Isaiah Rashad Sets May 1st for Third Studio Album, ‘It’s Been Awful’

Isaiah Rashad has ended a five-year silence with the announcement of his third studio album, *It’s Been Awful*, arriving May 1st via Top Dawg Entertainment. The news follows the release of lead single "SAME SHIT," a track that signals a pivot toward a more fearless, self-assured perspective. The project features a curated roster of collaborators including SZA, Dominic Fike, and Julian Sintonia, marking Rashad’s first full-length effort since 2021’s *The House Is Burning*. Since his 2014 debut *Cilvia Demo*, the Chattanooga native has carved out a distinct lane within the TDE camp, blending Southern trap cadences with the hazy, introspective textures of neo-soul and jazz. While his previous work often documented the friction of addiction and mental health struggles, *It’s Been Awful* is being framed as a reclamation—an artist returning to the fold on his own terms rather than out of obligation. It is a significant milestone for one of the most patient, deliberate voices in contemporary rap.