By Katia Khodr | Staff Writer
Brent Faiyaz’s latest surprise album has done it again! Larger than Life marks the third studio album from American R&B artist Brent Faiyaz, independently released on October 27, 2023, via Faiyaz’s label ISO Supremacy and distributed through UnitedMasters. Faiyaz combines elements of both old-school and contemporary R&B to make Larger than Life feel both nostalgic and modern, appealing to both existing fans and broader audiences. This album boasts an array of guest features, including A$AP Ant, A$AP Rocky, Babyface Ray, Coco Jones, Cruddy Murda, Felix!, Flee, Lil Gray, Missy Elliott, N3WYRKLA, Princess Cro, Tommy Richman, and TTM Dawg. As Pitchfork puts it, Faiyaz “pays homage to his home by getting both regional pioneers and up-and-comers involved in his mess.”
The unique sound of the album has been seen as experimental by many listeners, both advanced and beginners, and knowing Faiyaz, his experimentation is not new. Known as Sonder Son, Brent has been producing experimental R&B for years since forming the group Sonder with record producers Dpat and Atu, who are also featured producers on Larger than Life. What makes his music experimentation remain in the realm of R&B is his silky voice, which the trio never fails to layer in every one of their productions.
Now, let’s break down some of the R&B sampling on this album. Faiyaz’s Larger than Life is nothing but a surge of nostalgia, with every song sampling or imitating late ‘90s and early 2000s R&B hits. The first track, titled “Tim’s Intro,” revs the engine up with a collaboration between Faiyaz and the renowned king of R&B, Timbaland. Their work on this opening track blends Timbaland’s distinctive production skills with Faiyaz’s soulful vocals and poignant lyricism, incorporating a sample of TLC’s iconic hit “No Scrubs” from 1999. This fusion delivers a compelling and impactful experience for R&B enthusiasts. Track 2, “Last One Left (Ft. Lil Gray & Missy Elliott),” prominently samples “Crazy Feelings” by Missy Elliott featuring Beyoncé from 1999. The inclusion of this sample is so substantial that Elliott is credited as a featured artist on the track. The album’s fourth and most played track is “Best Time,” which features a sample of Kelis’s debut single “Caught Out There” from 1998. Faiyaz went old school on this track, with the sample being produced by the Neptunes, made up of the legendary duo Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo. This track stands out as one of the most notable songs on the album Larger than Life. Elliot features on the sixth track of the album as well, “Moment of Your Life (Ft. Coco Jones),” which samples one of her productions, ‘Boy You Should Listen’ by Nicole Wray (1998), alongside producers Donald Holmes and Gerard Thomas. This track showcases Coco Jones, who gained recognition on Disney Channel and has since established herself as a seasoned artist in the R&B scene, producing her music for decades. Tracks 7 and 9 serve as honorable mentions on the album. In Track 7, “Outside All Night (Ft. A$AP Rocky & N3WYRKLA),” Faiyaz blends elements of classic ’90s R&B with a Timbaland-style beat, creating a nostalgic yet fresh vibe. The collaboration between Faiyaz, A$AP Rocky, and N3WYRKLA captures the essence of the era with male rap verses over soulful female vocals. Track 9 is titled “Upset (Ft. FELIX! & Tommy Richman).” Faiyaz’s early recognition of Richman’s talent, before this feature, led to Richman’s participation in Faiyaz’s “F*ck the World, It’s a Wasteland Tour,” highlighting the impact of their collaboration beyond the studio. Track 10, titled “On This Side,” features A$AP ANT and Cruddy Murda and samples “Still Po Pimpin'” by Do or Die (ft. Twista and Johnny P) from 1998. The sample is produced by The Legendary Traxter, who is known for his work with artists such as Beyoncé, Big Sean, Chris Brown, Lil Wayne, Ludacris, Mariah Carey, R. Kelly, T.I., and Outlawz. Track 12, “Belong To You (Ft. Babyface Ray),” samples “Belong to You (Every Time I See Your Face)” by Rome from 1997, which peaked at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, marking Rome’s highest ranking song to date. Faiyaz, here, includes a blatant ode to old-school R&B in one of the album’s final tracks, concluding the rollercoaster ride that is Larger than Life. The 14th and final track, “Pistachios,” incorporates a slowed-down sample of “If We Make Love Tonight” by Adina Howard from 1995, which blends seamlessly with Faiyaz’s soulful vocals. This sample is produced by the renowned R&B group Somethin’ for the People, founded in 1990 by Curtis “Sauce” Wilson and Jeff “Fuzzy” Young from Oakland, California, with Los Angeles native Rochad “Cat Daddy” Holiday.
Everything about this album screams the ‘90s, whether it be Faiyaz’s playful imitation of classic R&B or his literal implementation of ‘90s R&B defining hits. The selection and integration of these classic hits on Larger than Life serve as both a homage to the golden era of R&B and a testament to Faiyaz’s creative vision. The level of sampling on this album pays massive tribute to the influential artists and producers who paved the way for contemporary R&B, and the strategic featuring of artists like Timbaland, Missy Elliott, A$AP Rocky, and N3WYRKLA reveals Faiyaz’s ability to collaborate with industry icons and emerging talents alike. Faiyaz is cool like that. He doesn’t have to do too much, but when he does, he does it solidly and with intention. With Larger than Life, Faiyaz proves his profound knowledge of R&B’s rich history while pushing its boundaries forward into new and exciting territory.
Sources:
https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/brent-faiyaz-larger-than-life/
https://genius.com/Brent-faiyaz-tims-intro-lyrics
https://genius.com/Brent-faiyaz-last-one-left-lyrics
https://genius.com/Brent-faiyaz-best-time-lyrics
https://genius.com/Brent-faiyaz-moment-of-your-life-lyrics
https://genius.com/Brent-faiyaz-outside-all-night-lyrics
https://genius.com/Brent-faiyaz-upset-lyrics
https://genius.com/Brent-faiyaz-belong-to-you-lyrics
https://genius.com/Brent-faiyaz-pistachios-lyrics