PrEP+

PrEP+ was the name of a series of club nights that Frank Ocean hosted at BASEMENT at Knockdown Center in New York City. The shows were named after the HIV prevention drug of the same name. There were three shows: October 17, 24, and 21, 2019. During every show, a new Frank Ocean single/remix was played. Frank himself did not sing or perform apart from being on stage for some sets.

Background
The sets faced controversy as some people said it was a PR stunt, in which Frank responded on Tumblr  :"Not funded by Gilead Sciences""Funded by Blonded, independently""Let’s just get that out of the way.""Club culture around late 70s and 80s nightlife in NYC was a special, much talked about and written about thing. From the star studded midtown clubs like studio 54 and the first danceteria to the downtown clubs like Mudd + paradise garage. The figures, the music, the looks, the lack of regulation haha. I recognize NY wasn’t all lasers and disco lighting and that simultaneously, there was a lot of crime and poverty and that a huge part of club culture, the gay community, at that time were being wiped out by HIV + AIDS. Now in 2019, there’s a pill you can take every day that will at a better than 90% chaance prevent you from contracting HIV. This pill was approved by the FDA in 2012. The pricing strategy behind it is malicious in my opinion and so it’s public perception is marred and rightfully so. But the fact remains that despite price being a very real barrier to this potentially life saving drug for some, the other very real barrier is awareness. I decided to name, what was otherwise going to be a night of lights and music inspired by an era of clubbing that I loved PrEP+ because while designing the club which is inside of an old glass factory basement in Queens (shoutout to The Basement that runs a very awesome techno night on Fridays after us) I started to imagine in an era where so many lives were lost and so much promise was lost forever along with them, what would it have been like if something, anything had existed that in all probability would’ve saved thousands and thousands of lives. I’m an artist, it’s core to my job to imagine realities that don’t necessarily exist and it’s a joy to. A couple days before we threw the party, I was discussing this subject with my team and one of the architects I work with thought that PrEP as a drug had reached ‘100% saturation’ so far as awareness. I thought he was dead wrong so I asked a friend (who I won’t name haha) if he knew what PrEP was and his response was ‘isn’t that some type of viagra or something’. My ex who I was with for several years didn’t know about it when we first met at a gay club in LA. Awareness isn’t always what we’d hope it would be. But anyway, I’m ranting. I’m happy that folks are talking about the subject in the first place. Thank you to everyone who came out and danced with us last night. Y’all were beautiful and the energy was right! Thank you Bouffant Bouffant, Sango, Justice and Sherelle for your sets last night they were soo good man. Oh one more thing, I saw someone say that this was a PR stunt etc etc, pshhh bitch pls come get a drink next time and I’ll put several barstools out so you can have as many seats as you need. All my love everybody really. Stay safe."

October 17
The first show was described in a press release as "the first in a series of nights; an ongoing safe space made to bring people together and dance." DJs Bouffant Bouffant, Justice, Sango, and Sherelle had sets.

SXYLK was originally set to perform but were cut last minute. They later wrote on Instagram "Justice was everything, but the party was lacking in actual queer underground DJs. Brooklyn is becoming the new Portland and industry heavyweights should run in the opposite direction." They uploaded their set to SoundCloud, but it is no longer available as of January 2022.

"Cayendo (Sango Remix)" and "Dear April (Justice Remix)" were played during each DJs' set. Sango also played his remix for "Nights." Both of Sango's remixes were played at the end of the corresponding blonded RADIO episode blonded 008.

The show's poster featured lettering by Nejc Prah and photography by Michael Marcelle. The model shown is Joel Kurasinski. The photo of Kurasinski himself appears as blonded 008's playlist cover.

October 24
One week after the first night, PrEP+ returned with DJs Arca, Leeon, Papi Juice, and Shyboi having sets. blonded RADIO co-host Vegyn also played a surprise set. The show was 21+.

Artists Kevin Abstract, Romil, bearface, and Matt Champion of BROCKHAMPTON were in attendance, as were Rosalia and 070 Shake.

A "full party mix" of Frank's "The Weekend" cover was played. The song was previously teased in an Instagram story by Frank himself in January of the same year.

The show's poster was a photo of Frank with the phrase "Look At Us, We're In Love" at the top alongside "Blonded Radio," "PrEP+," and "The World."

A blonded RADIO episode did not come with this club night, but instead after the third.

October 31
The third and final show was Halloween-themed, for which the poster was updated to warn party-goers that "costume weapons are still weapons." DJs Arca, Joey Labeija, Vegyn, Last Japan, and DJ Heather had sets. Arca played her remix for "Little Demon" featuring Skepta. Frank dressed as Sweet Tooth from the video game series Twisted Metal.

blonded 009 premiered three days later and played the Arca "Little Demon" remix as well as the new single "In My Room" that released the same day.