Isaiah Rashad Returns After Five Years With an Instant Classic: ‘IT’S BEEN AWFUL’ Is Here

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Isaiah Rashad is one of the few contemporary hip-hop artists who appeals to a remarkably diverse audience.

Okay, so Zay’s been quiet for like, five years, right? Then, outta nowhere at the end of March, he drops this super short, 90-second video hinting at new music. Everyone immediately blew up the comments! I’m talking all his TDE crew – ScHoolboy Q, SiR, Alemeda, Ab-Soul – plus a ton of other artists like Jordan Ward, Lola Young, Eem Triplin, BLK ODYSSY, IDK, and 6LACK. Even athletes like Zeb Powell and Taylor Townshend, and even brands like Hidden.NY and Apple Music were all reacting to this tiny little teaser. It was crazy how much buzz it created!

Just a few hours later, Zay officially announced his new album, IT’S BEEN AWFUL, and shared that it would be released in a few weeks.

Since a list of potential projects for 2024 allegedly from TDE started making the rounds online in January 2024, fans have been eagerly anticipating the rapper’s new music. Although initial reports of a 2024 (and later 2025) release proved incorrect, the project—his most unique and varied work yet—has finally arrived after over two years, and it definitely lived up to the hype.

While working on his main project, the rapper released music to keep fans engaged. He quickly launched his new album – completing it in about a month – and built a detailed world around it from the very beginning. Led by Omar Jones, the album’s striking visual style was carefully crafted, gradually introducing listeners to its unique universe through teasers, short song previews, and compelling videos.

Okay, so this album has some really cool features. SZA and Dominic Fike both dropped some awesome verses on the tracks “BOY IN RED” and “CAMERAS” respectively. And there’s this producer, Julian Sintonia – he’s part of the TDE crew – who not only sings on “DO I LOOK HIGH?” but also helped produce a ton of the songs on the album. He’s all over it!

Zay described the journey to creating his latest album as ‘a beautiful mess,’ calling it his most personal and honest work yet in a message to the press and on his social media.

It took me a long time to figure out who I really am, trying on different personas until I found what felt authentic. This album is about that journey – shedding pretenses and finding solace in music when I needed it most. And through it all, I realized how much I appreciate you – my listeners, my family, everyone who connects with my music.

To everyone who helped create this, and to all of you who listen to my music constantly – you’re like my dedicated supporters, and I appreciate that so much! I hope these songs can be there for you when you need them most, just like my favorite artists have always been there for me. I love you all endlessly. Until next time.

Here’s the tracklist: “The New Sublime,” “M.O.M.,” “Same Sh!t,” “Boy in Red (feat. SZA),” “Supaficial,” “Scared 2 Look Down,” “Happy Hour,” “Do I Look High? (feat. Julian Sintonia),” “Ain’t Givin’ Up,” “GTKY,” “Cameras (feat. Dominic Fike),” “Act Normal,” “10 States Away,” “Nuthin 2 Hide,” “Superpwrs,” and “719 Freestyle.”

https://open.spotify.com/watch?v=album/2ZDgH9uDdjRFNdjEyQCZtHhttps://embed.music.apple.com/us/album/its-been-awful/1892543099

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2026-05-01 23:56