American singer and songwriter Brent Faiyaz proved that he is more than the “King of Toxic R&B” with his third studio album, Icon, released on Friday, Feb. 13. 

Since the release of his album WASTELAND in 2022, which showcased a chaotic and destructive lifestyle as well as the consequences of fame and personal vices, fans have been anticipating his follow-up project that could potentially surpass the emotional intensity he previously presented. For instance, his previous album includes lyrics such as “I know now that I’ve been the worst, but I’ll love you better,” in “ALL MINE”.  

But with his latest work, Faiyaz instead took a step back from his signature “toxic” sentiment to portray a more honest, vulnerable exploration of love, heartbreak and romantic commitment. 

Debuting at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 chart, the album comprises 10 songs, alongside two bonus tracks included in Icon (Director’s Cut). The artist also made a deliberate choice in lowercasing the titles and adding a period symbol at the end for all songs. Though this may be for aesthetic reasons, it could also be interpreted as his method of polishing himself, away from the messy and chaotic image, to approach his musical career with more openness and transparency. 

Faiyaz begins the album with dreamy, lush melodies in “white noises.,” where the string instrumentals deliver a magical opening, leaving the listeners eagerly anticipating the next song. The track does not have any lyrics, but the angel-like chords alone show Faiyaz’s genuine and pure love. Connecting well with the intro, “wrong faces.” does not disappoint. In this song, Faiyaz serenades about how he’s been searching for love in the wrong places and repeating his emotional patterns, ultimately leading to his exhaustion from connections. As the lyrics intend, it has a repetitive chorus of “You’ve been looking for love,” but the soulful vocals provide a smooth listening experience. 

Then comes the third track — “have to.” 

With the music video being released Thursday, Oct. 30, the chart speaks for itself, with Faiyaz reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Adult R&B Airplay chart for the first time with the song. The song also garnered 16 million plays on Spotify, becoming the most streamed track on the album. Throughout the music, the singer introduces unique beats as it starts off with percussion instruments, but then changes to a more melodious and optimistic tone in the chorus. Within the soulful chords, Faiyaz sings about the extreme sacrifices he makes for love while balancing his career — “I’ll do what I have to, so you won’t have to” — underscoring the commitment of a partner. 

The next track, “butterflies.,” is one of the fan favorites, with the second highest streams on Spotify at 15 million. He begins with an eerie intro, but later switches to a melodious beat. Through the anxiety-driving chords with the fast tempo, he exemplifies the nervousness and vulnerability of falling in love — of feeling butterflies. He sings, “Maybe it’s a little bit rushed, but I’m falling in love.” But this message felt special as Faiyaz used to sing about lust, not the genuine act of pure love. With the dreamy chords and softer lyrics, this track showcases a new, more mature side to the artist. 

Songs like “other side.” and “pure fantasy.” deviate from the usual soulful R&B and instead showcase optimistic, funky-disco beats. The tracks explore themes of obsession and the intensity of love that can feel consuming, with lyrics like “You’re the only thing I like,” in the latter song. 

Amid the full melodies and vocals presented in the aforementioned songs, “world is yours.” and “four seasons.” fall short. The lyrics talk about commitment in relationships yet again, but the calm, tamed instrumentals fail to match the standards set by the previous tracks.

As for the bonus tracks in Icon (Director’s Cut), “full moon. (fall in tokyo)”, which had previously been introduced in A$AP Rocky’s newest album,  DON’T BE DUMB, as “STAY HERE 4 LIFE”, uses atmospheric R&B and vibe-heavy, dreamy instrumentals to express the intense yet fleeting nature of romantic connections. 

But “1 for you. (spring in new york)” left the most memorable impression. The mix of alternative and contemporary R&B and lo-fi soul creates a gooey, melancholy and deeply personal experience, perfectly describing romance —  “If you could feel for me, the way I feel for you.” 

Overall, the album, while keeping the unique Faiyaz-esque instrumentals, still certainly deviates from his usual lyrics and themes. The first few tracks provided a more authentic and genuine experience that dealt with human connections, but the latter tracks felt more anxiety-filled and repetitive. 

Regardless, he has proven that he is capable of singing to many concepts and messages, not just shaping himself into the “King of Toxic R&B” — but rather a more romantic yearner.