Brent Faiyaz isn’t letting a lukewarm review slide.
After Pitchfork awarded his latest project, Icon, a 5.8 rating, the R&B singer took to social media to air his frustration, calling out the outlet directly and questioning the publication’s perspective. “Y’all be bored,” he wrote in response to the score, dismissing the critique rather than engaging with its specifics.
The review, published February 20, positioned Icon as a middling entry in Faiyaz’s catalog. Within Pitchfork’s grading scale, a 5.8 typically signals a mixed reception — neither a standout nor a failure — but the number alone was enough to spark Faiyaz’s public reaction.
The pushback continues a growing pattern of artists responding in real time to critical coverage, particularly when numeric scores are involved. Rather than ignoring the assessment, Faiyaz chose to challenge it head-on, reframing the conversation around the credibility of the platform rather than the album itself.
Icon marks Faiyaz’s latest release amid an ongoing independent streak that has helped him maintain both commercial traction and a loyal fan base. But in this case, the discourse shifted quickly from the music to the score — and the artist made clear he was not impressed.
