Larger than Life (mixtape)

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Larger than Life
Mixtape by
Brent Faiyaz
ReleasedOctober 27, 2023 (2023-10-27)
Length36:23
Label
Producer
  • 1stFrom92
  • Anthoine Walters
  • AR
  • Berg
  • Dpat
  • Jamie McLaughlin
  • Jonah Roy
  • Jonathan Wells
  • Mannyvelli
  • Otxhello
  • Sparkheem
  • SpizzleDoe
  • Tommy Richman
  • Williskeating
Brent Faiyaz chronology
Too Late to Die Young
(2022) 		Larger than Life
(2023)
Singles from Larger than Life
  1. "Moment of Your Life"
    Released: August 23, 2023
  2. "WY@"
    Released: September 19, 2023

Larger than Life is American R&B singer

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 inked 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:[8]

"Brent Faiyaz is one of the most prolific independent artists today, and we are extremely excited to embark on this new partnership with him. It's been inspiring to watch his journey as an artist over the years, and with this partnership we look to further amplify his creative vision and support his entrepreneurial ambitions."

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.[7][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@", staring 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 ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[21]
Pitchfork7/10[22]

Larger Than Life received generally reviews from critics. AllMusic's 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".[21] 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".[22]

Year-end lists

Select year-end rankings of Larger than Life
Publication List Rank Ref.
Billboard The 50 Best Albums of 2023: Staff List
37
[23]
Stereogum The 50 Best Albums Of 2023
30
[24]

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.[25] This became Brent Faiyaz's third US top-twenty debut on the chart.[25] The album also accumulated a total of 54.1 million on-demand official streams from the set's tracks.[25]

Track listing

Larger than Life track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Tim's Intro"
  • Dpat
  • Mannyvelli
  • Sparkheem
2:04
2."Last One Left" (featuring Lil Gray and Missy Elliott)
Dpat3:44
3."Forever Yours"
  • Wood
  • Jonah Roy
  • Rich Paul
Jonah Roy1:36
4."Best Time"
Dpat1:22
5."Big Mad Skit" (featuring Flee and Princess Cro)
  • Afolabi Rosiji
  • Aheko Shorter
  • Chidozie Arah
  • Emmanuel Arah
  • Juan Wood II
  • Davis
 1:18
6."Moment of Your Life" (featuring Coco Jones)
  • Wood
  • Courtney Jones
  • Patino
  • Donald Holmes
  • E. Arah
  • Gerard Thomas
  • Elliott
  • Terrance
  • Dpat
  • Mannyvelli
  • Sparkheem
3:14
7."Outside All Night" (with N3WYRKLA and A$AP Rocky)
Jonah Roy3:22
8."Wherever I Go"
  • Wood
  • William Keating
  • Thomas McLaughlin
  • Anthony Rampias
  • C. Arah
  • Elliot Davy
  • 1stFrom92
  • AR
  • Jamie McLaughlin
  • SpizzleDoe
  • Williskeating
3:01
9."Upset" (with Tommy Richman and Felix!)
  • Wood
  • Richman
  • Roobyns Felix
  • E. Arah
  • Mannyvelli
  • Tommy Richman
2:57
10."On This Side" (featuring A$AP Ant and Cruddy Murda)
  • Wood
  • Adam Kirkman
  • Colombian Thomas
  • Johnathan Buck
  • C. Arah
  • Anthony Round
  • Davis
  • Darnell Smith
  • Dennis Round
  • Mannyvelli
  • Sparkheem
  • SpizzleDoe
2:58
11."Dawged Em Skit" (featuring TTM Dawg)
  • Patino
  • Jamal Harris
 1:04
12."Belong to You" (featuring Babyface Ray)
Dpat2:57
13."WY@"
  • Wood
  • Patino
  • Bailey Goldberg
  • Anthoine Walters
  • Othello Houston
  • Jonathan Wells
  • Dpat
  • Berg
  • Anthoine Walters
  • Otxhello
  • Jonathan Wells
3:27
14."Pistachios"
Dpat3:09
Total length:36:23

Sample credits

Charts

Chart performance for Larger than Life
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[26] 61
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[27] 68
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[28] 21
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[29] 38
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[30] 37
Irish Albums (IRMA)[31] 61
Lithuanian Albums (AGATA)[32] 32
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[33] 7
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[34] 29
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[35] 16
UK Albums (OCC)[36] 25
US Billboard 200[37] 11
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[38] 4

References

  1. ^ Okon, Wongo (October 26, 2023). "Is Brent Faiyaz Releasing A New Album, Larger than Life, Tonight?". Uproxx. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  2. ^ Lindert, Hattie (October 27, 2023). "Brent Faiyaz Releases Surprise New Album Larger Than Life: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  3. ^ Garcia, Thania (October 26, 2023). "Brent Faiyaz to Release New Album Larger than Life With Features From A$AP Rocky, Missy Elliott". Variety. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  4. ^ Espinoza, Joshua (October 27, 2023). "Brent Faiyaz Drops 'Larger Than Life' Project f/ ASAP Rocky, Missy Elliott, and More". Complex. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  5. ^ Renshaw, David (October 27, 2023). "Brent Faiyaz shares surprise album Larger Than Life". The Fader. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  6. ^ Bustard, Andy (October 26, 2023). "Brent Faiyaz Taps A$AP Rocky, Missy Elliott & More for New Project Larger than Life". HipHopDX. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  7. ^ a b Mamo, Heran (October 26, 2023). "Brent Faiyaz Announces New Album Larger than Life & It's Coming Sooner Than You Think". Billboard. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  8. ^ a b Lamarre, Carl (May 2, 2023). "Brent Faiyaz Partners With UnitedMasters to Start Creative Agency, Announces World Tour". Billboard. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  9. ^ Mamo, Hernan (August 24, 2023). "Brent Faiyaz Launches ISO Supremacy Creative Agency, Releases 'Jackie Brown' Music Video". Billboard. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  10. ^ Powell, Jon (August 16, 2023). "Brent Faiyaz and Coco Jones team up for "Moment of Your Life"". Revolt. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  11. ^ Powell, Jon (September 19, 2023). "Brent Faiyaz drops off "WYA" single". Revolt. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  12. ^ Murray, Robin (September 21, 2023). "Brent Faiyaz Returns With 'WY@'". Clash. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  13. ^ Powell, Jon (October 26, 2023). "Brent Faiyaz announces Larger than Life mixtape". Revolt. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  14. ^ Sadler, Armon (October 26, 2023). "Brent Faiyaz Releasing New Project Larger than Life Featuring Missy Elliott, A$AP Rocky, And More". Vibe. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  15. ^ Folk, Antwane (December 12, 2023). "Brent Faiyaz Gets Detained in 'Upset' Video Featuring Tommy Richman and FELIX!". Rated R&B. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  16. ^ "LARGER THAN LIFE (CHOPPED NOT SLOPPED)". Apple Music. December 15, 2023. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  17. Rap Radar
    . Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  18. ^ Elibert, Mark (February 13, 2024). "Brent Faiyaz Flirts on Set With Lupita Nyong'o in "WY@" Short Film Trailer". Complex. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  19. ^ Bernstein, Elaina (February 13, 2024). "Brent Faiyaz Shoots His Shot With Lupita Nyong'o in "WY@" Trailer". Hypebeast. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  20. ^ Williams, Aaron (February 13, 2024). "Brent Faiyaz Flirts With Lupita Nyong'o In The Trailer For His Valentine's Day Short Film, 'WY@'". Uproxx. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  21. ^ a b Staff, TiVo (October 27, 2023). "Larger Than Life Review by TiVo Staff". AllMusic. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  22. ^ a b Pierre, Alphonse (November 1, 2023). "Brent Faiyaz: Larger than Life Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  23. ^ Scott, Damien (December 6, 2022). "The 50 Best Albums of 2023: Staff List". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  24. ^ Srour, Yousef (December 5, 2022). "The 50 Best Albums Of 2023". Stereogum. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  25. ^ a b c Anderson, Trevor (November 9, 2023). "Brent Faiyaz's 'Larger Than Life' Debuts in Top 5 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  26. ^ "Ultratop.be – Brent Faiyaz – Larger Than Life" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  27. ^ "Ultratop.be – Brent Faiyaz – Larger Than Life" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  28. ^ "Billboard Canadian Albums: Week of November 11, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  29. ^ "Hitlisten.NU – Album Top-40 Uge 44, 2023". Hitlisten. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  30. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Brent Faiyaz – Larger Than Life" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  31. ^ "Irish Albums Chart: 3 November 2023". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  32. ^ "2023 44-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. November 3, 2023. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  33. ^ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. November 6, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  34. ^ "Album 2023 uke 44". VG-lista. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  35. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Brent Faiyaz – Larger Than Life". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  36. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  37. ^ "Billboard 200: Week of November 11, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  38. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Week of November 11, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
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