Larger than Life (mixtape) explained

Larger than Life
Type:mixtape
Artist:Brent Faiyaz
Cover:Brent Faiyaz - Larger Than Life.jpeg
Length:36:23
Label:
Producer:
  • 1stFrom92
  • Anthoine Walters
  • AR
  • Berg
  • Dpat
  • Jamie McLaughlin
  • Jonah Roy
  • Jonathan Wells
  • Mannyvelli
  • Otxhello
  • Sparkheem
  • SpizzleDoe
  • Tommy Richman
  • Williskeating
Prev Title:Too Late to Die Young
Prev Year:2022

Larger than Life is American R&B singer Brent Faiyaz's debut mixtape. It was released independently through Faiyaz's label ISO Supremacy and distributed through UnitedMasters on October 27, 2023, as a surprise release.[1] [2] The album features guest appearances from ASAP Ant, ASAP Rocky, Babyface Ray, Coco Jones, Cruddy Murda, Felix!, Flee, Lil Gray, Missy Elliott, N3WYRKLA, Princess Cro, Tommy Richman, and TTM Dawg.[3] [4] [5] The majority of the album was produced by Dpat alongside Mannyvelli and Sparkheem who also produced several tracks on the project. Larger than Life was preceded by two singles; the Coco Jones-assisted "Moment of Your Life" and "WY@".[6] [7]

Release and promotion

On May 2, 2023, Billboard reported that Brent Faiyaz signed a new distributed deal with UnitedMasters, rumored to be valued at up to $50 million.[8] UnitedMasters CEO, Steve Stoute, spoke on the addition of Faiyaz to the company:

On August 16, 2023, Billboard reported the start-up of Faiyaz's new record label and creative company, ISO Supremacy, distributed by UnitedMasters ahead of a new project.[9] On August 23, 2023, Faiyaz released the album's lead single, "Moment of Your Life" featuring Coco Jones.[10] Just a month later, on September 19, 2023, Faiyaz released the album’s second single, "WY@".[11] [12]

Just hours before the release of the album, on October 26, 2023, Faiyaz shared the official album trailer on his YouTube channel and social media pages to announce the album to his fans.[13] [14]

On December 8, 2023, Brent released the Lone Wolf-directed music video for "Upset", featuring Tommy Richman and FELIX.[15] On December 15, 2023, Brent released a "Chopped Not Slopped" remix of the album with ISO Supremacy and DJ Candlestick.[16] On January 16, 2024, Brent released the OffBucksFilms-directed official music video for "Pistachios".[17] On February 14, 2024, Brent released the music video for "WY@", starring Mexican-Kenyan actress, Lupita Nyong'o.[18] [19] The video was purposely set to be released on Valentine's Day due to the song's lyrical topics.[20]

Critical reception

Larger Than Life received generally favorable reviews from critics. AllMusics TiVo Staff stated that the project allows Brent to stay "in a loop of nostalgia for much of his first mixtape". He wrote that "Faiyaz channels late-'90s radio R&B production on the staggered percussion beats" and that the production is similar to The Neptunes'. He concluded his review as he wrote that "Larger Than Life is light fun for the most part, and the retro styles are counterbalanced by blunt-edged rap features". Writing for Pitchfork, Alphonse Pierre wrote that the album is "a life-is-good album where Faiyaz could easily have chosen to pop champagne to his success by bringing all of today's most powerful rap and R&B artists into the fold", however, "he pays homage to his home by getting both regional pioneers and up-and-comers involved in his mess". Pierre notes that "Faiyaz sings about stories that would be the highlight of most people’s year like it’s just another day".

Year-end lists

Publication! scope="col" class="unsortable"
ListRank
BillboardThe 50 Best Albums of 2023: Staff List
StereogumThe 50 Best Albums Of 2023

Commercial performance

Larger than Life debuted at number eleven on the US Billboard 200 chart, earning 42,000 album-equivalent units (including 1,000 copies in pure album sales) in its first week.[21] This became Brent Faiyaz's third US top-twenty debut on the chart. The album also accumulated a total of 54.1 million on-demand official streams from the set's tracks.

Track listing

Sample credits

Charts

Chart (2023)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[22] 21
Lithuanian Albums (AGATA)[23] 32
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[24] 7
US Billboard 200[25] 11
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[26] 4

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Is Brent Faiyaz Releasing A New Album, Larger than Life, Tonight?. Okon. Wongo. Uproxx. October 26, 2023. October 26, 2023.
  2. Web site: Brent Faiyaz Releases Surprise New Album Larger Than Life: Listen. Lindert. Hattie. Pitchfork. October 27, 2023. October 30, 2023.
  3. Web site: Brent Faiyaz to Release New Album Larger than Life With Features From A$AP Rocky, Missy Elliott. Garcia. Thania. Variety. October 26, 2023. October 26, 2023.
  4. Web site: Brent Faiyaz Drops 'Larger Than Life' Project f/ ASAP Rocky, Missy Elliott, and More. Espinoza. Joshua. Complex. October 27, 2023. October 30, 2023.
  5. Web site: Brent Faiyaz shares surprise album Larger Than Life. Renshaw. David. The Fader. October 27, 2023. October 30, 2023.
  6. Web site: Brent Faiyaz Taps A$AP Rocky, Missy Elliott & More for New Project Larger than Life. Bustard. Andy. HipHopDX. October 26, 2023. October 26, 2023.
  7. Web site: Brent Faiyaz Announces New Album Larger than Life & It's Coming Sooner Than You Think. Mamo. Heran. Billboard. October 26, 2023. October 26, 2023.
  8. Web site: Brent Faiyaz Partners With UnitedMasters to Start Creative Agency, Announces World Tour. Lamarre. Carl. Billboard. May 2, 2023. October 26, 2023.
  9. Web site: Brent Faiyaz Launches ISO Supremacy Creative Agency, Releases 'Jackie Brown' Music Video. Mamo. Hernan. Billboard. August 24, 2023. October 26, 2023.
  10. Web site: Brent Faiyaz and Coco Jones team up for "Moment of Your Life". Powell. Jon. Revolt. August 16, 2023. October 26, 2023.
  11. Web site: Brent Faiyaz drops off "WYA" single. Powell. Jon. Revolt. September 19, 2023. October 26, 2023.
  12. Web site: Brent Faiyaz Returns With 'WY@'. Murray. Robin. Clash. September 21, 2023. October 26, 2023.
  13. Web site: Brent Faiyaz announces Larger than Life mixtape. Powell. Jon. Revolt. October 26, 2023. October 26, 2023.
  14. Web site: Brent Faiyaz Releasing New Project Larger than Life Featuring Missy Elliott, A$AP Rocky, And More. Sadler. Armon. Vibe. October 26, 2023. October 26, 2023.
  15. Web site: Brent Faiyaz Gets Detained in 'Upset' Video Featuring Tommy Richman and FELIX!. Folk. Antwane. Rated R&B. December 12, 2023. January 16, 2024.
  16. Web site: LARGER THAN LIFE (CHOPPED NOT SLOPPED). Apple Music. December 15, 2023. January 16, 2024.
  17. Web site: VIDEO: BRENT FAIYAZ "PISTACHIOS". Duong. Paul "Big Homie". Rap Radar. January 16, 2024. January 16, 2024.
  18. Brent Faiyaz Flirts on Set With Lupita Nyong'o in "WY@" Short Film Trailer. Elibert. Mark. Complex. February 13, 2024. February 14, 2024.
  19. Web site: Brent Faiyaz Shoots His Shot With Lupita Nyong'o in "WY@" Trailer. Bernstein. Elaina. Hypebeast. February 13, 2024. February 14, 2024.
  20. Web site: Brent Faiyaz Flirts With Lupita Nyong'o In The Trailer For His Valentine's Day Short Film, 'WY@'. Williams. Aaron. Uproxx. February 13, 2024. February 14, 2024.
  21. News: Anderson . Trevor . November 9, 2023 . Brent Faiyaz's 'Larger Than Life' Debuts in Top 5 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart . . December 9, 2023.
  22. Billboard Canadian Albums: Week of November 11, 2023. Billboard. November 7, 2023.
  23. Web site: 2023 44-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100). AGATA. lt. November 3, 2023. November 3, 2023.
  24. Web site: NZ Top 40 Albums Chart. Recorded Music NZ. November 6, 2023. November 4, 2023.
  25. Billboard 200: Week of November 11, 2023. Billboard. November 7, 2023.
  26. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Week of November 11, 2023. Billboard. November 7, 2023.

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