Frank Ocean’s debut ablum Channel Orange was released a week early digitally, with the hard copy hitting stores July 17th. Ocean discussed the decision to release the album a week early digitally with BBC Radio One, saying it was the plan all along to release it early as a pre-emptive measure to prevent the album from leaking. “It was the plan all along, I kinda wanted to mirror Watch the Throne, preventing the leak by staggering physical and digital dates.”

The singer wanted the album to make the impact, and not have a frenzy stirred up from a leak, “kinda let the music just speak for itself” Ocean said, “and not be in a situation where the album leaked.”

They’ve been so careful in keeping the album from being pirated early that even Frank Ocean himself hasn’t held a physical copy, “they never went on trucks…I haven’t even held one in my hands.”

Listen to the full interview here.