On February 13, Brent Faiyaz finally released his long-awaited album “Icon.” Fans have been waiting for this album since the summer of last year, when Faiyaz announced it would be released on September 19, 2025.
The fans went into September 19 expecting it to drop, and when the clock hit 12:00, they were left with no album and no answer as to why it didn’t release.
On October 31, 2025, Brent Faiyaz released a single titled “Have To,” with a music video, and at the beginning of the music video, it was revealed that Brent Faiyaz texted his team that he was pulling the plug on the album.
Since then, Brent Faiyaz has been on a feature run, being featured on Summer Walker’s album “Finally Over It.” Faiyaz also released a song on November 21 with Tommy Richman titled “Bother Me” and was featured on A$ap Rockys album “Don’t Be Dumb,” in the song “STAY HERE 4 LIFE.”
The song “STAY HERE 4 LIFE” was originally Brent Faiyaz’s song titled “Full Moon (Fall in Tokyo),” where he released the song on YouTube on August 7 last year, but the song was reworked for A$ap Rocky’s album.
On February 3, 2026, Brent Faiyaz dropped a video on his social media accounts teasing the album again with a February 13 release date in the video. The song “White Noise” is heard in the video. He posted the tracklist, and it was revealed that it would have 10 songs.
Icon starts with the track “White Noise,” which is literally what it is, a two-instrumental track. Even though it is just an instrumental, it is still a good song. The song feels very cinematic, like something out of a movie, at that part when something that would have you anxious at the edge of your seat. I would give this track a solid 8/10.
The next song, “Wrong Faces,” is one of my favorites off the album. The laidback production and Brent’s laidback flow make a really catchy song and one of my favorite songs in Brent’s catalogue. 9.5/10.
The single, “Have To,” I’m not going to say too much about this because I have talked about it in a past story I wrote, but I give it a 7/10.
“Butterflies” is a track that Brent uses a 80-90’s melodic flow that is very reminiscent of Michael Jackson or Bobby Brown. 8/1o.
“Other Side” is a song that is where Brent really starts to sound like an ’80s R&B Star, from the drums to the melodies to his voice, it is so 80’s reminiscent it sounds like a type of song that my Dad would play in the car. Although I liked the song, it does feel dated to me. 7/10.
“Strangers” is one of my other favorites from this album. I really loved the guitar on this song, which is so amazing; it makes me feel like I’m floating. 8/10.
“World is Yours” is a song I added straight to my R&B playlist. Everything about this song is amazing. 9/10.
“Four Seasons” is a Brent song that has been leaked and is finally out. This is a song that always had me wishing that it had been released. 7.7/10.
“Pure Fantasy” is my favorite song on this album. Brent Faiyaz finally reached his rockstar potential on this track. This is the song that really is what “Icon” is in one track: a melodic performance and retro production. 10/10.
“Vanilla Sky” is the outro song, short but sweet. On this track, Brent questions the listener, asking, “What is happiness to you?” 7/10
Overal “Icon” feels like something you would pull out of a crate, digging for vinyls. The album really feels like a homage to 80-90s RNB and even some 2000’s with its melodic production all throughout, even though I think the album does fail to have a “Wow” moments, it feels like a bunch of deep cuts, but even with thinking that, I still think it is a good album which I would give an 8/10.
“This is not my favorite Brent album, but I still liked it. ‘Butterflies’ was my favorite song,” said freshman Mateo Truijo, when asked his thoughts on this album.
“I thought it was a cool album. I wish it were longer, though I give it 7/10,” said Sophomore Sebastian Serrano.
