Brent Faiyaz, Larger Than Life, Album Review
By B. Sims aka ‘Urban Music Enthusiast’
The world was introduced to Brent Faiyaz alongside fellow DMV Native Goldlink in 2017, as a feature on ‘Crew.’ Although this record went on to become 6x Platinum and receive a Grammy nomination, he has grown immensely over the past 6 years as an Independent artist. He has built a loyal fan base, through consistency of authenticity, introspection, and vulnerability that is reflected in all of his art. Brent Faiyaz is an artist, that frequent listeners/followers can be proud to be fans of because they wholeheartedly believe the message in his music, is as honest as it is imperfect. This makes him appear not only relatable but also trustworthy. However, his warm tenor vocals and welcoming falsetto only increase his appeal.
The Maryland native returns with another album, Larger Than Life, only 15 months after the release of Wasteland. Of note, he sold out his American leg of the tour in 3 days, a significant accomplishment for an Independent artist with only 2 studio albums at the time the tour was announced. Nonetheless, with Larger Than Life, he gifts us with an even more cohesive and concise project, of 12 deep cuts and 2 interludes with supreme late 90s samples sprinkled throughout. ‘Belong To You’ feat Baby Face Race is an obvious sample of ‘I Belong To You’, By Rome. ‘Pistachios’ samples Adina Howard.
‘If We Make Love Tonight.’ And ‘Last One Left’ samples Missy Elliott, Beyoncé ‘Crazy Feelings.’ The Feature list includes Missy Elliott, Coco Jones, A$AP Rocky. ASAP Ant, and Babyface Ray among others. The 90s samples, relatable storytelling, and soft vocals are the highlights of this project.
These 12 tracks tell a story of unrequited love on ‘Upset', toxic attachment on ‘WYA@’, lust on ‘Best Time’ as well as mutual love on ‘Moment Of Your Life.’ Reflections of past relationships with undeserving exes were also detailed on this project, as described on ‘Wherever I Go’ when he sings ‘I shoulda never got so close, I shoulda never told you things, Now your code can MATCH my code, I shoulda never TAUGHT you things.’ Within these 12 tracks he also describes the complexities of the single lifestyle on ‘ Outside All Night’ while still yearning to be someone's special person with all needs and wants being met within the intimate partnership as described on Moment Of Your Life’ feat Coco Jones and ‘Belong To You’ feat Babyface Ray.
In the urban music sector, it is understood that Trap beats matter as well as ‘Bars.’ But the discussion of how much melodic records matter, is not had nearly enough. Smooth records to relax your nervous system, matter. Music that makes you want to stop the car at red lights, and dance outside with your partner, matters. Music that makes you want to spread and give love, matters. Along with the Gospel, RnB is another healing and therapeutic genre of the urban music sector and for this reason, is worthy of being celebrated on the same level as any other. In a world where the conversation of ‘RnB being dead’ is often had, Brent Faiyaz is taking up space and providing us consistently with superior quality music, proving that statement is false.
Wasteland, his previous album, charted #2 on Billboard Top 200 upon release in 2022 and was recently certified Platinum (combined sales and album equivalents of over 1 million units) in September 2023. It is not likely that he will be touring this project soon, since he is currently finishing the European Leg of his Wasteland tour, however when his fans are able to pay for live performances of this project, I won’t be surprised if this tour sells out quicker than his first.