Frank Ocean Fires Back at Grammys Producers: “Use the Old Gramophone to Actually Listen”

While the stars will be out tonight for the 59th annual Grammy Awards, there are some big names who will be sitting things out, including Kanye West, Drake, Justin Bieber and Frank Ocean.

All four artists have cited the award show's waning significance among their demographic as a reason to skip the event. That assertion didn't sit too well with Grammy Awards broadcast's producer Ken Ehrlich and writer David Wild who recently responded to the reported no-shows during an interview on the Rolling Stone Music Now Podcast.

"If they're concerned about the representation of hip-hop on the show, they need to respond and say 'Yeah, of course I want to do it,'" Ehrlich said. He claims he invited both Kanye and Bieber to perform at this year's show.

Frank Ocean's 2013 performance was brought up during the conversation, with the two men blaming the lackluster set on the singer.

"We executed his vision knowing that it was faulty," said Ehrlich. "And we tried to tell him that, we tried to tell his management that, we tried to tell the record label that. So, his feelings about the Grammys right now, I would imagine, probably go back to that in one way. But honestly, it wasn't us."

Frank Ocean has responded to Ehrlich's claims, and it's safe to say he doesn't exactly agree. Hopping on his Tumblr page, the "Nikes" singer fired back. "Ok Ken (and David). As much as I hate to make you guys famous or even respond to you directly. We all die one day and you’re old so fuck it," he started. "Yea yea my 2013 performance at the Grammys was absolute shit. Technical difficulties, blah blah. Thanks for the reminder. Very much appreciated. Fuck that performance though. You think that’s why I kept my work out of the Grammy process this year? Don’t you think I would’ve wanted to play the show to ‘redeem’ myself if I felt that way?"

He continued, "In reality, I actually wanted to participate in honoring Prince on the show but then I figured my best tribute to that man’s legacy would be to continue to be myself out here and to be successful. Winning a TV award doesn’t christen me successful. It took me some time to learn that. I bought all my masters back last year in the prime of my career, that’s successful. Blonde sold a million plus without a label, that’s successful. I am young, black, gifted and independent.. that’s my tribute. I’ve actually been tuning into CBS around this time of year for a while to see who gets the top honor and you know what’s really not 'great TV’ guys? 1989 getting album of the year over To Pimp A Butterfly. Hands down one of the most 'faulty’ TV moments I’ve seen. Believe the people. Believe the ones who’d rather watch select performances from your program on YouTube the day after because your show puts them to sleep. Use the old gramophone to actually listen bro, I’m one of the best alive."

Check out Frank's entire diatribe here.

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