If you know anything about the past few years in the Chattanooga rapper Isaiah Rashad's life, then you might be surprised to learn that he's got a new album on the way. You will not, however, be surprised to learn that the album is called It's Been Awful. That guy has been through it.
Isaiah Rashad was a key part of the TDE roster when during that label's ascension. But where some of Rashad's labelmates have taken over the world, he has struggled with mental health and addiction, and he disappeared for long periods of time. Rashad's last album was 2021's lovely The House Is Burning, which itself was Rashad's first LP in five years. In 2022, a sex tape of Rashad and another man leaked, and he addressed it from the stage at Coachella. Since then, Rashad has openly identified himself as sexually fluid, and that's not necessarily an easy thing for a rapper to be, especially when the public revelation came as an unwelcome surprise.
Yesterday, Rashad shared a minute-long teaser video for a new album called It's Been Awful. The clip is beautifully shot, and it shows a bloodied Rashad staggering across a sunny field. Right now, we don't have a cover, a tracklist, or any music, but we do have a release date. It's Been Awful is out 5/1.
