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Isaiah Rashad drops a video for “Do I look High?” featuring Julian Sintonia. Directed by Omar Jones, the video reveals the duality of a young Isaiah following an older, more tarnished self, viewed through a split-screen lens of innocence and a corrupted present.
The song is from the Chattanooga artist’s new album, It’s Been Awful, which this week debuted at number one on the Apple Music Hip-Hop/Rap chart. The album, which also has features from SZA and Dominic Fike, arrived to massive acclaim on May 1 via Top Dawg Entertainment/ Warner Records. Listen HERE.
Described by Rolling Stone as “a rap musician who belies stereotypes,” Rashad’s latest project has been celebrated for its fearless honesty and artistic depth. Pitchfork notes that the album “takes new and bigger swings without ignoring his roots,” while The Source recognizes Rashad as “a master of modern lyricism.”
Rashad has long warred with his internal demons, and on It’s Been Awful he does not have all his answers. Honestly reflecting on issues with drugs, sex and shame, but revealing a belief in family and in music’s overwhelming power of transcendence.
It’s Been Awful is a record shaped by experience, survival, honesty and artistic devotion. Rashad delivers a project that feels as restorative as it is revealing. It’s Been Awful could have only been made by someone in love with language, musical experimentation, and an open soul.
ABOUT ISAIAH RASHAD:
It’s Been Awful marks the moment Isaiah Rashad fully becomes his own genre. The Top Dawg Entertainment visionary returns with his third studio album on May 1, expanding his sonic world beyond hip-hop into cosmic jazz, psychedelic guitar rock, Soulquarian neo-soul, and flashes of genre-blurring experimentation. After five transformative years, Rashad delivers his most vulnerable and fully-realized work yet — an unfiltered reflection on addiction, growth, self-confrontation, and redemption. It’s soul music in its most metaphysical form, anchored by the same lyrical precision and emotional depth that have defined his artistry from the beginning.
Since emerging from Chattanooga, TN in 2012, Rashad has built one of the most impactful and emotionally resonant catalogs in modern rap. His debut Cilvia Demo immediately established him as a critical force, followed by The Sun’s Tirade, which debuted in the Top 20 of the Billboard 200 and earned Gold certification. His 2021 album The House Is Burning further solidified his cultural imprint, amassing nearly one billion global streams and widespread acclaim for its introspective storytelling and sonic evolution. Across his career, Rashad has achieved multiple Gold and Platinum certifications, with standout records including “Wat’s Wrong” (feat. Kendrick Lamar & Zacari) and “Pretty Little Birds” (feat. SZA), while maintaining a loyal, cult-like fanbase drawn to his honesty and depth.
Rashad has consistently pushed beyond trends to create timeless, deeply personal work. Now, with It’s Been Awful, he enters a new chapter defined by clarity, confrontation, and creative rebirth – reaffirming his place not just in rap, but at the forefront of music’s most compelling storytellers.
The post Isaiah Rashad Unveils Haunting “Do I Look High?” Visual as It’s Been Awful Dominates Charts and Critical Acclaim appeared first on The Hype Magazine.
