Frank Ocean at Coachella should have been a triumphant comeback – a jewel in the crown of US hip-hop’s most enigmatic star. Fans had waited long enough, after all. First scheduled to appear at the festival back in 2020, Ocean was all set to mark his return to music after a lengthy hiatus. Delayed by the pandemic, as well as a family tragedy, he finally joined Puerto Rican reggaeton star Bad Bunny and K-pop princesses Blackpink at the top of the bill for 2023’s outing. Expectations were sky high.
From the die-hard supporters who journeyed to the California desert to the fans across the world tuning into the festival’s live-stream, a lot of people were ready and waiting for his Sunday night set. What a disappointment, then, when the reality fell far short of what was promised. With Ocean coming off as nonchalant and unprepared, and eager fans left frustrated, what was the point in him performing in the first place?
