Isaiah Rashad Finds Clarity in the Chaos on ‘IT’S BEEN AWFUL’

Isaiah Rashad has always operated at a different frequency than his TDE labelmates, trading high-octane anthems for a hazy, internal brand of Southern rap. On his latest project, ‘IT’S BEEN AWFUL,’ the Chattanooga native leans further into his idiosyncrasies, delivering a record that feels less like a polished statement and more like a necessary exorcism. It is a collection defined by slithering contradictions, where melodic ease meets the jagged reality of personal recovery. The album’s strength lies in its refusal to offer easy answers. Rashad navigates the wreckage of the last few years with a vulnerability that avoids the traps of performative trauma; instead, he uses his signature conversational flow to map out the messy process of staying afloat. By stripping away the pressure to deliver a traditional comeback, he has crafted his most compelling work since ‘The Sun’s Tirade,’ proving that his creative peak is inextricably linked to his honesty. As the TDE roster continues its transition into a new era, Rashad remains the label’s most human anchor, turning internal turbulence into a masterclass of atmospheric soul.