Hip-Hop ensemble act Odd Future have in the past courted controversy with their homophobic lyrics – but one of their vocalists is a lesbian and now its singer Frank Ocean has revealed his first love was his male best friend.

Ocean (pictured), who is perhaps the first hip-hop singer to reveal his bisexuality at the height of his music career, posted a story on his own Tumblr page, candidly telling of his male love affair.

He wrote: “4 summers ago I met somebody. I was 19 years old. He was too… Most of the day I’d see him, and his smile. I’d hear his conversation and his silence. Until it was time to sleep. Sleep I would often share with him.

“By the time I realized I was in love, it was malignant. It was hopeless… It was my first love, it changed my life. Back then, my mind would wander to the women I had been with, the ones I cared for and thought I was in love with.

“I don’t know what happens now, and that’s alrite. I don’t have any secrets I need kept anymore. I was never alone, as much as I felt like it … as much as I still do sometimes. I never was. I don’t think I ever could be.

“Thanks. To my first love. I’m grateful for you. Grateful that even though it wasn’t what I hoped for and even though it was never enough, it was. Some things never are … and we were. I won’t forget you. I won’t forget the summer. I’ll remember who I was when I met you. I’ll remember who you were and how we’ve both changed and stayed the same.”

Hearing of his band member’s Tumblr revelation, Odd Future’s lead singer Tyler, The Creator tweeted this crass but supportive message, which indicates Ocean has indeed outed himself:

My Big Brother Finally Fucking Did That. Proud Of That Nigga Cause I Know That Shit Is Difficult Or Whatever. Anyway. Im A Toilet.

— Tyler, The Creator (@fucktyler) July 4, 2012

Odd Future’s ‘faggot’ lyrics saw them get uninvited from Auckland’s Big Day Out music festival in New Zealand last year.

Since then, band member Syd the Kid came out as a lesbian, and the band has denied its lyrics are examples of harmful homophobia.