Isaiah Rashad — IT’S BEEN AWFUL (Album Review)

“IT’S BEEN AWFUL” finds Isaiah Rashad delivering something that feels grounded and authentic from start to finish.

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TOP 5 SONGS

5. SAME SH!T

I’m not gonna lie, when this track dropped as a single, I was not completely sold on it. However, hearing it in the context of the album changed my mind.

really captures the cycle of everyday life, the repetition of both the good and the bad that never fully goes away. There’s a lightness in the sound, but underneath it sits something heavier. It feels like two sides of the same coin, and Isaiah Rashad balances that duality with real finesse.

4. SCARED 2 LOOK DOWN

This one taps into the reality of leveling up. “SCARED 2 LOOK DOWN” is all about reaching new heights while still dealing with fear, pressure, and everything that comes with it.

Isaiah also gets into growth, change, and the emotional weight that follows success. You can hear the homesickness, the anxiety, the stress. He delivers it all in a way that feels smooth and controlled, but still deeply personal. This is him fully in his element as a storyteller.

3. HAPPY HOUR

“HAPPY HOUR” feels like pure good vibes at first, but once you sit with it, there’s more happening underneath the surface. The production sounds light, fun, and almost carefree, yet lyrically, things are far more complicated. It plays like a relationship struggle disguised as a drinking anthem.

From the intro alone, it felt like one of the album’s more memorable moments. There is this tension between wanting peace and getting lost in distractions, and Isaiah leans into that feeling of wanting to let go and just numb everything.

2. BOY IN RED (Ft. SZA)

“BOY IN RED” leans into a more alt-R&B sound, and it really works. SZA and Isaiah Rashad have teamed up before, but it is still kind of wild how naturally they click. Their voices blend effortlessly, as if the song were built for both of them. It comes off soft, dreamy, and a little romantic without trying too hard. This is one of those tracks that slides straight onto the playlist without a second thought.

1. CAMERAS (Ft. Dominic Fike)

Okay, I really thought the SZA feature would be my favorite moment, but this one took it. Isaiah Rashad and Dominic Fike absolutely show out here.

“CAMERAS” centers on memories, especially the kind you look back on and realize are no longer the same. There is intimacy, nostalgia, and a little bit of loss wrapped together. Both artists bring their own flavor, and when they come together, it feels effortless. This is how a feature is supposed to land.

SONG BY SONG RATING

1. THE NEW SUBLIME (4/5)

2. M.O.M (4/5)

3. SAME SH!T (4.5/5)

4. BOY IN RED (Ft. SZA) (5/5)

5. SUPAFICIAL (4/5)

6. SCARED 2 LOOK DOWN (4/5)

7. HAPPY HOUR (4.5/5)

8. DO I LOOK HIGH? (Ft. Juliam Sintonia) (4/5)

9. AIN’T GIVING UP (4/5)

10. GTKY (3.5/5)

11. CAMERAS (Ft. Dominic Fike) (4/5)

12. ACT NORMAL (3.5/5)

13. 10 STATES AWAY (4/5)

14. NUTHIN 2 HIDE (4/5)

15. SUPERWIRE (4/5)

16. 719 FREESTYLE (4/5)

RGM RATING

(79%)

On IT’S BEEN AWFUL, Isaiah Rashad opens up about the highs and lows of fame, missing home, and the emotional weight of breakups, flings, old friends, and new connections that never feel clean or simple. What stands out most is how openly he talks about coping, whether that’s rolling up or simply sitting with the pressure, stress, and anxiety instead of running from it.

Sonically, the album sits in a smooth hip-hop/R&B pocket, but indie and alternative influences give it real character, keeping things from ever feeling one-note while adding a softness to heavier themes. Isaiah Rashad has always balanced raw vulnerability with a sharp edge, and that presence runs through every track here. At times, he literally sounds like his vital organs are on the verge of shutting down, and in other moments, he sounds like a human who has seen the sun for the first time in months.

All in all, every song on IT’S BEEN AWFUL feels intentional, like it has its own space and purpose on the album. This is the kind of project you can sit with, revisit, and catch something new each time.

This is definitely one that stays in rotation.

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