Channel Orange is also at #1 on iTunes right now, dropping Chris Brown down to #2.

Heh, fair enough, but not all their writers are bad.  Their review of Aes' last album is pretty solid as a review, although I think it was graded too harshly (I for one love the 'hissing wet consonants' of "Fumes".)    This one, though?   Awful.  Unreadable.

Heh, fair enough, but not all their writers are bad.  Their review of Aes' last album is pretty solid as a review, although I think it was graded too harshly (I for one love the 'hissing wet consonants' of "Fumes".)    This one, though?   Awful.  Unreadable.

One of my most anticipated albums of the year.  Seems like most critics are liking it so far… and thank you for a far more coherent review than Pitchfork, which is just this side of unreadable.

One of my most anticipated albums of the year.  Seems like most critics are liking it so far… and thank you for a far more coherent review than Pitchfork, which is just this side of unreadable.

They've been posting supportive comments, especially Tyler, Earl,and Taco.

They've been posting supportive comments, especially Tyler, Earl,and Taco.

Heavier?

Heavier?

@avclub-b6295f9a8b2d34f30d97c042a431dd6e:disqus :  Will it actually help or hurt his sales?  I have no idea - he's getting a ton of support, and also some queasy reactions about hearing love songs to other men.  Not sure to what extent those may balance each other out.
But consider this: before this week he was riding…

@avclub-b6295f9a8b2d34f30d97c042a431dd6e:disqus :  Will it actually help or hurt his sales?  I have no idea - he's getting a ton of support, and also some queasy reactions about hearing love songs to other men.  Not sure to what extent those may balance each other out.
But consider this: before this week he was riding…

Right, that's where they are so many openly gay/bi people in hip-hop and R&B.  Everyone knows it's a real career boost.

Right, that's where they are so many openly gay/bi people in hip-hop and R&B.  Everyone knows it's a real career boost.

You'll be happy to know that early buzz on Channel Orange is fantastic.  If the reviews are anything like what the journalists at the listening parties have said, Ocean's in for a hell of a year.

You'll be happy to know that early buzz on Channel Orange is fantastic.  If the reviews are anything like what the journalists at the listening parties have said, Ocean's in for a hell of a year.

This is huge: the hip-hop boards have been on fire the last day or so, and despite the usual internet exceptions it's been overwhelmingly positive and supportive.  And note that he didn't do it via a publicist and orchestrated media event, or by coyly dropping a hint in an interview.  Just a raw, emotional letter…

This is huge: the hip-hop boards have been on fire the last day or so, and despite the usual internet exceptions it's been overwhelmingly positive and supportive.  And note that he didn't do it via a publicist and orchestrated media event, or by coyly dropping a hint in an interview.  Just a raw, emotional letter…

The first one with any real name recognition, yes.  There have been out gay rappers for years, but they've relatively marginal and marginalized in the industry.

The first one with any real name recognition, yes.  There have been out gay rappers for years, but they've relatively marginal and marginalized in the industry.

Yes, there was - only recently, though.  It began with the listening parties for Channel Orange, and people have been guessing about this for the last week or so.  Ocean even wrote in his preceding post that he was dropping the letter because he figured he might as well clarify the discussion.