ISO Supremacy explained

ISO Supremacy
Type:Private
Industry:Entertainment
Area Served:Worldwide
Parent:UnitedMasters

ISO Supremacy (an acronym for In Search Of Supremacy), is an American independent multidisciplinary creative communications company. Founded by singer Brent Faiyaz and his childhood friend Darren Xu in 2023, it specializes in music and visual and sonic art.

History

2015–2023: Background and launch

In 2015, Faiyaz and his manager, Ty Baisden, founded the label Lost Kids, under which he released his debut and sophomore album, Sonder Son (2017) and Wasteland (2022).[1] In Faiyaz's June 2024 interview with Billboard, he elaborated on why he wanted to stay independent throughout his career:[2]

In May 2023, it was announced that ISO Supremacy would be a partnership with UnitedMasters and Steve Stoute in a deal valued at approximately $50 million.[3] Stoute stated that "It’s been inspiring to watch [Faiyaz's] journey as an artist over the years, and with this partnership we look to further amplify his creative vision and support his entrepreneurial ambitions".[3] The company was officially founded on August 16, 2023, alongside the release of the music video for "Jackie Brown", the first release under the company.[4] In the announcement, it was stated that the company is not only a record label and was described as "a creative network with the mission of executing visual and sonic art".[4] On August 21, 2023, it was revealed that the company signed a joint venture music deal with Josh Abraham's Pulse Records—a publishing subsidiary of Concord Music Group—and that Tommy Richman would be the label's first signee.[5] [6] [7] In a press release, Faiyaz spoke on the deal:[6]

On October 27, 2023, Faiyaz released his solo mixtape, Larger than Life as the first official release under the company and label.[8] [9]

2024–present: Breakthrough

Throughout the first and second quarters of 2024, Faiyaz released several music videos from his aforementioned mixtape, Larger than Life, accompanied by several singles from Richman. On April 26, 2024, Richman released his break-through single, "Million Dollar Baby" which peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and atop the Billboard Global 200.[10]

On June 6, 2024, during Faiyaz's cover interview with Billboard, he revealed that alongside working on his clothing brand NUWO (an acronym for Not Unless We Own), he's in the development stages for several projects including films, commercials, and signing more artists.[2]

Roster

ArtistsYear signedReleases (under the label)Notes
Brent FaiyazFounder1Jointly with UnitedMasters
Tommy Richman20230Jointly with Pulse and Concord

Discography

Mixtapes

Filmography

Music videos

YearSongArtist(s)AlbumDirector(s)
2023"Last Nite"Tommy RichmanThe RushLonewolf
"Upset"Brent Faiyaz, Tommy Richman, Felix!Larger than Life
2024"Pistachios"Brent FaiyazYung Belt
"WY@"Mark Peaced
"Best Time"Lonewolf, Yung Belt
"Devil Is a Lie"Tommy RichmanCoyoteJosh Belvedere
"Million Dollar Baby"

Notes and References

  1. Inside Ty Baisden’s Plan For COLTURE Partnership With Brent Faiyaz to Generate $100 Million in Revenue By 2030. Mitchell. Gail. June 10, 2024. Billboard. August 3, 2024. en-US. June 10, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240610173753/https://www.billboard.com/pro/ty-baisden-brent-faiyaz-colture-indie-power-players-executive-of-the-year/. live. subscription.
  2. How Brent Faiyaz Turned Independence Into Big Business. Mitchell. Gail. June 6, 2024. Billboard. August 3, 2024. en-US. June 12, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240612012323/https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/brent-faiyaz-iso-supremacy-billboard-cover-1235701633/. live.
  3. Brent Faiyaz Partners With UnitedMasters to Start Creative Agency, Announces World Tour. Lamarre. Carl. May 2, 2023. Billboard. August 3, 2024. en-US. May 3, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230503173512/https://www.billboard.com/pro/brent-faiyaz-unitedmasters-partnership-tour-dates/. live.
  4. Brent Faiyaz Launches ISO Supremacy Creative Agency, Releases ‘Jackie Brown’ Music Video. Mamo. Heran. August 16, 2023. Billboard. August 3, 2024. en-US. August 17, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230817020437/https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/brent-faiyaz-iso-supremacy-creative-agency-jackie-brown-video-1235393649/. live.
  5. Pulse Records forms joint venture with Brent Faiyaz. Bardsley. Miranda. August 21, 2023. Music Week. August 3, 2024. en-US. November 1, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231101023513/https://www.musicweek.com/labels/read/pulse-records-forms-joint-venture-with-brent-faiyaz/088403. live.
  6. PULSE Records Partners With Brent Faiyaz’s Iso Supremacy, Signs Tommy Richman. Lamarre. Carl. August 21, 2023. Billboard. August 3, 2024. en-US. August 22, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230822161337/https://www.billboard.com/pro/pulse-records-brent-faiyaz-iso-supremacy-tommy-richman/. live. subscription.
  7. PULSE Records and Brent Faiyaz form artist development JV. Daludug. Mandy. August 22, 2023. Music Business Worldwide. August 3, 2024. en-US. August 24, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230824102531/https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/pulse-records-and-brent-faiyaz-form-artist-development-jv/. live.
  8. Web site: Brent Faiyaz Announces New Album Larger than Life & It's Coming Sooner Than You Think. Mamo. Heran. Billboard. October 26, 2023. August 3, 2023. en-US. October 26, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231026203929/https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/brent-faiyaz-larger-than-life-new-album-announcement-1235455648/. live.
  9. Web site: Brent Faiyaz to Release New Album Larger than Life With Features From A$AP Rocky, Missy Elliott. Garcia. Thania. Variety. October 26, 2023. August 3, 2023. en-US. October 26, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231026210722/https://variety.com/2023/music/news/brent-faiyaz-larger-than-life-features-asap-rocky-missy-elliott-1235769812/. live.
  10. Web site: Johnson. Arianna. Why 'Million Dollar Baby' Debuted High On Music Charts—Despite Rap Beefs And Taylor Swift's Success. May 7, 2024. August 3, 2024. Forbes. en-US. May 16, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240516212232/https://www.forbes.com/sites/ariannajohnson/2024/05/07/why-million-dollar-baby-debuted-high-on-music-charts-despite-rap-beefs-and-taylor-swifts-success/. live. subscription.