This year he came second place (behind Micheal Kiwanuka) in BBC's Sound of 2012, which aims to find 'the next big thing' in the music industry. A winner is selected from a list of mostly unheard of musicians which have been put forward by radio DJ's, producers, critics and magazine/website editors. Previous winners have included Jessie J (2011), Adele (2008), Keane (2004) and 50 Cent (2003). Other artists in the top five in previous years include Florence and the Machine (2009), Duffy (2008), Klaxons (Sound of 2007), and Dizzee Rascal (Sound of 2003). The list of previous winners and runner-ups shows the calibre of artists that Frank Ocean is considered part of.
At 18-years-old Ocean moved from New Orleans to Los Angeles following Hurricane Katrina to work on his music and in 2010 he joined sprawling hip-hop collective Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All - better known as Odd Future. Ocean made a name for him self as a songwriter, writing tunes for the likes of John Legend, Brandy and most recently Beyonce (I Miss You from the album 4).
