This summer, billboards in major cities across the country displayed the following cryptic phrase: "I would like to apologize in advance for the person I'm gonna become once this album drops."
The billboards belonged to 26-year-old singer-songwriter Brent Faiyaz; the album in question was "Wasteland," a cautionary, R&B-trap opera deriding fame in a time of social and political upheaval. Today, "Wasteland" debuted on the Billboard 200 at No. 2, just behind global megastar Bad Bunny.
This counts as as a massive triumph for Faiyaz who has steadfastly committed to working independently of major labels, including distribution.
