Brent Faiyaz Explores Both Sides of the Moon With “Icon”

As I look out my window, I’m met with 3 feet of snow staring back at me, glistening in the sunlight. The way fresh snow and the sun intertwine is what Brent Faiyaz’s latest album, “Icon” feels like. It feels bright, airy, and whimsical with glimmers of love & hopefulness sparkling all throughout. One might say (and have said) this is a far cry from what we are used to hearing from Brent, sonically and subject matter alike. This is partially why it was very important for me to put my opinion on wax before revisionist history kicks in months or years down the line. “Icon” is as polished as we’ve ever heard Brent and a worthwhile listen from top to bottom.

Over the last decade, the Maryland native has built up a reputation for being a toxic king—  so much so that “VILLAIN’S THEME,” the intro to his 2022 album “WASTELAND,” portrayed a dialogue attempting to poke holes in the validity of the word and the over-usage of it, especially in the height of the social media era:

“It’s been years and I been doin’ the same shit. (Motherfuckers like to use that word, toxic)… (But that’s the internet word that people like to attach to shit).” 

The moody, toxicity woven lyrics have become part of Brent’s allure, so it’s no surprise that “Icon” may not have been what listeners were expecting. It can be challenging for consumers to detach from what they think they know about an artist. In turn, making it all too easy to jump exclusively to a negative conclusion based primarily on unfamiliarity. I love our toxic king as much as the next person (this is literally coming from a person who has SONDER tattooed above her left knee), but it was nothing short of refreshing to hear him pivot in a completely different way. 

“Icon” sits at 10 tracks long, with a 33-minute run time and no features. While there are no guest appearances, the project still boasts an extreme collaborative effort; executive produced by Raphael Saadiq with additional hands from Brent, Benny Blanco, Chad Hugo, Tommy Richman and Dpat (to name a few), and mastered by Mike Dean. The soundscape feels very intentionally influenced by 80s-90s traditional R&B, without becoming it. These songs still have their own identity. With longtime collaborator and Sonder member, Dpat, producing on 7 tracks, the core sound and synergy that we have come to know about a Brent Faiyaz track still shines through. Little touches like slowed vocals at the end of “four seasons.,” and background dialogue in a deepened voice on “butterflies,” are staples that stick with you over time and make something new feel familiar.

Through the album’s duration, Brent courses through feelings of reflection: “wrong faces.,” “strangers.,” “vanilla sky.,” as well as being in love and intense longing: “butterflies.,” “other side.,” “world is yours.,” “pure fantasy.” The lead single “have to.,” turned out to be a vessel of foreshadowing for the themes we could expect, with lines like:

“I’ll do what I have to, so you won’t have to “I’m in love, you in love, I’m above, you my drug,”

“Dreaming about touching down, I can’t sleep til you touch me, baby,”

“I’ll pack and ship myself, if I have to.”

Upon its release back in October of 2025, I’m not sure that any of us thought we would get an entire album full of similar sentiments and pure declarations of love, but I’m overjoyed that we did. 

Three days post “Icon”’s debut, “Icon (Director’s Cut)” was released which features 2 bonus tracks that were previously only available on YouTube about 6 months prior to the album coming out. “full moon. (fall in tokyo),” and “1 for you. (spring in new york),” were instant hits among fans, so it’s not only nice to have them available on streaming, but it gave an already impressive album a real feeling of completion. With the inclusion of the 2 bonus tracks, that makes for 12 tracks in total, leaving no room for filler or error, and there wasn’t any. 

I think it’s safe to say that Brent Faiyaz is an album artist. There is an excitement & expectation that brews whenever a new world of his is set to hit the scene, and he always delivers. “Icon” is no exception while also showcasing one of Brent’s best vocal performances to date. With roots in his old workings and a clear path to where he’s headed, “Icon” feels like past, present and future all at once.