The singer, real name Christopher Francis Ocean, posted the following, which it is said makes him the first mainstream hip-hop star to "come out".

"Four summers ago, I met somebody. I was 19 years old. He was, too. We spent that summer, and the summer after, together. Every day almost. And on the days we were together, time would glide. Most of the day I'd see him, and his smile," he wrote.

"Sleep I would often share with him. By the time I realised I was in love, it was malignant. It was hopeless. There was no escaping, no negotiating to the women I had been with, the ones I cared for and thought I was in love with.

"I sat there and told my friend how I felt. I wept as the words left my mouth. I grieved for them. Knowing I could never take them back for myself. He patted my back. He said kind things. He did his best, but he wouldn't admit the same."

He also added: "I don't have any secrets I need kept anymore . I feel like a free man."

Before the bulk of the statement, Ocean wrote: "My hope is that the babies born these days will inherit less of the b******t than we did."

Ocean had planned to publish the statement in the liner notes of his full debut album, Channel Orange, which will be released later this month.

But after listening parties were held for the new offering, reports began to surface that the lyrics effectively outed Ocean as gay.

Ocean, who will play at the V Festival next month, finished in second place in the BBC's influential Sound of 2012 poll.

He collaborated with Kanye West and Jay-Z on their Watch the Throne album last year, and released a well-received mixtape album, Nostalgia, Ultra.

He is part of hip-hop collective Odd Future, whom promoters dropped from the line-up of the Big Day Out festival in Auckland, New Zealand, following pressure from local activists over the group's allegedly homophobic lyrics.

However, fellow Odd Future member Tyler, The Creator posted a message in support of Ocean's statement on Twitter: "My big brother finally f*****g did that. Proud of that n***a cause I know that s**t is difficult."

Homosexuality within hip-hop and rap music has always been a sensitive subject.

Last year, rapper Game suggested that there were homosexual rappers who needed to "be gay and be proud".