When Brent Faiyaz dropped his fourth studio album in 2023, Larger Than Life, he didn’t try to fit into the classic style of modern R&B - he sidestepped it completely.
Brent Faiyaz leans into mood rather than structure, letting insecurity and nostalgia merge into a soundscape that feels both effortless and calculated. Throughout the album Brent’s vocals are cool; it's that detachment that makes the emotion hit harder. It doesn’t feel as though he is trying to impress you, instead he’s just telling you how it is. Whether it’s heartbreak or a late-night power trip, there’s a raw honesty buried under the coolness of the sound. Like he’s letting you peek behind the curtain, without fully opening it.
The production is minimal but textured and he clearly has been influenced by the early 2000s, however everything feels filtered through Brent’s distinct perspective. The songs blend together with chopped vocals, ambient noise, and voicemails giving the album a cinematic quality, which really makes you feel the narrative of the album. It’s not trying to be a classic in the traditional sense. It’s more like a snapshot that is intimate, stylish, and messy. And that’s what makes it stick with his audience.
It’s not just an album, but a part of his life that's being shared with you.
Audrey, May 2025