We've seen Isaiah Rashad exposed. Now he's ready to bare his soul.
Isaiah Rashad's new album, It's Been Awful, marks a deeply personal and honest chapter in his career, reflecting his journey through trauma, identity, and self-acceptance. After years of silence and public scrutiny, including the fallout from leaked sex tapes, Rashad returns with music that prioritizes vulnerability over image. He confronts past flaws, rejects misogyny in his earlier work, and embraces emotional transparency as a form of strength.
- ▪Isaiah Rashad released his new album, It's Been Awful, after a five-year hiatus from music.
- ▪The album follows the public leak of sex tapes involving Rashad, which intensified scrutiny on his personal life.
- ▪Rashad recorded around 100 demos for the album in 18 months and emotionally connected to the process, sometimes crying after sessions.
- ▪He openly criticizes the misogyny in his previous album, The House Is Burning, calling it 'gross,' and affirms that his new work contains no derogatory lyrics about women.
- ▪Rashad describes the album as a commitment to full honesty, stating he now feels safe being 100% truthful in his art.
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| Canonical URL | https://www.npr.org/2026/05/16/nx-s1-5807940/isaiah-rashad-its-been-awful-album-interview |
| Publication time | Sat, 16 May 2026 05:00:00 -0400 |
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Music Interviews We've seen Isaiah Rashad exposed. Now he's ready to bare his soul. May 16, 20265:00 AM ET Rodney Carmichael "I feel like, up until this point, I probably was being 88% honest at face with everything," Rashad says. "And then now it's more like a hundred. And it doesn't hurt to. I don't feel the risk factor in talking about stuff." Quil Lemons hide caption toggle caption Quil Lemons Isaiah Rashad opens his new album, It's Been Awful, with a prayer request and a promise. "Somebody pray for me / I'm going crazy" he intones on "The New Sublime," extending the appeal to cover his entire family, over a beat that drips like melted candlewax. Then, a couple of bars later, come the promises.
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