Have To (song)

"Have To"
Single by Brent Faiyaz
from the album Icon
ReleasedOctober 31, 2025
Recorded2025
GenreR&B
Length3:27
LabelISO Supremacy
Songwriters
Producers
Brent Faiyaz singles chronology
"Tony Soprano"
(2025) 		"Have To"
(2025) 		"Bother Me"
(2025)
Music video
"Have To" on YouTube

"Have To" (stylized as "Have To.") is a song by American R&B singer Brent Faiyaz released on October 31, 2025, through ISO Supremacy and UnitedMasters as the lead single for Faiyaz’s third studio album Icon (2026). The song was written by Faiyaz, who produced it with Tommy Richman and several other record producers. It is an R&B driven by bass, incorporating elements of neo-soul into its mix. Using a soft and breathy flow, Faiyaz talks about his experience of longing for the presence of a loved one.

Upon its release, "Have To" was met with positive reviews from music critics, who described it as "irresistible" and "sweetly urgent". The song would peak at number one on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart. The song was accompanied by a music video directed by Lonewolf that depicts sped-up footage of Faiyaz aboard a private jet.

Background and release

Faiyaz released his debut mixtape, Larger than Life in October 2023 through ISO Supremacy and UnitedMasters. Faiyaz went on hiatus and later appeared as a feature on American rapper Loe Shimmy's November 2024 remix of "For Me".[1] Later in 2025, Faiyaz began recording new material for his third studio album, Icon (2026). He wiped his Instagram page on July 3, 2025, suggesting he was preparing for an album and posted of what was thought to be a promotional cover for the album.[2] The cover featured the name "Icon" alongside its release date caption, September 19.[3] On July 4, Faiyaz dropped two singles, "Tony Soprano" and "Peter Pan",[4] immediately after the album's announcement.[5] In an interview with Rated R&B, Faiyaz would exclaim: "This next chapter is about elevation—sonically, visually, and personally. With ‘have to.,’ I wanted to strip things down and get honest, to create a space where vulnerability meets confidence. It’s about embracing who I am now, without compromise, and sharing that journey with people who’ve been riding with me since day one.”[6] On October 31, 2025 "Have To" released through ISO Supremacy as the lead single from his album Icon.[7][8] Alongside an official music video featuring sped-up footage of Faiyaz aboard a private jet.[6] His team said "The night before, Brent sent us a group text pulling the plug on the album".[6] Also confirming that he also had another lead single and video prepared, which were subsequently scrapped.[6][7]

Production and composition

Faiyaz wrote "Have To" alongside its producers and engineers, Tommy Richman, Dpat, Jonah Roy, NDK, and Elliot Davy. "Have To" is 3 minutes and 27 seconds long.[9] It is a bass-driven R&B song that incorporates elements of neo soul, alternative R&B and DMV hip-hop into its mix. Lyrically, the track showcases Faiyaz longing for his significant other while pursuing his career.[6] Across the track, Faiyaz uses a soft and breathy flow; switching between different pitches, with Billboard's Andrew Unterberger describing it as "Faiyaz basically dueting with himself."[10] According to Flaunt's DeAsia Paige, the song is "drenched in crisp 80s synths that—when paired with Faiyaz’s fuzzy falsetto—sound like a dreamy, exhilarating relationship that sweeps you off your feet."[11]

Commercial performance

"Have To" entered at number 20 on the US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 for a week, while it peaked at 1 on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart.[7][8] On the New Zealand Hot Singles chart, it debuted at number 22, spending one week in the top 40.

Critical reception

Andrew Unterberger writing for Billboard wrote that the song was "irresistible" and "is an immaculately produced love song about Faiyaz doing whatever he has to do to be where he needs to be".[10] Describing it as "Sweetly urgent but never overly insistent—and winking enough to avoid any undue sweatiness, including multiple vocal tracks of a pitch-altered Faiyaz basically dueting with himself."[10] While Ty Cole of Revolt felt that the record "signaled a maturation both musically and emotionally."[12] Further explaining "The immersive record finds him stripping things down to their rawest form, pairing moody basslines, layered harmonies."[12]

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[13]

  • Brent Faiyaz – vocals, songwriting
  • Tommy Richman – production
  • 1stFrom92 – production
  • Jonah Roy – production
  • NDK – production
  • Dpat – production
  • Mike Dean – mastering, mixing, engineering
  • Itai Schwartz – mixing, engineering

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Have To"
Chart (2025–2026) Peak
position
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[14] 22
South Africa Streaming (TOSAC)[15] 62
US Billboard Hot 100[16] 51
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[17] 12
US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (Billboard)[18] 6

References

  1. ^ Zellner, Xander (November 19, 2024). "Hot 100 First-Timers: Loe Shimmy Debuts With Breakthrough Brent Faiyaz Collab 'For Me'". Billboard. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on June 1, 2025. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  2. ^ Saponara, Michael (July 3, 2025). "Brent Faiyaz Announces New Icon Album: See When It Arrives". Billboard. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on July 4, 2025. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  3. ^ Trapp, Malcolm (July 3, 2025). "Brent Faiyaz Wipes Socials And Teases New ICON Project—Here's What We Know". Rap-Up. ISSN 1943-4006. Archived from the original on July 20, 2025. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  4. ^ Samuels, Keithan (August 8, 2025). "Brent Faiyaz Releases New Song 'Full Moon (Fall in Tokyo)'". Rated R&B. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  5. ^ Paul, Bryson (July 4, 2025). "Brent Faiyaz Prepares "ICON" Album With Headstrong Singles "peter pan" & "tony soprano"". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on July 6, 2025. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  6. ^ a b c d e Samuels, Keithan (October 31, 2025). "Brent Faiyaz Drops New Song have to". Rated R&B. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  7. ^ a b c Anderson, Trevor (February 4, 2026). "'Have To' Gives Brent Faiyaz His First Lead No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart". Billboard. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
  8. ^ a b Samuels, Keithan (February 4, 2026). "Chart Brief: Brent Faiyaz Leads Billboard Adult R&B Airplay, Tank's 'Control' Hits Top 10". Rated R&B. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
  9. ^ Faiyaz, Brent (October 31, 2025). "Have To". Apple Music (US). Retrieved February 5, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. ^ a b c Unterberger, Andrew (October 31, 2025). "Friday Music Guide: New Music From Florence + The Machine, Tyler, The Creator, Brent Faiyaz & More". Billboard. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  11. ^ Paige, DeAsia (February 14, 2026). "Brent Faiyaz: The Wait Is Worthwhile, The Payoff is Sweet". Flaunt. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
  12. ^ a b Cole, Ty (November 14, 2025). "Brent Faiyaz is choosing "grace, reciprocity and patience" over the "scam" of chasing perfection". REVOLT. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  13. ^ "have to. / Brent Faiyaz / Credits". Tidal. October 31, 2025. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
  14. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. November 7, 2025. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  15. ^ "Local and International Streaming Chart Top 20 Week 09 – 2026 (New Releases)". The Official South African Charts. February 27, 2026. Archived from the original on March 1, 2026. Retrieved March 1, 2026.
  16. ^ "Billboard Hot 100: Week of February 28, 2026". Billboard. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
  17. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop: Week of February 28, 2026". Billboard. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
  18. ^ "R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
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