Maryland native’s latest album breaks conventions with fresh take on R&B
Faiyaz first got his start by posting his music on to Soundcloud and has collaborated with artists like Juice Wrld. ‘F— the World was released on Feb. 7.
For those who love the sounds of Lauryn Hill, Daniel Caesar and Kenny Latimore, keep Christopher Brent Wood on your radar as he provides the same soulful, heartbreak redemption music every R&B lover needs on their playlist.
Christopher Brent, better known by his stage name Brent Faiyaz, is an American singer-songwriter from the heart of Maryland and is on the verge of stardom.
Somber vocals and 90s melodies have created an unconventional sound he continues to produce in his albums. His most well-known record, “Crew,” featuring Shy Glizzy and Goldlink, kicked off his career, receiving a Grammy nomination for Best Rap/Sung Performance at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards.
Since the kick-start of his career in 2016, Faiyaz has put out three albums including “Sonder Son,” “Lost EP” and most recently “F— The World,” which dropped last Saturday. If you listen to the dreamy vocals of this new album long enough, it begins to sound like a horror story in which he creates a dysphoric narrative. Faiyaz’s uses cold-hearted lyrics to describe sex and love as a game with little emotional connection.
“F—The World,” is not your typical heart-aching, love yearning, sappy R&B album. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.
Tracks like “Rehab (Winter in Paris)” and “F— The World (Summer in London)” hold unsympathetic emotions and boast his sex addiction. After listening to this album and his previous work, it’s clear Faiyaz has adapted to the fast-paced life of a rock star musician and all that comes with it: sex, destroying relationships, refusing to commit and breaking girl’s hearts without regret.
Faiiyaz has never shied away from expressing his feelings towards the racism and police brutality Black people experience on a day-to-day basis in America.
On his track “First World Problemz/Nobody Carez,” Faiyaz describes his frustrations with the election in 2016, opening with the line, “Trump don’t give a f—.”
His unapologetic lyrics and attitude are refreshing.
Faiyaz’s career has just started to bloom. As his third album continues to climb, his name will only continue to make noise on the charts. His spacious, futuristic sound creates a modern sub-genre of R&B.
Unlike most mainstream artists, Faiyaz kicks the auto-tune and gives his listeners raw vocals. The consistency of his vocal performances is illuminating. If you want to add to your “Vibes” playlist or need an artist to listen to for those late-night cruises, Faiyaz’s underrated projects are great.
