 Ocean started writing songs for Channel Orange in February 2011 with songwriter and producer Malay , his friend and creative partner since their start in the music industry as songwriters . They originally met in Atlanta and worked for the same publishing company , through which they reconnected after Malay moved to Los Angeles . Ocean started hanging out with Malay , introduced him to his Odd Future collective , and connected creatively through their respective songwriting , which led to their partnership for Channel Orange . For the album , Ocean wrote his lyrics to complement Malay 's ideas for the music . Occasionally , they wrote songs together by improvising musical ideas from Malay 's keyboard and guitar playing . 
