Released: 2020
“Fuck the World” by Brent Faiyaz operates in a raw, brazen sphere, laying bare the artist’s hedonistic lifestyle, his relentless pursuit of pleasure, and his disregard for societal norms. But it’s not all reckless abandon, in Brent’s verses there are veiled references to his struggle with identity, his quest for validation and the realities of success.
Given the opening line “Fuck the world I’m a walkin’ erection”, Faiyaz makes no attempt to mask his promiscuous inclinations and headlong plunge into hedonism. The artist has always flirted with bluntness in his music, but this line transcends that, featuring an unapologetic embrace of lust sans the romantic veil. The line “Spend without a thought, we do it reckless” points to a lavish, carefree lifestyle that lust and financial freedom bestow.
In the chorus, “Your nigga caught us texting. You said, ‘Baby don’t be mad, you know how Brent is'”, we see a typical Brent narrative of infidelity and unattached liaisons. This lyric shows how the subjects of his songs are often caught in the crossfire of his nonchalant flirtations. It also sheds light on his persona, insouciant and provocative at the same time.
Lines such as “Don’t open your mouth if you ain’t speaking good to me” and “Just ’cause I fuck you, that don’t mean I trust you, I don’t”, underscore Brent’s approach to relationships, where trust is non-existent, and there’s a sheer lustful connection.
Brent claims recognition in the lyrics “All the hood niggas respect me / Strippers wanna sex me” and humorously likens himself to a successful athlete with the lines “He might be Mr. Track and field but I done ran through ’em all / Yeah, that nigga play D1 but you still watch how we ball.” He uses these lines to highlight his own triumphs, albeit in a different arena.
There’s an underlying pessimism as well, that peeks through the glamour with statements like “I’d prolly be dead if I was basic”, hinting at the dichotomy of success and survival within the music industry and the drastic lengths required to maintain relevance and appeal.
Overall, “Fuck The World” is a stark depiction of the highs and lows of the hedonistic lifestyle, tinged with gritty realism, brimming with provocative imagery and layered with the dichotomy of fame and personal identity.
