When I emailed Jay-Z my open letter to @frank_ocean he put it on his site in minutes," tweeted journalist and co-author of Hov's book, Decoded, Dream Hampton. "That's love."

“I commend Frank Ocean on his courage,” tweeted DJ Drama. “I support him & will continue to be a fan of his work.”

Hip-hop mogul and ambassador, Russell Simmons, applauded Frank for showing the courage to come out.

“I am profoundly moved by the courage and honesty of Frank Ocean,” Simmons wrote on his GlobalGrind website. “Your decision to go public about your sexual orientation gives hope and light to so many young people still living in fear. These types of secrets should not matter anymore, but we know they do, and because of that I decided to write this short statement of support for one of the greatest new artists we have.

“His gifts are undeniable. His talent, enormous. His bravery, incredible. His actions this morning will uplift our consciousness and allow us to become better people,” he added. “Every single one of us is born with peace and tranquility in our heart. Frank just found his. Frank, we thank you. We support you. We love you.”

Frank even got a legendary salute from Stevie Wonder.

"Stevie Wonder just sang no church in the wild to me at  this party," Ocean himself tweeted in the wee hours of Thursday morning (July 5), referring to the hook that he sings on The Throne's hit 'No Church In The Wild. "Had to jot that down."—Mark Lelinwalla

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