Though Channel Orange and that famous tumblr post revealed more about Frank Ocean than anyone had previously suspected, the man at the center of it all is still somewhat of an enigma. The Guardian recently caught up with Frank and got him to be frank about how he feels in the aftermath of the album’s release.

The interview contains many gems, but this is the standout quote:

Asked why he didn’t fall back on the generic “you”, he shrugs: “When you write a song like Forrest Gump, the subject can’t be androgynous. It requires an unnecessary amount of effort. I don’t fear anybody … “

Bravo, Frankie O, bravo. For the full interview, click here.

The post Frank Ocean Gets Frank for <em>The Guardian</em> appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

We’re a little late, but we’d be remiss to not have a post remembering the unbelievably influential life of the late Gil Scott-Heron.

Read a detailed and telling obituary from The Guardian HERE

Watch a recent interview conducted by one of  Scott-Heron’s good friends, Jamie Byng HERE

The post Gil Scott-Heron appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Lincoln Barrington Manott, better known as Sugar Manott, died this past Saturday at the young age of 54. This unforgettable producer, dancehall pioneer and reggae singer reached his prime in the 70s and 80s with hits including: “Vanity,” “Mr. DC,” “Hang on Natty” and the most popular of all “Good Thing Going,” a Jackson 5 cover. Manott basically created dancehall music when he began laying new vocal tracks over backing tapes, instead of using the usual live bands. Manott was not only a music revolutionary, but also used his talents to help young artists break out by signing them to his record label Black Roots. With over ten solo records and innovative, groundbreaking work he did with others Manott has forever made his mark in the music world. The music industry is forever indebted to the talents of the very great Sugar Manott.

Read The Guardian’s obituary HERE.

David Corio, a photographer who spends much of his time photographing hip hop and reggae personalities and has contributed to hip hop culture with the book “The Black Chord,” along with an immense amount of magazine and album cover photoshoots, spent time photographing Sugar Minott in action.

A collection of Corio’s pictures of Manott can be found on Getty Images.

Read an interview with David Corio HERE.

R.I.P Sugar Manott

The post Sugar Minott x David Corio appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.