Isaiah Rashad Finally Breaks the Silence: New Album Tracklist Revealed, SZA Returns for Another Must-Hear Collab
For Isaiah Rashad fans, the wait has felt endless. Four years can feel like a lifetime in hip hop, especially when you’re talking about an artist who doesn’t flood the internet with constant releases. That’s why the excitement around It’s Been Awful is hitting a little different right now.
The Chattanooga native has officially revealed the artwork and full tracklist for his upcoming album, giving fans their biggest look yet at what he’s been building behind the scenes since 2021’s The House Is Burning. And judging by the song titles, guest appearances, and inspirations behind the project, it looks like Rashad is preparing to deliver another deeply personal chapter in his career.
The album arrives with 16 tracks and includes the previously released single “Same Sh!t,” a record that already had fans dissecting every lyric and vibe. If you’ve followed Isaiah Rashad over the years, you know his music usually works on multiple levels. One listen might catch the melody. The next might hit you with a line you completely missed before.
That’s always been one of his biggest strengths.
While plenty of artists chase viral moments, Rashad has built his reputation on creating music that sticks around. His songs often feel like journal entries wrapped inside smooth production and laid-back flows. They age well because they’re rooted in real experiences.
Looking at the tracklist, there’s plenty for fans to get curious about.
Titles like “Scared 2 Look Down,” “Ain’t Givin’ Up,” and “Nuthin 2 Hide” sound like they could tap into the introspective side of Rashad that listeners have connected with for years. Then you’ve got records like “Happy Hour,” “Act Normal,” and “Superpwrs,” which hint at lighter moments and maybe even some playful energy mixed throughout the project.
One track that’s already generating conversation is “Boy in Red,” featuring SZA.
At this point, Isaiah Rashad and SZA together is almost a guaranteed win.
Their chemistry dates all the way back to the early TDE days when both artists were still building their names. Over the years, they’ve linked up on memorable tracks including “West Savannah,” “Ronnie Drake,” “Stuck in the Mud,” “Pretty Little Birds,” and “Score.” Every collaboration feels natural, never forced. Their voices complement each other in a way that’s hard to teach.
“Boy in Red” marks their sixth official collaboration, and fans are expecting another standout record.
Honestly, it’s easy to see why.
SZA is currently one of the biggest artists in music, but even before all the chart success, her records with Rashad carried a special energy. They always sounded like two artists fully locked into the same creative wavelength.
Outside of SZA, Rashad also brought in Dominic Fike for a track called “Cameras.”
Fike has carved out a unique lane over the last few years by blending pop, alternative music, rock influences, and hip hop into his own style. He’s unpredictable in a good way. You never really know what you’re getting, which makes his appearance one of the more intriguing features on the album.
Then there’s Julian Sintonia, an emerging artist who joins Rashad on “Do I Look High?”
The feature list isn’t overloaded, and that’s probably a good thing.
A lot of albums today feel packed with guest appearances from beginning to end. Sometimes it works. Other times it feels like the main artist gets lost in their own project. Rashad seems to be keeping things focused, bringing in a few carefully chosen collaborators instead of turning the album into a showcase for everyone else.
The rollout itself has also felt true to who Isaiah Rashad is as an artist.
No giant circus. No endless controversy. Just music.
That approach has earned him a loyal fan base over the years. His listeners aren’t necessarily looking for the loudest headlines. They’re waiting for songs that feel honest.
Another reason people are paying close attention to It’s Been Awful is the list of inspirations Rashad revealed during an interview with VICE last year.
The influences are surprisingly diverse.
According to Rashad, one of the biggest inspirations behind the album was singer-songwriter Fousheé.
“The biggest inspiration for me was Fousheé,” he explained.
That influence makes sense when you think about the emotional depth and genre-blending qualities both artists bring to their music. Rashad has never limited himself to traditional rap formulas. His records often float between hip hop, soul, alternative sounds, and melodic storytelling.
He also revealed that Prince played a major role in shaping his mindset during the creative process.
Specifically, Rashad said he had Prince’s classic song “If I Was Your Girlfriend” on repeat for months.
That’s a pretty interesting detail.
Prince was known for taking risks, pushing boundaries, and making deeply personal music without worrying about trends. You can hear traces of that same fearless spirit throughout Rashad’s catalog. He’s always been willing to be vulnerable in a genre where many artists prefer to keep their guard up.
The inspiration list doesn’t stop there.
Rashad also shouted out rising Atlanta artists PLUTO and BunnaB as major influences during the later stages of recording. That connection to newer Southern talent could bring fresh ideas and energy into the project while still keeping it grounded in the region’s musical roots.
And then there’s OutKast.
Any time a Southern artist mentions OutKast as an influence, it catches attention. Their impact on hip hop remains massive decades later. Creativity, originality, storytelling, and authenticity were all trademarks of the legendary duo, qualities that Rashad has consistently carried into his own work.
With the May 1 release date approaching, anticipation continues to build across social media and hip hop communities. Fans have spent years wondering what the next Isaiah Rashad album would sound like. Now they’re finally getting answers.
The tracklist is out. The artwork is here. The features are locked in.
All that’s left is hearing the music.
If Isaiah Rashad’s past projects are any indication, It’s Been Awful won’t just be another album release. It’ll be one of those records people sit with for weeks, replaying songs, catching new details, and finding different meanings every time they press play.
