Released: 2022
“DEAD MAN WALKING” by Brent Faiyaz is a bold celebration of indulgence and unabashed self-assurance. The song articulates Faiyaz’s pride in his achievements, his propensity for living large, and the confident and driven mindset that got him where he is today. This goes along with an exploration of the pitfalls and challenges of his lifestyle.
Starting with lines like “Drop the roof and let the smoke clear / I got diamonds doin’ toosie slides in both ears,” the Maryland-raised singer establishes a scene of opulence. The diamond earrings and fancy car paint a picture of a man who’s made it against the odds, and that “toosie slide” probably isn’t just a fancy dance step, but a metaphor for smoothly navigating the complex and often perilous world of the music industry.
The Vegas reference, “Dice rollin’ on the Las Vegas strip tonight,” metaphorically captures the idea of taking risks in his career, much like one would in a high-stakes poker game. The mention of keeping cash in his partner’s bag, who marks herself as his with a tattoo, reinforces Brent’s brand of rugged individualism and self-sufficiency.
Lines like, “This that roll myself a J and count my figures shit/ This that steppin’ out, I feel like I’m that nigga shit,” epitomize a blend of hedonism, success, and self-worth in a package of colloquial authenticity. The idea of dropping a fortune on a hotel room only to stay awake, indicates his voracious lust for life and a refusal to miss a second.
The chorus is an anthem of autonomy and free will, encouraging everyone to live out loud with authenticity: “You can do what you wanna / Live how you wanna/ Spend what you wanna/ Be who you wanna be/ A young stunner (’til I D-I-E).”
But Brent also gets real with the darker side of his world in the verse: “M.I.A, missing in action / These days, no kumbaya / Niggas be blastin’.” Here he illustrates the violence and harsh realities that can come with life in the spotlight, the startling contrast between the “kumbaya” ideal of community unity and the actual state of affairs adds a sobering touch.
Brent ends on the melancholic note of “Bloody, bloody murder / There ain’t no second chances,” reiterating the high stakes and often brutal nature of his industry. In the world Faiyaz paints, audacity is not just desirable, it’s essential.
Overall, “DEAD MAN WALKING” is a raw, unflinching exploration of the highs and lows of achieving success in the ruthless world of music, painted with a brush dipped in both celebration and caution. It’s a song that tells you to live your truth unapologetically, while always keeping an eye on the rear-view mirror.
