Isaiah Rashad Reveals Tracklist and Artwork for New Album It’s Been Awful Ahead of May Release
Isaiah Rashad has officially revealed the tracklist and artwork for his upcoming album It’s Been Awful, marking a major return for the TDE rapper after a long wait since his 2021 project The House Is Burning. The announcement has sparked strong interest among fans who have followed his slow but steady rollout over the past few years. The album is set to arrive on May 1 through Top Dawg Entertainment and Warner Records, positioning it as one of the most anticipated hip hop releases of the year. Rashad has built a reputation for detailed storytelling and emotionally layered music, and expectations are high for this next chapter. The reveal confirms that the project will contain 16 tracks and feature a mix of established collaborators and rising voices.
The album includes the recently released single “Same Sh!t,” which has already started shaping the tone of the project. Rashad continues to lean into personal themes while expanding his sound with new production styles and collaborations. The supporting cast on It’s Been Awful is intentionally selective, featuring SZA, Dominic Fike, and Julian Sintonia. His long-running creative partnership with SZA continues on the track “Boy in Red,” which becomes their sixth collaboration together. Their history includes songs like “West Savannah,” “Ronnie Drake,” “Stuck in the Mud,” “Pretty Little Birds,” and “Score,” showing a consistent artistic chemistry over the years.
Isaiah Rashad — It’s Been Awful (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
- 719 Freestyle
Rashad has also spoken about the creative direction behind the album, offering insight into the influences that shaped its sound. In an interview with VICE, he highlighted a wide range of inspiration that includes OutKast, Prince, and Fousheé. He specifically mentioned Prince’s “If I Was Your Girlfriend” as a track he played repeatedly during the creative process, showing how deeply personal and experimental influences guided his work. He also pointed to newer Atlanta artists like PLUTO and BunnaB as part of the energy behind the album’s later stages. These influences reflect a blend of classic artistry and modern regional sounds.
He described the album’s direction as a “sultry southern mix mixed with a deep sense of intimacy,” combining different textures and moods into a single project. Rashad explained that the sound moves between twangy rock, psychedelic elements, emotional storytelling, and heavy southern bass. This mix suggests a project that avoids strict genre boundaries and instead focuses on atmosphere and feeling. He also noted that Top Dawg Entertainment allowed more creative flexibility on this release, which played a role in shaping the final sound. That level of freedom appears to have encouraged a more experimental approach compared to his earlier work.
The features on It’s Been Awful also point to a carefully curated creative vision rather than a crowded guest list. SZA’s appearance continues one of the most consistent collaborations in modern R&B and hip hop, while Dominic Fike brings a genre-blending style that fits Rashad’s evolving sound. Julian Sintonia adds a newer voice to the project, reinforcing the idea that Rashad is balancing familiarity with discovery. Each feature appears to serve a specific purpose within the album’s emotional and sonic structure. The track placement suggests a focus on pacing and storytelling rather than pure commercial appeal.
With the release date set for May 1, anticipation continues to build around how It’s Been Awful will fit into Isaiah Rashad’s discography. The long gap since The House Is Burning has only increased interest in how his sound has evolved during this period. Fans expect a more mature and layered project that reflects both personal growth and creative exploration. The tracklist and artwork reveal a project designed with intention, not rushed production. As the release approaches, It’s Been Awful stands as one of the most closely watched hip hop albums of the season, with expectations shaped by both its collaborators and Rashad’s distinct artistic voice.
