Music is not just words over a beat to hear, but poignant poetry, soothing and caressing the ears of those who listen. Rhythm and blues, or R&B, is the perfect genre for anyone looking for emotional and relatable music that will touch the heart and keep fans wanting more. That is what Brent Faiyaz does in his new six track EP “Lost,” which was released on Oct. 19, his latest project since the release of his debut album “Sonder Son” late last year. “Lost” goes deep into Faiyaz’s mind as he expresses his life as a Black man in America through self-reliance, loyalty, addiction and coming to terms with the nuances of the terror he experiences every day.
His first song, “Why’z It So Hard,” explores his life as a Black man and the stress of living a life where everything and everyone is trying to silence him. He tackles the issue of death in the opening line, “Don’t test, them bullets might press/ Why they wanna see me dead? I ain’t even grown yet/ Baby, you got too much to offer.” Faiyaz sees society destroying Black bodies before they are even capable of displaying their purpose and talent to the world. His next song, “Came Right Back,” dives into his day-to-day life as he realizes his separation from others back home who are doing nothing while he is continuing to pursue his dreams. “Trust” is the track where he vents his frustrations about his inability to feel comfortable revealing his emotions because he cannot rely on anyone singing, “Save me from my sorrows/ Swimming in deep/ Just some peace is all I need.”
The second half of the project sees Faiyaz realizing that for him to cope with his Blackness and new fame, he must love and trust himself before he can rely on someone else. “Around Me” and “Poundz” deals with Faiyaz realizing he needs self-reliance to stand on his own two feet. “When the money ain’t around/ And the bitches ain’t around/ Who the fuck gon’ be around?/ Me,” he recognizes he must care for himself and be cynical of others interest in his life.
Meanwhile, “Poundz” handles Faiyaz’s inner demons and addiction to being in the dark while feeling alone and empty. Having ups and downs in life, he realizes that the world cannot and will not stop because he is having a bad day, and that he must shake his stresses out and enjoy life more. The final song of the EP, “Target on My Chest,” is Faiyaz indicating through all his hardships, addiction, pain and suffering that he will push forward. The cost of fame has broken men before him, but the love for himself and his fans will push him to navigate his life forward into being a better artist and, ultimately, a better person.
“Lost” symbolizes Brent Faiyaz’s burden of being a famous Black man who is unsure how to deal with crazed fans, mental health, loyalty from others and his own self-reliance. While he was lost in a crazed world, his audience is lost in the heart wrenching lyrics and mesmerizing sound of this project. When he does find the strength and love he possess within himself, he feels confident and ready to leave his old “lost” self and regain and find the new Black man he can now cherish. This EP is for anyone who also felt or even now feels lost and is trying to find a new identity for themselves.
Kamal Morgan, an A&E Editor for the Voice, can be reached for comment at KMorgan20@wooster.edu.