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There’s something refreshing about an artist who’s not just completely transparent, but truly honest (no pun intended) in their artistic expression. In a world of flexing and high fashion, filled with flossing and kodak bopping, it’s becoming more and more surprising when we music fiends stumble across an artist who does none of that.
Let me introduce you to Brent Faiyaz, Maryland’s diamond in the rough that yes, is a living and breathing example of the sentiment illustrated above. Very honest in his artistic expression and in what he speaks on lyrically it’s almost as hypnotizing as his voice itself.
Many of you might already know the melodic, vibey undergroundR&B king that’s been making a name for himself since the early 2010s with previous discography like his initial debut project Sonder Son that included tracks like Make Luv and Talk 2 U.
But the 24-year-old has taken it to a new level in 2020 so far with his latest work entitled Fuck the World. A feature free, primarily produced by Faiyaz himself, and transcendent modern R&B project that doesn’t just highlight Faiyaz’s continued evolution as an artist but also still has his same unapologetic, ‘doin’ me’ persona on full display for the industry to see. The Maryland native was slated for a nationwide tour (that was almost entirely sold out) this Spring until we were introduced to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Above all, he’s perhaps one of the Kings of modern R&B infusedHip-Hop music, continuing to speak for the vibers in smoke sessions worldwide. Don’t want to take our word for it? Let’s take a look at the numbers then.
Fuck The World has surpassed 50+ million streams to date with ease since its early February release slowly breaking Faiyaz away from his so-called ‘cult following’ label that so many in the mainstream industry want to label him with. Leading tracks like Fuck The World and Rehab(Winter in Paris) combining for over close to 30 million streams are a big reason why.
But for us though, it's what many would look at as the ‘B Side’ tracks that the true beauty of Faiyaz’s music lies in. Where making assertions of him wearing the crown of an R&B king isn’t as far-fetched as it sounds. In fact, not far-fetched at all but our actual reality.
And what better track to prove it than Lost Kids GetMoney?
However under appreciated this track may be compared to the rest of the project, what it’s about at its core is so synonymous and captures Faiyaz’s persona and attitude towards the game so perfectly.
Illustrating vividly Faiyaz’s mentality and feelings around the industry he’s a part of, women, and his music as he chases a bag and encourages others to block out the white noise similar to him when questioning them by asking ‘What you looking at me for? Should be lookin’ at bankroll.”
The song itself can be broken into five distinct categories that all work together to highlight this overarching theme that instead of paying attention to the fame or you fans, chasing clout, and making things so black and white one should be focusing on getting their bread up and letting their work speak for themselves.
Here’s the full breakdown bar for bar of the 49 total that we get on this track:
- Money: 48.9% (24 bars, largest category by far)
- Fame: 22.4% (11 bars)
- Brent’s Hometown/His Neighborhood: 14.2% (7bars)
- Sex and Women: 10.2% (5 bars)
- The Homies: 6.1% (3 bars)
For as money driven or grind focused as the song is, Faiyaz’s ability to craft the narrative of the song in a way that instead of being repetitive is rooted in its versatility when it comes to sound and flow as well as a creativity in cadence and delivery really shines through effortlessly.
Matching up with his usual lyrical prowess we’re accustomed to and this track would belong on the ‘A Side’ of almost any other Hip-Hop or R&B project we’ve reviewed so far in 2020. With 471 total words on the song itself and 159 accounting for quality words, his 33.7% quality word percentage grades out among some of the game’s finest not just in R&B but rap too which Faiyaz has demonstrated on crossover tracks like the grammy-nominated Crew.
Speaking of versatility, how about the 17 vocal tone changes across the span of an under three minute song (2:58 to be exact)? That’s good for a vocal tone change every 10.47 seconds or three and a half bars. When you want to talk about versatility in Faiyaz’s music, or his ability to hypnotize listeners on a track through his melody and delivery, this is what we’re talking about.
Above all, Brent Faiyaz is a DUDE. A free-spirited artist that seems to have all the pieces to the puzzle, now it’s just about stepping back to look at the bigger picture as he gears up for whatever’s next.
But as his sound continues to become more concrete, an ‘underrated’ or ‘under appreciated’ categorization that’s starting to shed its skin, and a clear and unparalleled work ethic one thing’s for certain though.
We won’t be waiting long.