Isaiah Rashad opens his new album, It’s Been Awful, with both a prayer request and a promise. In “The New Sublime,” Rashad asks for prayers as he declares, “Somebody pray for me / I’m going crazy.” He extends this plea to embody his entire family, all set against a beat that flows like melted candlewax. The song presents Rashad’s promises: “I promise you the truest art / I promise not to lose myself / I promise not to shame my God.” These proclamations reach out to everyone listening—us, himself, and even his God.
Five years have passed since Rashad last shared his music. The wait followed the leaking of two sex tapes that depicted Rashad with other men, threatening to overshadow his career. Instead of allowing this scandal to define his identity, he uses his album to redefine himself.
“It’s profit over love again / Seem like that’s what we sick about,” Rashad reflects as he measures his self-worth against material concerns.
Rashad’s artistic delivery on It’s Been Awful reveals new depths of clarity and intimacy. The album feels like an eavesdropping experience where every detail of his life is shared with the listener. He invites his audience to walk along a path of self-discovery, navigating themes of trust and trauma.
Matthew Carmichael praises Rashad’s honesty and bravery. Rashad admits how his experiences have shaped his identity, acknowledging that life has been difficult. Despite adversity, he seeks clarity and personal growth.
The journey to fully unmask involved recording 100 demos and experiencing emotional highs and lows. Film, art, and reflection guided his path as he critiqued past misogynistic expressions and aimed for purity. Instead of belittling women, he focuses on being transparent and vulnerable.
Rashad confronts intertwined issues of addiction and sexuality head-on. He contemplates masculinity’s constraints within the hip-hop community. Raised by women, he emphasizes sensitivity and self-sacrifice over tough-guy norms.
Sharing personal struggles invites support. Influenced by peers, Rashad navigates assumptions and learns from past phases. Yet, he chooses not to distance himself from prior works, viewing those layers as part of his evolution.
Rashad challenges existing narratives in a community centered on matriarchal dynamics, rejecting misguided notions of masculinity. His experiences, including family dynamics and exposure to unhealthy patterns, shape his truths.
Throughout, Rashad embraces vulnerability, exploring emotions, identity, and self-worth, ultimately concluding with acceptance and empathy. The album epitomizes a diary-like effort, urging personal and creative liberation. The theme of shedding facades to embrace one’s self shines brightly, leading Rashad to a new stage of empowerment.