In April 2023, the culture tuned into Coachella with hope in their eyes and Wi-Fi strong enough to refresh Twitter every three seconds. Rumors of new music floated in the air. A “new era” was allegedly loading. What we got instead was a chaotic, half-hearted performance, a cancelled second weekend, and the now-familiar realization that expecting anything from Frank Ocean is a personal mistake you make over and over again.

Once upon a time, “underground” meant something. It meant: Do It Yourself. It meant rebellion. It meant going against the grain. It meant being yourself. It meant anti-corporate, raw, and uncompromising. But now? “Underground” is an A&R’s favorite word, a word they use to dilute our culture with mediocrity and talentless garbage!

Too many R&B albums pander to the worst of the bitter internet misandrist. Nowadays, R&B is often seen as the glorification of toxicity, emotional manipulation, dysfunction, unhealthy relationships, and mental instability. And somehow, nobody wants to address the elephant in the room!