Rashad’s “IT’S BEEN AWFUL”: Vulnerability Wins, But Not Flawless

I’ve been a casual fan of Isaiah Rashad for years—nothing obsessive, but a genuine fan nonetheless. I haven’t kept up with every project or deep-dive into his catalog, but I’ve always enjoyed his music and have a solid handful of tracks I return to regularly.

This new album, IT’S BEEN AWFUL, marks his first release since The House Is Burning in 2021—the one Isaiah project I still haven’t heard. Because of that, the long wait felt insignificant to me, and I went into this with completely blank-slate expectations.

Rashad has a consistent ability to make compelling music, but for me he’s always been somewhat hit-or-miss. IT’S BEEN AWFUL is no exception—it has undeniable highs and a few clear lows. What stands out most is his sharp lyricism and raw vulnerability, which are spread generously across the project. This isn’t new territory for him, but it remains one of his greatest strengths. Hearing him open up so candidly never gets old.

The album opens with “THE NEW SUBLIME,” a track that gradually grew on me but still doesn’t crack my personal favorites. It’s immediately followed by “M.O.M.” (Man On a Mission), which flips the energy in the best way. The bouncy yet laid-back beat perfectly complements Rashad’s smooth, confident flow—honestly one of the strongest moments on the entire record.

“SAME SH!T,” the lead single, holds up extremely well in album context. I’m actually glad I avoided it as a single and experienced it fresh within the full project. On the flip side, “BOY IN RED” (with SZA) was the first real miss for me. I can respect the artistic intent and the mood they were going for, but it simply didn’t connect with me at all.

“SUPAFICIAL” is decent—catchy enough that I can see why many people enjoy it—but it never became a go-to for me. Thankfully, it leads into what I consider the strongest run on the album: from “SCARED 2 LOOK DOWN” through “GTKY.” There are still a couple of minor dips in that stretch, but overall it’s a smooth, skipless section that showcases Rashad at his most consistent and atmospheric.

“CAMERAS” stands as my least favorite track, sitting alongside “BOY IN RED.” Both are technically well-crafted, but they lean into a sonic style (especially the hooks and production) that just doesn’t click with my taste.

From “ACT NORMAL” to “719 FREESTYLE,” we get another strong sequence, though “NUTHIN 2 HIDE” feels like the weakest link in that run for me. Still, that back half delivers solid vibes, even if it doesn’t quite reach the same peaks as the earlier standout stretch.

This album is very good and wouldn’t surprise me if it grew on me even more with time, which is why sometimes I drop updates! Isaiah Rashad brings a mood that doesn’t always fit my daily sound I like to listen to in the first place, so when there’s also a few tracks I can skip over it all blends together. I see why someone would like this much more than me, but at the moment I may not be quite as high on it as the general consensus.

Standout Tracks: M.O.M., SAME SH!T, SCARED 2 LOOK DOWN, GTKY & 719 FREESTYLE

Album Rating: 👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑(8/10)