BRENT FAIYAZ ICON: THE ALBUM THAT ALMOST WASN'T

## The Album That Almost Wasn't Brent Faiyaz pulled one of 2025's most shocking moves: canceling his album Icon hours before its September 19 release date. "The night before, Brent sent us a group text pulling the plug on the album, he also had another lead single and music video. He scrapped those too, then sent us this," his team revealed, with "this" being the eventual lead single "Have To." Icon finally arrived February 13, 2026, through ISO Supremacy and UnitedMasters. The Maryland singer chose Valentine's Day timing deliberately. Executive produced by Raphael Saadiq, Faiyaz shifts away from the "toxic R&B" he's known for toward songs that lean into love's merrier side. The decision to scrap an entire rollout overnight wasn't random. In May 2025, controversy erupted between Halle Bailey and DDG, alleging Faiyaz had an affair with Bailey. The drama played out publicly through restraining orders and social media accusations. ## Chart Performance and Industry Impact Icon was supported by one single "Have To", which peaked at number 37 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. More significantly, "Have To" became Faiyaz's second No. 1 on the Adult R&B Airplay chart, proving his radio dominance. The 33-minute album runs across 10 tracks with dramatic orchestral flourishes that showcase Faiyaz's world-beating ambitions. Notably, the album features no guest appearances, a bold choice in an era of endless collaborations. His previous album WASTELAND debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, with 88,000 units sold in the first week. Icon's performance remains to be seen, but early user scores show a 76 rating based on 750 reviews, with some calling it "his best album to date". ## The Raphael Saadiq Factor Production was handled by Faiyaz, Benny Blanco, Chad Hugo, Sonder's Dpat, Paperboy Fabe, Tommy Richman, and Raphael Saadiq, who also serves as the record's executive producer. Saadiq brings serious credentials: he's currently nominated for the 2026 best original song Oscar for "I Lied to You" from Sinners. Production credits include Chad Hugo, Benny Blanco, Dpat, Jordan Ware, Dilip, Tommy Richman, and immersive mixing by MIKE DEAN. The Neptunes co-founder Hugo's involvement signals Faiyaz's mainstream ambitions. All tracks are written by Christopher Wood and stylized in lowercase and end with a period, maintaining his aesthetic consistency. Faiyaz's willingness to scrap a complete album overnight reveals an artist prioritizing artistic integrity over industry schedules. In streaming's algorithm-driven landscape, that unpredictability has become his greatest asset. Icon won't chase virality, but it might just redefine what R&B authenticity looks like in 2026.