Born on September 19, 1995, Christopher Brent Wood, professionally known as Brent Faiyaz, is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, and record producer. Faiyaz gained recognition after his collaboration with Shy Glizzy on GoldLink’s hit single “Crew” in 2016. The song reached number 45 on the Billboard Hot 100, achieved sextuple platinum status from the RIAA, and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rap/Sung Performance at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards. In 2017, Faiyaz released his debut album, Sonder Son. Known for his smooth vocals and mellow production style, Faiyaz occasionally incorporates rap into his music.
Profile Summary
| Full Name: | Christopher Brent Wood |
| Date Of Birth: | September 19, 1995 |
| Place Of Birth: | Columbia, Maryland, U.S |
| Nationality: | American |
| Occupation(s): | Singer, Rapper, Songwriter, Record Producer |
| Labels: | Paul Potgieter |
| Net Worth: | $1 million |
Early Life And Education
Brent Faiyaz, born Christopher Brent Wood on September 19, 1995, is from Columbia, Maryland. His diverse heritage includes a Dominican father and an African-American mother.
His music journey began at age six with his first keyboard, leading him to produce and sell beats by age twelve. Faiyaz’s musical tastes evolved from hip-hop to R&B during high school.
Despite struggling academically at Long Reach High School due to his music obsession, he graduated at 17 and moved to Charlotte, North Carolina. Conflicts over his music led him to leave his parents’ home at eighteen. In 2014, he relocated to Los Angeles to pursue his music career further.
Career
Before officially starting his career, Brent Faiyaz, around the age of twelve, would record music at home due to financial constraints preventing him from going out.
His early focus was on hip-hop, aspiring to become a rapper. In March 2013, Faiyaz released his first EP, Sunset Ave., followed by his second EP, Black Child, in December of the same year.
Faiyaz began sharing his experimental music on SoundCloud in 2014. He relocated from Columbia, Maryland, to Charlotte, North Carolina, and eventually settled in Los Angeles, California, to pursue his musical aspirations. In L.A., he met his manager Ty Baisden, who encouraged his independent music career ambitions.
On January 19, 2015, Faiyaz dropped his debut single, “Allure.” Subsequently, on June 1, 2016, he released “Invite Me,” the lead single from his debut commercial EP.
To mark his 21st birthday on September 19, 2016, Faiyaz released his EP titled A.M. Paradox, which received positive feedback from music critics. The EP was launched under Faiyaz’s independent record label, Lost Kids, LLC, established under Baisden’s guidance.
Faiyaz also inked a publishing deal with Pulse Music Group. In October 2016, Faiyaz joined forces with record producers Dpat and Atu to create the group Sonder.
Their debut single, “Too Fast,” premiered on October 25. Later, on December 16, 2016, Faiyaz was featured, alongside rapper Shy Glizzy, on the track “Crew” by rapper GoldLink.
On January 26, 2017, Sonder released their debut EP Into, which was praised by Duplion as their “Artist of the Month”. The EP was also ranked 31st on Complex’s list of “The Best Albums of 2017”.
Faiyaz collaborated on various songs with artists like GoldLink, Juice Wrld, and Tyler, the Creator, before releasing his fourth EP “Fuck the World” on February 7, 2020, followed by his debut studio album “Wasteland” on July 8, 2022. “Wasteland” debuted at number 2 on the US Billboard 200 chart, moving 88,000 album-equivalent units in its first week.
In May 2023, Faiyaz launched his creative agency, ISO Supremacy, in partnership with United Masters in a deal worth over $50 million. The company later signed a joint venture with PULSE Records.
Faiyaz released the songs “Moment of Your Life” and “WY@” in August and September, followed by his mixtape “Larger than Life” in October. The mixtape debuted at number eleven on the Billboard 200.
In December 2023, Faiyaz released a music video for “Upset” and a remix of the album. He also released music videos for “Pistachios” and “WY@” in early 2024.
Faiyaz made a guest appearance on 21 Savage’s album and performed on Saturday Night Live. He was featured in a June 2024 issue of Billboard and presented at their Indie Power Players event.
Influences
Faiyaz has credited Lauryn Hill as his primary influence. Speaking to Fact, Faiyaz explained, “It was Lauryn Hill who inspired me to start singing from a young age.”
Recalling his earliest musical memory in an interview with Wonderland, Faiyaz recalled seeing “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” CD on his family’s fireplace during his childhood. He emphasized the album’s seamless blend of R&B and hip-hop as influential, giving him the impetus to pursue singing.
Additionally, Faiyaz has mentioned Aaliyah, Currensy, Curtis Mayfield, Gil Scott-Heron, Jeff Buckley, Radiohead, and Tupac Shakur among his sources of inspiration.
Personal Life
Currently, Brent Faiyaz is romantically involved with April McDaniel, a podcast host recognized for her contributions to “Everybody’s Crazy.” Their relationship has sparked interest, particularly following a viral TikTok hinting at a possible marriage, although specific details about their romance are kept confidential.
While Faiyaz was previously linked to model Zahara Davis, he has not officially disclosed any information about children. Notably, Faiyaz prioritizes maintaining privacy regarding his personal affairs, choosing to concentrate on his musical endeavors instead.
Brent Faiyaz Net Worth
Brent Faiyaz’s net worth is approximately $2 million as of 2024, derived from his successful career as an independent music artist. His earnings come from album sales, streaming, and tours.
Awards and Nominations
2018:
- Grammy Awards: Best Melodic Rap Performance for “Crew” (with GoldLink and Shy Glizzy) – Nominated
2019:
- iHeartRadio Music Awards: Best New R&B Artist
2022:
- American Music Awards: Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist
2023:
- BET Awards: Best Male R&B/Pop Artist
- iHeartRadio Music Awards: Best New R&B Artist
- NAACP Image Awards: Outstanding Male Artist for “Wasteland”
2024:
- BET Awards: Best Male R&B/Pop Artist for himself
- iHeartRadio Music Awards: R&B Artist of the Year
Discography
Albums:
- 2016: Sonder Son
- 2018: Lost (EP)
- 2020: F**k the World
- 2022: Wasteland
- 2024: Larger Than Life
Notable Songs:
- “Crew” (with GoldLink and Shy Glizzy) (2016)
- “Trust” (2018)
- “Been Away” (2020)
- “DEAD MAN WALKING” (2022)
- “ALL MINE” (2022)
- “JACKIE BROWN” (2022)
- “WY@” (2023)
- “Moment of Your Life” (feat. Coco Jones) (2023)
