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2011

Redferns

Mixtapes had taken to the form of full-length LPs years before, but when singer Frank Ocean dropped his tape, 'Nostalgia, Ultra,' at the top of 2011, listeners were floored at the level of cohesion he'd accomplished, after appearing, seemingly, out of thin air. He'd been co-writing songs with the likes of Justin Bieber and John Legend, subsequently signed to Island Def Jam and grew frustrated with the slow pace of the major label. In protest, he leaked 'Nostalgia, Ultra,' a near-instant hit. In the following months, Ocean had done vocals on the high-profile 'Watch The Throne' album and co-wrote on Beyonce's '4' LP. His affiliation with the L.A.-based Odd Future clique only helped in matters of newfound popularity.